Not letting me export as stl.

[JeremyConnaught]

Hi Foks

when trying to export this design as stl. its coming up 'Unable to triangulate highlighted surfsce. Aborting output'

now this part has just been extruded and shelled, so what am I doing wrong?

any help appreciated

Jeremy

[tbrotherhood]

Jeremy,

The usual cause is a model made up of surfaces i.e. no solid material.

Another cause is ambiguous geometry.  I created a mobius strip as one part and it refused to save STL probably because it is a single surface shape.  I split it into two and both parts saved OK as STL files.

Tim

Just a thought, did you set the facet size to smallest possible?  type 0 (zero) in the Chord Height  field.

[JeremyConnaught]

Hi Tim

yep tried that, it;'s strange because all it is is a circle extruded, shelled and the all the exterior parts added, only the one side is highlighted but it's exactly the same as the other!!!!!

hmmmm.

[tbrotherhood]

Can you attach the file for me to have a look?

[JeremyConnaught]

hi Tim

ok daft question time

how do I attach file?

[RoyHandley]

Hi Jeremy

Just following this thread - If you click on reply and then click on "Use advanced Editor" at the top of the window, you will find that an attach button appears at the bottom of the editor.

Hope this helps.

Roy

[JeremyConnaught]

Thanks Roy

it worked

heres the design, still confused

[tbrotherhood · Accepted solution]

Extrude 3 is causing the problem, investigating...

The sketch for extrude 3 was the problem.  I found this by moving the Insert Here flag up to below the first feature, regenerating and trying to create an STL repeat for each feature until the STL creation failed.  Extrude 3 was the culprit.  I tried altering the way the extrude was created, no luck.  I moved the datum away from the model to simplify the extrude to a single direction up to the outer surface but still no joy. Next stop was the sketch.  I moved some of the shapes apart in case the gaps were too small for the triangles, still no joy.  I then noticed the inner arcs on each shape were very close and in some cases touching the round on the large hole. Drawing a slightly larger circle and trimming all the shapes back to it sorted the problem.

Phew!  Now to bed....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[JeremyConnaught]

Thanks Tim

Just to let you know, this is another project we are working on, 'Birdhouses'

really appreciate your help on this, now I know what to look out for

Thanks again

Jeremy

[tbrotherhood]

I love a challenge and very happy to help.

[RoyHandley]

You must have gone to bed much later than me! I also simplified the extrude and although I suspected the sketch I decided to leave it until the morning.

Roy

[tbrotherhood]

It helped being at the D&T Association summer school, late back from a curry and finding it difficult to get to sleep.