We are trying a surface body to a solid. The surfaces of the surface body were imported from ICEMCFD. When we try to form a solid it fails and says that there are open surfaces. The model is a fan blade with some modifications to the trailing edge. COuld someone give us some tips to successfully generate the solid body from the surface body.
Viswanath,
First, set the model to shaded with edges. Then you will see a blue edge whever the surfaces edges do not intersect.
This problem is caused because you didn't do any import diagnostics when you imported the model. Run import diagnostics, and follow the prompts until you get a clean import:
There will be a button called "Attempt to Heal All", this can typically fix these problems, but in your case it does not:
The reason it does not work for you is because you have a large open edge. Click on Gap 1 in the import diagnostics, and you will see that there is a list of the open edges. click on Edge <1-2>, then zoom in to that area on the model. You will see that there is a face missing. There is no way to automatically create faces, so you will have to use the Fill Surface tool to fill this in manually. Then use the "knit" tool to make it a solid part.
Then, you will notice that Edge <2-6) is open, but this is caused by a low quality export from your original software. You need to go back to that software and do a higher quality export.
Thank you Charles and John, for your replies.
The "original files" are in the exported format from the ICEMCFD software. ICEMCFD outputs to a .tin file extension. CFD analysts make use of this software to generate models, and only export to IGS and Parasolid format are possible. Also there are no options in the software for changing the quality of export. We are trying to generate a solid model so that we can get this part made by the CNC machinist.
I could generate the original blade model with the unmodified trailing edge entirely within solidworks and it was successfully machined by a CNC machinist. We could have also tried the same thing for the modified blade model, but i guess it requires creating messy 3D sketches for the notched egdes. I have very limited experience with SW.
@CHarles:
I knew about the import diagnostics and the check tool options. I did also notice a big gap at edge 1-2. I followed your advice and tried to fill the gap. But as you said the quality of the other surfaces with many gaps in between is what is preventing a solid to form.
Thanks,
Viswanath
Later versions of ICEMCFD have additional options to export to STL and rhino 3D.I did an STL export and got a 10 MB file which I am able to view only as a graphic object on SW. Not still sure if the solid will form if we reduce the STL file size using meshlab. Attached is the stl file
Viswanath,
I wouldn't expect much from the STL file. It is usually quite difficult to get a good SolidWorks model built from the STL file. You might try playing with an evaluation copy of Rhino. If you can get a good model in Rhino, you might have good luck exporting it to SolidWorks.
Jerry S.
Do it simple in solidworks with standart functions :-). View this file.
Shon,
Can you post the SolidWorks file in addition to the parasolid file.
Cheers,
Anna
JErry, Thanks for recommending Rhino3d. I spent two days to eliminate all the naked edges and was still unable to create a solid.
Shon,
You could have posted the solid works file also. Tried opening your parasolid file. It fails "round-tripping". That is I tried opening your parasolid and it had some import errors. Fixed them and exported it to IGES and reimported it to notice that the model still has problems. Which means that the machine shop folks will also have these problems and will not be able to commence making this part.
The parasolid opens on my SW2012 SP1 computer. It is missing faces though.
The SolidWorks files open nicely with a complete features.
Cheers,
Anna
will done.
Viswanath,
Welcome to the forum
The imported surface quality is very bad. I tried to fix it in SW and gives error.
I tried even other programs, gives the same result.
How did you import into SW?
Can you post the original file?
JOHN