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converting STL to body

converting STL to body

converting STL to body

(OP)
Hi.

If you get this simple faceted STL
https://grabcad.com/library/guitar-pick-0-7mm-1

What's the easiest way to transform it to a solid body?

I've tried fit surface but it doesn't fit a surface for each face but a mid surface for all the body

Rapid Surfacing seems not to work either.

RE: converting STL to body

Which version of NX do you have?
I don't think, that converting STL model is an easy task to do. But with Rapid Surfacing, it can be done quite a lot. Draw some surfaces with curves, created with rapid surfacing . Then enlarge them and trim to the desired shape. This is how I am working with stl models. But, I don't do a lot of work with stl, so I am really not to experienced.
In the attachment is one very simple stl model. You can see the steps, how I did some surfacing on this stl. I am sure that it can be done faster or more simple. But this is, what I know at the moment. The model was created in NX8.5.

I hope that this helps you somehow.

RE: converting STL to body

(OP)
Hi.
I've downloaded the STL because I'd like to learn how to work with that kind of files.

Thank you.

RE: converting STL to body

There really isn't much you can do with that type of file in NX.
If you look at the file on the web site that you mentioned you will see a SolidWorks file. You should be able to bring that into NX and do what you need to it.

RE: converting STL to body

OK, I have 'played' a little bit with the last STL file.
From my engineering experience I know, that we use mainly lines and arcs. That is, if it is possible. So, also on that stl model, there shouldn't be other geometry than arcs and lines. I hae started my modeling from this assumption.
First, I have done some Rapid Surfacing to get the main surfaces. From then on, I have used mainly datum planes, sketches and extrudes. If I would be more careful, I would use exactly the same diameters for all the circles, that I have drawn. Or even better, I would create Conterbored Holes with Hole command. Also, if there are diameters like 0.405172781550529in, I guess that it would be good enough to use just 0.4in.
I have attached my model. My solid body is translucent, so that you can see your stl and my model.

I hope, that this idea of modeling for this particular stl file Will help you somehow.

RE: converting STL to body

(OP)
Thank you SvenBom.

I've seen you have reconstructed the original one.
But I already have it. My intention was to reduce that body, optimizing its weight (this is what I've uploaded), and then adjust surfaces approximately to that faceted ugly reduced body.

The problem with the optimized faceted body is that it has complicated shapes and it has several faceted bodies together (instead of a single one). ( I did several optimizations and placed all together to create a "union" and then create an approximate body).

This comes from an old challenge at Grabcad.

Anyway thank you very much, I will study what you have done.

Regards.

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