AnsweredAssumed Answered

What would be the best way to surface a mesh?

Question asked by Scott Pinnow on Jul 17, 2012
Latest reply on Jul 19, 2012 by Anna Wood

Like • Show 0 Likes0
Comment • 11

I have a imported IGES file with close to 6000 curves that I need to surface. Unfortunately I can only provide a description of it. I have not done much surfacing except for the one tutorial. I ran the Imported Diagnostics tool which said "no faulty faces or gaps remain in the geometry. The shape is of a pear with a face on it. I'm not sure which feature would be best to use. I tried 3D to scan but the mesh prep wizard was grayed out. The only option that it gave me was the curve wizard which I'm not sure how to use. Any help would be appreciated.

Scott

Charles Culp Jul 18, 2012 9:19 AM

Correct Answer

What quality of model do you need? Why are you remodeling this in SolidWorks?

If you need a high quality NURBS surface, you are going to have to learn how to create these surfaces, and it is not something you are likely to pick up in an afternoon.

This is where I typically link to my site with a bunch of presentations, but it is down for a couple more days because I had to thwart some efforts from hackers.

See the reply in context

No one else had this question

Outcomes

11 Replies

Mark Kaiser Jul 17, 2012 2:54 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Have whoever gave you the curves only iges file a surfaces iges file. I really don't think there's any good way to go from 6,000 curves to surfaces in a very fun or accurate manner.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Scott Pinnow @ Mark Kaiser on Jul 17, 2012 3:42 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  I tried the filled surface feature but SW only allows me to pick one mesh box at a time. I did a number of them to see how it looked but it didn't look like a solid. Is this normal because of graphics or just not a good way for the surface.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
  - Mark Kaiser @ Scott Pinnow on Jul 17, 2012 4:00 PM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    You used a surface feature therefore SW created a surface. If you create enough surfaces to form a watertight group of surfaces, you can then create a solid from them.
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
    Actions
    - Scott Pinnow @ Mark Kaiser on Jul 17, 2012 4:13 PM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      Does the Import Diagnostics tool correlate to the mesh boxes in that if I was to surface each box separately in the end it would be a watertight surface. Or are they two different things.
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
      Actions
Scott Anderson Jul 17, 2012 4:29 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Do you only have the curves? Or do you have the mesh too? (This is what a mesh would look like ... https://demos.teamplatform.com/pages/12240?t=9t4tjk)

If you have curves, I bet they are just cross sectional curves, right? If so, you are not going to be able to use those curves easily.

Is it something that you could imagine lofting? The curves loops would have to be closed, of course.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Scott Pinnow @ Scott Anderson on Jul 18, 2012 9:04 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Heres a small screen shot of what I'm looking at.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
  - Charles Culp @ Scott Pinnow on Jul 18, 2012 9:19 AM
    Unmark Correct
    Correct Answer
    What quality of model do you need? Why are you remodeling this in SolidWorks?
    
    If you need a high quality NURBS surface, you are going to have to learn how to create these surfaces, and it is not something you are likely to pick up in an afternoon.
    
    This is where I typically link to my site with a bunch of presentations, but it is down for a couple more days because I had to thwart some efforts from hackers.
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
    Actions
    - Scott Anderson @ Charles Culp on Jul 18, 2012 10:11 AM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      After seeing your screen-shot, I have to ask the same question: Why are you remodeling this in SolidWorks?
      
      These curves seem to be coming off of some type of design file (some sort of computer graphics program) and it doesn't look like sections derived from scan data. Based on the your screenshot, someone, somewhere has a high-quality geometry of the shape and they decided to only send you cross sections.
      
      Are you modeling this in SolidWorks because you need as a solid or surface for simuation, assembly, or machining?
      
      If you can track down the original shape, you may find a way to convert the computer graphics geometry to an IGES/STEP surface format that you sew together in SolidWorks. If you can't find a way to convert the computer graphics model into a surface file suitable for SW, then you'll almost certainly be able to export the geometry as triangulated meshes (polygons). From there, you can use an automatic surfacing approach with a high-patch-count to get a geometry that will be useable in SolidWorks (ScanTo3D might be able to do this, but I think it will depend on the richness of content of the geometry. If there is too much complexity of shape, then the polygon mesh density may be too high for the add-in). Either of the approaches described here will provide a faithful representation of the original shape, but you need to get that original shape first.
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
      Actions
Alin Vargatu Jul 18, 2012 9:13 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Have you considered using the ScanTo3D add-in?
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Scott Pinnow @ Alin Vargatu on Jul 18, 2012 10:35 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Thanks for the input guys. This is an artist model for a candy mold done for us. I think we will go a different route on this one. Thanks again for the responses and information.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
  - Anna Wood @ Scott Pinnow on Jul 19, 2012 1:15 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    What software pacakge did your artist use? If we know that we may be able to offer some options for moving the data between their program and SolidWorks.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Anna
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
    Actions

What would be the best way to surface a mesh?

Outcomes

Related Content

Recommended Content