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STL to SLDPRT

Question asked by Alan Thomason on Jul 29, 2015
Latest reply on Dec 14, 2015 by Itx Dani

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Hello All...

I am trying to use scan data from existing parts with very little luck so far. The first *.stl data file was produced using a light (laser) scanning faro arm. The file is 57MBytes, 1.16milion faces. I have tried importing directly into SolidWorks. I can see it as a graphical entity but I need to make measurements so that I can mate parts to it.

I then tried using Scan to 3d (I have an up to date Premium license) it stalled, suggesting I import the file as a graphical entity.

I have also tried Meshlab. The file opens and I can save it as a *.dxf but am then unable to import it into SolidWorks.

And Rhino..am able to see it again but not able to save it into any format.

Does anyone have any pointers?

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Chris Dordoni Jul 29, 2015 6:12 PM

I don't have Scan to 3d in my license.

SolidWorks can import about 15,000 - 20,000 triangles as a solid body, and slightly more as a surface body. Large files like the 1 million triangles you have now can only be imported as a graphics body. It sounds like you figured that out.

I use graphics bodies a lot to reverse engineer parts in SolidWorks from scans. Its a pain that you can't snap to scans or get sections from scans in SolidWorks, but there are ways around this.

I have used other applications to generate contours from a scan at specific intervals, and save as an IGS file. Then the contours can be imported as 3d sketches or curves.

Usually, I cut the scan up in several places, especially where I want sections, and then create planes or sketches in SolidWorks at those locations, and trace over the scan.

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Krzysztof Koszczak Jul 30, 2015 2:28 AM

Hello

You can try this. Turn on Scan to 3d addin, and then click OPEN and change a extension to File mesh (*.3ds,*.obj.*stl) itp.

And then open your .stl

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Alan Thomason @ Krzysztof Koszczak on Jul 30, 2015 2:18 PM

Darn...SolidWorks says 'corrupt file'. As I have little experience here, this is very possibly true. It does open as a graphics entity for whatever that matters. Thanks anyway, if I get another file to try I will give that a go.

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Chris Dordoni @ Alan Thomason on Jul 30, 2015 2:41 PM

If it opens a graphics body, and you can open it in Meshlab, its probably not corrupt despite the message.

I usually get messages about a bad facet normals but the STLs open as graphics bodys despite the message. Maybe scan to 3d is somewhat fussy. Try the free version of Netfabb, it can handle a lot of common repairs and it might just fix the issue that scan to 3d is having with it.

It could also be that scan to 3d cannot handle 1 million triangles. Maybe someone else has some input on the number of triangles scan to 3d can accept. You could try decimating down to 50% of its current size and see if that helps.

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Itx Dani @ Krzysztof Koszczak on Dec 14, 2015 7:14 AM

can you please convert my Stl file into Sld please

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James Pare Jul 30, 2015 4:01 PM

SWX does a very poor job reading in complex stl files

good luck, you will need it

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Vignesh S. Jul 31, 2015 1:29 AM

Hi Alan

If you are using Faro arm. Convert the file to .asc file.

Then try Scan to 3D. But I'm unaware of 1M triangles.

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7 Replies

Chris Dordoni Jul 29, 2015 6:12 PM
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I don't have Scan to 3d in my license.

SolidWorks can import about 15,000 - 20,000 triangles as a solid body, and slightly more as a surface body. Large files like the 1 million triangles you have now can only be imported as a graphics body. It sounds like you figured that out.

I use graphics bodies a lot to reverse engineer parts in SolidWorks from scans. Its a pain that you can't snap to scans or get sections from scans in SolidWorks, but there are ways around this.

I have used other applications to generate contours from a scan at specific intervals, and save as an IGS file. Then the contours can be imported as 3d sketches or curves.

Usually, I cut the scan up in several places, especially where I want sections, and then create planes or sketches in SolidWorks at those locations, and trace over the scan.
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Krzysztof Koszczak Jul 30, 2015 2:28 AM
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Hello

You can try this. Turn on Scan to 3d addin, and then click OPEN and change a extension to File mesh (*.3ds,*.obj.*stl) itp.

And then open your .stl
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- Alan Thomason @ Krzysztof Koszczak on Jul 30, 2015 2:18 PM
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  Darn...SolidWorks says 'corrupt file'. As I have little experience here, this is very possibly true. It does open as a graphics entity for whatever that matters. Thanks anyway, if I get another file to try I will give that a go.
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  - Chris Dordoni @ Alan Thomason on Jul 30, 2015 2:41 PM
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    If it opens a graphics body, and you can open it in Meshlab, its probably not corrupt despite the message.
    
    I usually get messages about a bad facet normals but the STLs open as graphics bodys despite the message. Maybe scan to 3d is somewhat fussy. Try the free version of Netfabb, it can handle a lot of common repairs and it might just fix the issue that scan to 3d is having with it.
    
    It could also be that scan to 3d cannot handle 1 million triangles. Maybe someone else has some input on the number of triangles scan to 3d can accept. You could try decimating down to 50% of its current size and see if that helps.
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- Itx Dani @ Krzysztof Koszczak on Dec 14, 2015 7:14 AM
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  can you please convert my Stl file into Sld please
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James Pare Jul 30, 2015 4:01 PM
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SWX does a very poor job reading in complex stl files
good luck, you will need it
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Vignesh S. Jul 31, 2015 1:29 AM
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Hi Alan
If you are using Faro arm. Convert the file to .asc file.
Then try Scan to 3D. But I'm unaware of 1M triangles.
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STL to SLDPRT

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