Skip to main content
P
ptc-46801371-Visitor
1-Visitor
March 10, 2015
Solved

Importing .stl files into Creo Parametric 3.0 and then converting to solid.

  • March 10, 2015
  • 6 replies
  • 86823 views

Hi there,

 

The context of my question is this:

 

I have an existing model model on OpenVSP, an aerospace prototyping software. I have exported a mesh from Openvsp into a .stl file.

I imported the .stl file into Creo Parametric 3.0, which resulted in a facet feature.

 

Despite being a facet feature, when I go Analysis>mass properties>preview, It gives me a volume and a mass. I don't understand this as I thought I just imported a "mesh" type file which does not have an assigned volume. The only explanation I can think of is that Creo automatically assigned a volume when I imported the file. How do I fix this?

 

My goal is to add a specific thickness to the surfaces and assign densities for a mass model.

To do this, I assume I have to somehow convert the facet into a solid, which I'm not sure is possible or not?

 

Thank you,

 

Joe

Best answer by MartinHanak

Joseph,

if you have time to experiment, you can use FreeCAD:

  1. open STL
  2. change working mode to Part
  3. click Part menu and apply Create shape from mesh command
  4. select blue solid in the left pane
  5. use File > Export to save IGES or STEP file

You can open IGES or STEP file in Creo Parametric. This way you will get standard solid/surface model...

Martin Hanak

6 replies

D
dschenken1-Visitor
1-Visitor
March 10, 2015

A typical stl file will have facets that enclose a volume. Creo used that to solidify it for you; it would not report a mass for a surface model.

.

You might be able to use the Shell operator to create the thickness changes you want. Alternatively mesh-based editors like Blender allow thickening of mesh based geometry.

D
DavorGranic16-Pearl
16-Pearl
March 10, 2015

Or you use restyle to turn it into proper surfaces and then solidify or thicken. This is actualy longer way to your goal.

P
ptc-46801371-VisitorAuthor
1-Visitor
March 11, 2015

Thanks for the replies. Restyle does not seem to work. As in, when I click on it, nothing actually happens The shell operator does not work either.

I will try to use blender to create the thickness. If I import a .stl file into blender, will I get the same issue as when I import it into creo?

M
MartinHanak24-Ruby IIIAnswer
24-Ruby III
March 11, 2015

Joseph,

if you have time to experiment, you can use FreeCAD:

  1. open STL
  2. change working mode to Part
  3. click Part menu and apply Create shape from mesh command
  4. select blue solid in the left pane
  5. use File > Export to save IGES or STEP file

You can open IGES or STEP file in Creo Parametric. This way you will get standard solid/surface model...

Martin Hanak

    P
    pimm15-Moonstone
    15-Moonstone
    March 2, 2016

    We are really getting stuck with this.

    Of course we can bring an STL into Creo, but we haven't been able to turn this model into anything usable.

    We tried the FreeCAD option, but perhaps the STL scan is too large.  Even though FreeCAD makes the export it won't import into Creo or our other CAD system.

    This is an area that more and more we are needing to find a no cost added way of converting an STL to something usable.

    T
    tkassenaar1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    March 2, 2016

    Try to reduce the number of polygons of your scanned STL with MeshLab

    Polygon Reduction with Meshlab - Shapeways

    P
    pimm15-Moonstone
    15-Moonstone
    March 2, 2016

    Within our Polyworks software we can reduce the size of the STL.  We just are having difficulty in converting this to usable CAD data.

    I did download and looked at the MeshLab application.  I didn't see any option to convert to IGES or STEP surfaces.

    It wasn't evident what I could do with the STL model within MeshLab.  It would be nice if it could remove the STL faceting, but it still wouldn't solve the conversion to surfaces issue.

    R
    rthapa1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    May 12, 2016

    Hello Joseph,

    I have been working with similar projects. Converting scanned hand .stl which is surface model into solid 3D printable .stl file. Were you able to fix this? Can you share with me if any?

    It would be of great help!

    Thanks!

    J
    Jose_Costa12-Amethyst
    12-Amethyst
    May 12, 2016

    I've never done this but some videos on youtube show some guys doing this with the Restyle module:

    Also, this can done "automatic" just saving a Shrinkwrap file, but, it produces a lot of tiny surfaces:

    S
    spicer_g1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    November 21, 2017

    You can also 'save a copy' and select Shrinkwrap from your pull down. When the dialogue box comes up select 'Faceted Solid' (You may need to uncheck some boxes i.e. 'fill holes') and set your quality level 0-10 and click OK. It will produce a solid part.

      Terms & ConditionsCookie settingsAccessibility statement