Can Shrinkwrap be made to use the existing tessellations on an imported "quilted" surface?

[jferguson4]

Creo8. I need to convert an outside file to an editable part. I am able to import it as a STEP, STL, or OBJ which doesn't appear to make any difference to Creo.  

The part in question comes in with tesselated surfaces, I think because the original file was made in Blender, and Blender outputs it's models with them.

I then Shrinkwrap the imported part to a new file with the ignore quilts toggled off and "10" selected as level of "precision".

The result is a usable editable part, but because Shrinkwrap does its own tessellation, not as tight a part as I would like - tessellated fillets not in the original file etc.

Is it possible to shrinkwrap or otherwise convert an imported tessellated object to an editable part using the tessallations which are already in the part without adding any others?  If this isn't possible, is there a precision setting higher than 10?

If what I'm asking is not possible, my solution will be to edit the imported file in OnShape to get rid of the problem areas and then reconstruct them in Creo.  And no, OnShape while doing a superb job of importing OBJ  files, won't let me edit them.

[MartinHanak]

Hi,

I am not sure if it helps, but you can test FreeCAD.

See my reply (date 2015-03-11 01:24 PM) in https://community.ptc.com/t5/3D-Part-Assembly-Design/Importing-stl-files-into-Creo-Parametric-3-0-and-then-converting/m-p/289180 discussion.

[jferguson4]

Creo balks at editing a faceted solid unless it did the faceting which is probably why shirinkwrap needs to do creo-readable facets.  I fear that what I want is not possible with present software, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

Thanks MartinHanek.  I did spend a bunch of time with FreeCad which is really quite good, but it's output doesn't evade the foreign facet problem in Creo.

[tbraxton]

Creo Freestyle has a construction from facets option. If you can get your import tessellation geometry to be recognized as freestyle facet geometry in Creo that would be an option rather than using shrinkwrap. Freestyle was built to work with (edit)  tessellated geometry.

https://support.ptc.com/help/creo/creo_pma/r6.0/usascii/index.html#page/surfacing/freestyle/To_reconstruct_shape_from_facets.html 

[jferguson4]

thanks much. I'll try it.

[jferguson4]

Alas, My Creo 8 License apparently does not include Freestyle.

[tbraxton]

• Included with all seats of Creo Parametric
  • Enable startup option Freestyle_Design_Extension

[jferguson4]

thanks.  

[jferguson4]

this is what I get: 
You have not checked out the license option. Please click "File->Options->Licensing" and choose required option from "Refresh license list".

When I do this, I get nothing.

• Enable startup option Freestyle_Design_Extension ???

Where? in config?  Doesn't recognize it.

[tbraxton]

That is a startup option, not a config option. You need to obtain the license when starting Creo.

Directions to enable here:

https://www.ptc.com/en/support/article/CS29013 

[jferguson4]

Hi Tanzanite.

I did that.  the available license include ProE_EssentialsM  and Expert_MaCHINE_SET. There is no mention of Freestyle.  Although my installation is supposed to be fixed node, it seems to be running with some sort of license server because I'm asked to reconnect to the license server from time to time. If there is a license server, I don't know where it might be if it isn't on my system.  This is a standalone PC.  

I don't know what your experience is with PTC, but mine goes back to 1988, and by far the most support time I've been involved with is licensing problems.  

Licensing does seem to have gotten simpler in the last 5 years, but if this is a license issue, then more work is needed.

best regards,.

John Ferguson

[TomU · Accepted solution]

---

@tbraxton wrote:

• Included with all seats of Creo Parametric

---

That may depend on the package.  New packages may include this option, but older packages may not.  If you don't pay extra money to convert your existing packages to the new packages (whenever they come out), you will remain stuck at whatever modules/features were included in your original package.  Unfortunately your maintenance mode (perpetual or subscription) has no impact on this.  Even on subscription you won't automatically get any new packages/modules that are released.  Just because something is included in the 'base package' today doesn't mean anything.  If it wasn't in your 'base package' when you originally bought it, you're not going to get it now without spending additional money.

[jferguson4]

This makes sense.  It seems a little cheesy of PTC to do this without alerting the user (me in this case) that his installation doesn't include the bells and whistles which come with today's version of the same package.  It's not quite the same as expecting one's 2010 car to be upgraded to 2022 standard for that model for free.   On the other hand, this is a subscription product and it doesn't seem at all unreasonable to expect a product paid for in 2022 and purporting to be Creo 8 essentials to be the same as every other package using that name.

Now I have to find out what my version is missing in case I wind up spending another two days trying to use something that isn't quite there, despite it showing on the menu.

[tbraxton]

Open your Creo license file in a text editor and search for Freestyle_Design_Extension, if you see this in the license file then you have access to it.

Creo Freestyle Design was automatically added into any Creo Parametric license (in Creo 1.0). It is free of charge. It enables user to create freestyle features. While possible there are exceptions, it has always been provided at no additional licensing expense in the USA AFAIK.

[jferguson4]

great idea. thanks

[jferguson4]

this is what's there for an earlier installation:

#################### LOCKED License #####################
# Serviceable = Creo Essentials
# Feature Name = PROE_EssentialsM
# Feature Version = 37.0
# Number of Copies = uncounted
# Expiration Date = 27-feb-2020
# Optional Modules = INTERFACE for CATIA
# Optional Modules = FEATURE
# Optional Modules = DETAIL
# Optional Modules = INTERFACE
# Optional Modules = WLO
# Optional Modules = SURFACE
# Optional Modules = PLOT
# Optional Modules = LIBRARYACCESS
# Optional Modules = ECAD
# Optional Modules = REPORT
# Optional Modules = CDT
# Optional Modules = DATA for PDGS
# Optional Modules = SCAN-TOOLS
# Optional Modules = LEGACY
# Optional Modules = INTERFACE for STEP
# Optional Modules = WELDING
# Optional Modules = PHOTORENDER
# Optional Modules = WEB PUBLISH (> OR = 18.0)
# Optional Modules = SHEETMETAL-DESIGN
# Optional Modules = INTERFACE for CADDS 5
# Optional Modules = Mechanism Design License
# Optional Modules = 4DNavigator License
# Optional Modules = Import Data Doctor
# Optional Modules = Design Animation
# Optional Modules = ModelCHECK License
# Optional Modules = ASSY_PERFORMANCE
# Optional Modules = Manikin
# Optional Modules = Manikin Analysis
# Optional Modules = Interface CADDS 5 Win
# Optional Modules = Creo Freestyle Design
# Optional Modules = Creo Flexible Modeling
# Optional Modules = Design Exploration
# Optional Modules = Update Control Layout
# Optional Modules = Creo Unite
# Optional Modules = Mold Analysis Lite

[tbraxton]

Looks like you have the license: # Optional Modules = Creo Freestyle Design

[TomU]

I just did some digging myself and it does seem like "Optional Modules = Creo Freestyle Design" has been included in all Creo Parametric packages for a very long time.

[jferguson4]

Then the pregnant question is why isn’t it working on my system

[tbraxton]

I suspect that you are not enabling the start option. If you are not able to reconfigure your existing install to enable this license you may have to uninstall. In some instances you may have to uninstall and reinstall Creo to get this to work.

Are you certain that when you are customizing Creo using the ptcsetup utility that you are not seeing any start up options or floating licenses available for selection?

[jferguson4]

i hadn't thought of doing an uninstall.  coming up from creo4, I've only
done the reconfigure installs

One on top of the other.

I was going to do a creo 9 install in the morning.

[TomU]

[TomU]

I could be wrong, but I don't think "Creo Freestyle Design" is something you can choose to install.  It's just 'there', sort of like 'Detail' 'Sheetmetal;, or 'Surface'.  There is nothing in the installer that I can see that lists Freestyle even though it's available in the license.

[tbraxton]

This may be the case on recent releases. When it was first available  (Creo 1) it required customization during install config. It would be in the startup extension box where you see ISDX listed. If it changed I do not know when that happened.

[jferguson4]

I've continued to struggle with this and found that I do have Freestyle in my installation but....

If I import an obj using the import function under Freestyle, Shape, it does import the file including the "issues"

but what I want is to convert this to a file which can be edited as a part - faceted solid.  

I select "reconstruct from facets" on the Freestyle menu over at the left and I see this on the bottom of the screen:

You have not checked out the license option. Please click "File->Options->Licensing" and choose required option from "Refresh license list".

Is it possible that the "reconstruct" function requires some other extension which is not identified and which I probably do not have?

Maybe this whole pursuit is nuts and I should just give up and construct the part I want in PTC.

[MartinHanak]

---

@jferguson4 wrote:

I've continued to struggle with this and found that I do have Freestyle in my installation but....

If I import an obj using the import function under Freestyle, Shape, it does import the file including the "issues"

but what I want is to convert this to a file which can be edited as a part - faceted solid.  

I select "reconstruct from facets" on the Freestyle menu over at the left and I see this on the bottom of the screen:

You have not checked out the license option. Please click "File->Options->Licensing" and choose required option from "Refresh license list".

Is it possible that the "reconstruct" function requires some other extension which is not identified and which I probably do not have?

Maybe this whole pursuit is nuts and I should just give up and construct the part I want in PTC.

---

Hi,

on http://support.ptc.com/help//creo/creo_pma/r6.0/usascii/index.html#page/surfacing/freestyle/To_reconstruct_shape_from_facets.html page I found this text:

The facet feature or facet geometry that you want to use for reconstruction must be generated as a Topology Optimization result.

I think the best partner for detailed explanation is PTC Support engineer.

[jferguson4]

Does topology optimization require a specific extension?

[MartinHanak]

---

@jferguson4 wrote:
Does topology optimization require a specific extension?

---

Yes, of course. There are following "modules":

TOPOLOGY_OPT_BASIC (Topology Optimization) 368

TOPOLOGY_OPT_ADVANCE (Topology Optimization Advanced) 369
I do not know how much they cost.

[cgherghe-2]

Hi John,

I just read this post right now -- were you able to find a decent solution to this problem?

I am trying to import STL / OBj files in CREO 10 and the quality of the result is dismal.

Many thanks,

Colin.