Author Topic: Resize a STL File For Me  (Read 48800 times)

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Offline bostonmanTopic starter

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #200 on: December 16, 2024, 01:42:30 am »
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Select the sketch with the bracket and change the Z attachment point in the "Data" tab.

I tinkered with this one and didn't realize that menu (Data) existed; or I never really paid attention. I'll try your other method in a bit.

So, if I make the cylinder a radius of 1" with a wall width of 0.1", the rectangle offset 1.1", that would place the rectangle on the outside of the cylinder (if I explained this wrong, all I meant was to place the edge of the rectangle so it touches the outer wall of the cylinder)

Is this all FreeCAD (and the slicer) needs to make the two shapes one complete part? I understand the two are "touching" but is it enough for it to make one whole part that won't print with a "space" between the two shapes?
 

Offline MarkF

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #201 on: December 16, 2024, 03:12:59 am »
So, if I make the cylinder a radius of 1" with a wall width of 0.1", the rectangle offset 1.1", that would place the rectangle on the outside of the cylinder (if I explained this wrong, all I meant was to place the edge of the rectangle so it touches the outer wall of the cylinder)

Is this all FreeCAD (and the slicer) needs to make the two shapes one complete part? I understand the two are "touching" but is it enough for it to make one whole part that won't print with a "space" between the two shapes?

Try it.
I think you will find that when you try to pad the rectangle it will fail.
Even the smallest fraction of an overlap will fix it.
When printed with such a small intersection, the joint will be very weak.
In the one I did the screen-capture on, I made the rectangle intersect with the inner wall instead of the outer cylinder wall.  You will want some structural strength to the joint will you not??
 

Offline bostonmanTopic starter

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #202 on: December 16, 2024, 03:37:03 am »
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You will want some structural strength to the joint will you not??

You are absolutely correct and I agree.

I didn't give thought to them "touching" and not having structural integrity. I focused on the rectangle overlapping and deforming the rectangle. Yes, it should be buried to a degree and then tweak the rectangle to accommodate the buried section.
 

Offline bostonmanTopic starter

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #203 on: December 18, 2024, 12:38:09 am »
Either FreeCAD is trickier to use than most programs I've tinkered with and learned (to a degree), or I'm just not made to learn 3D modeling.

I'm not having any luck trying to create 'external geometry'. I've looked on the FreeCAD website and have gone through the steps. It seems straight forward, click the 'ext geometry' button, click on a line or whatever, etc...

Each time I follow them I get the cross hair, but, when I hover over a line, I get the circle with the cross through it.

 

Offline CatalinaWOW

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #204 on: December 18, 2024, 01:22:01 am »
 : Don't give up.  I have had problems learning new software, and then at some point I understand the "world view" responsible for the software organization and it suddenly all makes sense. 

As an example I started spreadsheets on Lotus 123, the made an easy switch to Quattro (the Borland low coast 123 clone) but when Excel came along I was flummoxed.  Could make no sense of how to create charts and graphs.  The one day it clicked and never looked back
 

Offline themadhippy

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #205 on: December 18, 2024, 01:45:27 am »
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Either FreeCAD is trickier to use than most programs I've tinkered
Dont know if its trickier,but i just couldn't get on with it,tried following sevral tutorials but buggered if i could get me head around it.Ended up giving up and going else were.
 

Offline bostonmanTopic starter

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #206 on: December 18, 2024, 04:09:09 am »
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but when Excel came along I was flummoxed

I had just converted from my C64 to a PC when I first came across Excel. It booted, I saw a bunch of rectangle blocks, and didn't know what it was used for. Then I was with a friend and he opened Excel to show me what it did. From there, I just figured out how to connect the dots by applying formulas and stuff. Although, till this day, I don't use all the features, don't need to, and don't really know what exists that can benefit me.

You're correct, don't give up, which I'm not doing. I think FreeCAD is a good program, especially since it's built from a group and free. Seems like it has quirks that maybe the more experienced (or maybe developers) know to avoid while the common user deals with the quirks in unorthodox methods.

In most cases, designs or practice designs I tinker with in FreeCAD result in trying to fix some error/quirk rather than learning new techniques to create more elaborate designs.

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Dont know if its trickier,but i just couldn't get on with it,tried following sevral tutorials but buggered if i could get me head around it.Ended up giving up and going else were.

I wouldn't give up unless you have a more expensive program like Solidworks. Otherwise, from the few CAD programs I've seen/used, I think FreeCAD is quite good and powerful.
 

Offline bostonmanTopic starter

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #207 on: December 18, 2024, 05:25:02 am »
Never mind, think I grasp the concept now.

I was trying to make a line a geometry line from the start rather than waiting until I added a sketch. Plus, I wasn't clicking on a face, I was just adding another sketch.

 

Offline MarkF

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #208 on: December 18, 2024, 11:08:41 am »
Never mind, think I grasp the concept now.

I was trying to make a line a geometry line from the start rather than waiting until I added a sketch. Plus, I wasn't clicking on a face, I was just adding another sketch.

You DO NOT need to select a face for this to work.
Mapping a sketch to a face was a misleading example.

You just need to be in a sketch to reference a line or point from another existing sketch.
 

Offline MarkF

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #209 on: December 18, 2024, 01:00:56 pm »
Here is a more detailed video on the sketcher and using construction geometry and external geometry.
It also shows techniques for doing constraints.

https://youtu.be/sXPapS0WLgk?t=870

An "external geometry" example with two sketches and NO map to face as in your example.
However, I recommend watching the entire video.
 

Offline bostonmanTopic starter

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #210 on: December 18, 2024, 02:11:59 pm »
I'm using 0.16 (I have 0.21 on a laptop) and the steps in the video don't work in 0.16. The same results occur: I get a circle with a line through it.

I don't use 0.16 often, usually 0.21, but sometimes rather than pull out the laptop, I'll tinker with 0.16.

Later I'll try the same steps on 0.21.
 

Offline MarkF

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #211 on: December 18, 2024, 02:40:02 pm »
Now I see why, in your example video, he mapped the sketch to a face when he created it.
In FreeCAD 0.16, you can ONLY reference external geometry from the object you mapped to.

If you first draw a rectangle and pad it into a cube, you can then map a new sketch to any of the cube faces.  Within that new sketch you can now pick external geometry even from other faces of the cube that you didn't map the sketch to.
Very restricting.
 

Offline themadhippy

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #212 on: December 18, 2024, 04:03:14 pm »
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I think FreeCAD is quite good and powerful
No doubt its is  but it don't seem to be compatible with my brain

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I wouldn't give up unless you have a more expensive program like Solidworks
funny you mention solidworks ,my weapon of choice comes from the same stable,pity its online only but for the price i can put up with that.
 

Offline bostonmanTopic starter

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #213 on: December 18, 2024, 11:57:02 pm »
I may have mentioned in either this thread or others that I usually prefer using software that's used in industry. It allows me to use it if needed and/or be able to talk the same language with others.

Wanting popular (and expensive) software comes at a cost. Years ago I "obtained" such expensive software (Solidworks, Altium for PCB layout, etc...). Now I'm trapped because I need my old PC to run such software due to not having the same connections to get new versions.

When I want to do something secure, I'll use my work laptop. Whenever I look into a new PC, I think about trying to get MS Office along with other pieces of software. I can run a virtual XP within Windows 10 on a new PC, but I've been down this road. The results are spending more time messing around with issues than using the old system.

Anyway, alternatives exist for MS Office, but find having the same software used in industry can be quite useful.

With this being said, FreeCAD is a great alternative to blowing $15k (?) on a license for Solidworks. Due to my main PC running XP (for reasons listed above), I'm stuck with 0.16. My laptop runs Win7 and I'm stuck with 0.21.

I agree though, for some reason it doesn't seem to be compatible with my brain either. The only 3D modeling experience I have (besides seeing others use Solidworks) is Google Sketch. If you think FreeCAD isn't compatible with your brain, then you haven't experienced the frustrations of holding your breath praying even the simplest model looks the same in the slicing software.
 

Offline bostonmanTopic starter

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #214 on: December 24, 2024, 11:26:52 pm »
I have a few more FreeCAD questions.

First off, using geometry has opened a whole new world and now makes more sense. Although I haven't had any "real" designs, I've been tinkering with different concepts using geometry.

Two things that continue confusing me is in the attached two pictures (although this seems like I should have figured out this problem by now on my own).

In 'Design 1' I made a rectangle with a circle, 'padded' it, and the result was a block with a hole. Wanting to make another hole (used a hexagon to distinguish between the two for purposes of discussion) left to right, I clicked the planer face on the right, added a sketch, and added a hexagon (I 'padded' it so it stood out for my question but want it as a hole that goes all the way through).

For whatever reason, I can't make this a hole that goes all the way. FreeCAD 0.16 doesn't have a 'hole' option, but v0.21 does, however, it doesn't seem to make the hexagon a hole. What am I doing wrong?

In 'Design 2', I made a simple circle (the front part that is highlighted), cut it to make it a semi-circle, and padded it. Now, the (what I consider) more difficult question I haven't been able to solve: how do I mess with the padded part (the top curved black part or even the underside curved part)?

If I click on it and 'create a sketch', it gives me an error that it needs a planer face as a support for a sketch.

Things I'd like to do would be: curve/fillet the corners rather than have 90 degrees, and then just adding something to the non-planer (?) face.

 

Offline MarkF

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #215 on: December 25, 2024, 12:09:22 am »
Design #1:
  The "Hole feature" is really for making threaded holes with various characteristics.  I would classify it as an advanced capability.  For making basic holes, use the "Pocket feature".  It just makes a simple hole.  You can select the length, direction, symmetric, taper.  One of the last videos I linked to showed most of the options and how to use them.

Design #2:
  This is where things get complex in a hurry.  At a very basic (limited) level you can draw a sketch on one of the XY, XZ, or YZ planes to pad or pocket something with the techniques we've already discussed.  These will NOT be perpendicular to the curve.  If you want something perpendicular, you will need to learn how to create datum lines, planes and local coordinate systems.  I'll see if I can find a tutorial for using datum planes.  You may want to review the tutorial playlist I linked earlier for other advanced techniques using curved surfaces.

  You should be able to select any of the edges to fillet or chamfer as it is unless you want some special edge shape.


For future reference:
  I'm going to assume all your questions are referring to version 0.21.2 unless you otherwise specifically state that the question is for another version.  And since I'm running Win7, I will be staying with version 0.21.2 for the for see-able future.  I believe I actually started with version 0.19.  I have to go try things for 0.16 questions.
 

Offline MarkF

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #216 on: December 25, 2024, 12:38:01 am »
Here's a tutorial of tricks to add features to a curve without using datum planes.


 

Offline bostonmanTopic starter

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #217 on: December 25, 2024, 02:25:46 am »
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For making basic holes, use the "Pocket feature".

I tried different features and used pocket too. Prior to typing this reply, I checked again to make sure I'm not explaining this wrong. After using the 'pocket' feature, the hexagon does show throughout all (I selected 'through all').

After, when I'm looking at the tree structure, I notice 'pad' for the rectangle that I did in the previous step is greyed out indicating it's 'hidden'. After I make it visible, the hexagon vanishes; but I can still see the outline of where I placed it on the planer. As a result, I assumed that using 'pocket' wasn't correct since I couldn't get the entire tree structure to show everything as visible and still get all the through holes.

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And since I'm running Win7, I will be staying with version 0.21.2 for the for see-able future.  I believe I actually started with version 0.19.  I have to go try things for 0.16 questions.

I tinker with both versions. v0.16 more common since it's on my PC, but I confirm any anomalies on v0.21 before posting a question.

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Here's a tutorial of tricks to add features to a curve without using datum planes.

Wow.... I don't know what is more impressive in that video, making the groove throughout the curve or adding the mounting holes to non-planer surfaces.

I wasn't expecting such an involved process adding something to a non-planer surface.

Whenever I watch one of these videos, my confidence level in learning FreeCAD (or 3D modeling) gets knocked down a level. So far I've mastered the art of making a cube and thought I was ready for the advanced course. :)
 

Offline MarkF

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #218 on: December 25, 2024, 03:13:19 am »
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For making basic holes, use the "Pocket feature".

I tried different features and used pocket too. Prior to typing this reply, I checked again to make sure I'm not explaining this wrong. After using the 'pocket' feature, the hexagon does show throughout all (I selected 'through all').

After, when I'm looking at the tree structure, I notice 'pad' for the rectangle that I did in the previous step is greyed out indicating it's 'hidden'. After I make it visible, the hexagon vanishes; but I can still see the outline of where I placed it on the planer. As a result, I assumed that using 'pocket' wasn't correct since I couldn't get the entire tree structure to show everything as visible and still get all the through holes.

What you're experiencing is just the visualization of the steps you selected to be visible.  When more than one item is visible, they are all drawn on top of one another.  If you watch the tree as you create a model, you will see that FreeCAD will hide previous steps as you create new ones.  There is also the advantage that you can hide newer steps to see stages of the development (or as I mentioned before, you can actually export a previous step).  In your 'Design #1' you can export the block with both holes or export it with just the round hole WITHOUT modifying the model.

I have done complex designs where I've seen multiple things overlaid and had a difficult time even identifying them. It keeps you on your toes.  ;)
 

Offline bostonmanTopic starter

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #219 on: December 25, 2024, 04:11:44 am »
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I have done complex designs where I've seen multiple things overlaid and had a difficult time even identifying them. It keeps you on your toes.  ;)

I can't imagine dealing with complex designs. My tinkering is simple and yet they become confusing.

Exporting can still get confusing as I hold my breath each time I export something. It's been explained in this thread plenty, but it hasn't clicked in as to why a CTRL-A doesn't export everything whereas I need to click (in this current tree) pocket (for the hexagon) which is the 3rd last in the tree under pad-sketch (for the rectangle) and the last (4th item) is sketch1 (the hexagon) - see my screen shots with file names explaining.

 

Offline MarkF

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #220 on: December 25, 2024, 01:28:21 pm »
Apparently you still see the tree structure as a list of all the parts of the model. 
It is NOT.
Only multiple 'Bodies' make up individual parts.  But even still, you would export/print each body one at a time.

The tree is a list of each stage of the design process.  It's like a cooking receipt.  You do this, and then this, and last of all this.  It's the construction order.  (In complex designs that's not exactly true.)
 

Offline bostonmanTopic starter

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #221 on: December 25, 2024, 03:45:20 pm »
I'll try getting that out of my head that the tree is a list of parts.

Sometimes I export a model (to STL) and I don't see fillets in the slicing software, so I'm baffled. Then it seems to exist when I view the individual layers in the slicing software, but they are on such small faces that I don't know if they don't appear due to size or don't exist.

At this point I say, whatever.... just print the thing and attribute not seeing fillets to the slicing software; but also keep in the back of my mind I don't understand the tree enough to figure out if I'm not selecting something correctly when I export.

Since the tree is a list of stages in the design, then it makes sense selecting the last item in the list (pocket in this case) will export everything.

Using CTRL-A in the tree seems like that should also export everything, but obviously doesn't.

If I'm having this much "fun" now with a rectangle and two holes, can't wait until I step up a notch and 3D model an internal combustion engine. :)
 

Offline rteodor

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #222 on: December 26, 2024, 02:58:34 pm »
Using CTRL-A in the tree seems like that should also export everything, but obviously doesn't.

If I'm having this much "fun" now with a rectangle and two holes, can't wait until I step up a notch and 3D model an internal combustion engine. :)

One thing it seems its not well explained and made clear in any FreeCAD tutorial I saw, but it is a must to know: everything, everything relates to your selection in the Model tree.. When something does not appear to make sense check what is the current selection until this habbit gets into your bloodstream.

To export everything, best is to select the body. That will export whatever its the last step in the tree - and that is usually what you want to print.
 

Offline MarkF

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #223 on: December 26, 2024, 04:16:57 pm »
I can't remember what slicer you're using.  But, the slicer should not loose any part of your model and, if you exported it correctly, any fillets should exist in the STL.

However, the slicer may not be able to reproduce, and may not display, tiny fillets due to choices you made in configuring the slicer.  For very tiny fillets and other details, you will at least need to select a fine layer height or a different print orientation.  If you have a large layer height, small details will be blown out.  It's like trying to read a car license plate in a picture with a low resolution.  You just can't see the detail.

A lot depends on your model.  But, sometimes you are able to change the orientation on the print bed to gain better detail when printed.  Some model however force their placement in order to be printed.  I did a HO scaled file cabinet that I was able to get a better print by placing the side on the print bed instead placing the back down.

If you print everything at a 0.2mm layer height for example, you are severely limiting the detail your printer can reproduce.  When I want fine details, I reduce my layer height and slow down the print speed giving the printer every chance at a good print.
 

Offline bostonmanTopic starter

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Re: Resize a STL File For Me
« Reply #224 on: December 27, 2024, 03:44:31 am »
I'd rather not deviate towards slicing software issues as the one I use (Slic3r) is probably not very popular and keep it on topic of FreeCAD since I'm trying to learn more than just padding a square.

Maybe soon I'll learn how to pad a rectangle, but that's next semester. :)

Anyway, attached is four screen shots. I created a square, placed two circles in it, padded it, and added fillets. The fillets on the holes are on both sides and both all four fillets are 0.04". The short sides have a fillet of 0.03", and the longer sides have a fillet of 0.02" (I couldn't go any larger without it giving an error).

As the picture shows, I did a CTRL-A and exported it. In the slicing software in the platter preview, it doesn't show the fillets. I changed the layer heights to 0.1mm and it still doesn't show; but shows in the 'preview' window (although it doesn't seem to show the edges nor does it show the edges on the 'layers' preview).

I may be wrong, but believe in the platter view the layer heights and settings don't impact that view, only the preview and layer windows.

In any case, this is where I begin questioning: did I export it wrong in FreeCAD, or is the slicing software showing an error? Then I print it at the default of 0.3mm, but can't tell if fillets are present; although maybe in this case the fillets on the holes would be obvious since they are so large.

 


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