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Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface
5

Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

(OP)
Hi everyone, I had a guitar neck digitally scanned for my daughters school project, to machine it on a router, but no matter what software I try, it comes out as patches of surfaces. Is there a way to make it just one solid or surface as if it was extruded from a 2d sketch?. Thank you all, any help would be great. stl and bad model image attached.

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

2
If all you're after is the 2D outline to then extrude, then in my opinion it would be easier to use and HQ image and either vectorize it with another program or just sketch over the top after importing the image into NX.

I like using Inkscape to vectorize (see https://vimeo.com/83654051 on how I do it).

Otherwise, cut sections through the STL and use that as the basis for what you're after.

Anthony Galante
Senior Support Engineer



NX3 to NX11 with almost every MR (24versions)

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

(OP)
Hi, all I really need is the neck radius and head and heel transition to be one surface so I can flow line mill it.

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

Have you tried using "Rapid Surface", in the Reverse Engineering tab (NX9+)

-Dave

NX 9, Teamcenter 10

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

(OP)
Hi Dave, I loaded a zip file with the stl in it, but I don't see it.

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

Stl files will not appear in the part navigator unless you set the navigator to "history free".
It should be visible in the graphics.
Stl files will not create solids but " a faceted body". - Which you can section etc.
If you have NX11 you should be able to do some solid modeling operations on that faceted body.
( NX 10 & earlier cannot do solid operations on facets.)


Regards,
Tomas

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

@poolrod2 I don't see an attachment either. If you can get the file uploaded someplace, I could take a look at it.

-Dave

NX 9, Teamcenter 10

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

(OP)
I'm not sure how to get a zip file on here, it works on cnczone.com.

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface



smile
/ Tomas

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

So poolrod2, you're looking for the profile shape of the neck, as seen from the audience??

-Dave

NX 9, Teamcenter 10

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

(OP)
All I need is one solid or one surface to machine just the neck radius areas and transitions, but currently full of facets.

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

(OP)
Dave, this might work perfect, pushing it around, trying to get it normal to the original surface, otherwise, this is exactly what I need. Thank you for the help.

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

Hi
The above file illustrate a way to play with
view section save curves it requires a passion
you can save section curves in small steps
And then use surface through curves to build
a solid

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

(OP)
Thank you for the help guys, I'm very close on this now, just have one area close to the heel that needs attention. This is from what Gunman sent me.

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

(OP)
That is perfect, could you save it as .igs or .stp by chance?. Thank you all for the help on this.

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

(OP)
Thank you very much. I'll post a pic and model of the result when completed.

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

Any chance the people who have created these files could give me a run down on how you did this from the stl?

Thanks in advance!

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

Hi Gunman,

What are the steps in using the reverse engineering tools? I have never used them.

Thank you!

John

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

They way I did it, you pick the STL file, and then draw 4 splines on the part, think of it like a "square", and it will create a sheet. You can adjust the degree, and a couple other things, depending on the surface quality you want. So, I did this in various places, and then filled in the gaps with other tools.

-Dave

NX 9, Teamcenter 10

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

Hi Gunman,

Any chance you could create a quick video so I can try an figure it out?

Thanks again!

John

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

Gunman: did you try to create the whole guitar with only one surface? I did mine by using only one Rapid Surfacing feature as the stl quality seemed to be rather good. Or do you see some advantage on using several of them and then creating surfaces in between?

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

I've never had luck doing one large surface, so out of habit I did it in a few. Any chance I can see the NX file, where you did it all in one? Hopefully I can learn something.

-Dave

NX 9, Teamcenter 10

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

It depends on the scan quality which way I start building the surfaces. I create several of them too when the quality is too poor to create everything or most at once.

I can share the NX file, note that I've done it with 11.0.1. I share couple pictures of the surface pattern to get the idea what I was doing. I don't know what is the best way to create the pattern, this way is what I've learnt with trial and error.. Basically loose pattern/web where high resolution is not needed and thicker web where resolution is needed like in the variable radius areas in this model. I would be more than happy to receive any tips or better ways to use Rapid Surfacing also.

Model: http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=c...
pic1: http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=1...
pic2: http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=e...
pic3: http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=a...

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

To get those "over-the-top" results you're looking for, I think you need to turn it up to 11. Seems appropriate.

gbangs
TC 8.3.3
NX 8.5.3.3 MP11

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

Thanks SS88, that makes sense. From the pix, I can see what you did, I'll have to try it. I have NX11, but only on a test machine...this will be a good test, as it has a very slow processor, minimal ram, and cheap graphics card :)

@gbangs cranking it to 11 makes even more sense with a guitar neck!!

-Dave

NX 9, Teamcenter 10

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

There is an enormous difference between a single feature and a single surface.
When surfacing, the aim should always be to create as simple as possible surfaces / faces.
Creating the entire neck in a single surface is fully possible for surfacing artists, but the result will be a highly complex and heavy surface which might not be usable for downstream operations. - Don't even try. smile

A single feature might contain almost any number of faces / surfaces, all hopefully as simple as possible. The resulting model is smaller ( MB) , faster and usable for downstream operations.


Regards,
Tomas

RE: Help with an stl file reverse engineering into a solid or surface

Good correction Toost.. I was wrongly talking about creating one surface when it's actually one feature in this case.

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