FreeCAD Beginner #39 Modifying STL Files - You won't believe what you can do!

We are going to modify an STL file that was downloaded from the Internet. This will help you to make modifications to files without headaches.
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[@red6rick]

You can find the center of the hole you were looking for by bringing in three points on the circle as external geometry, then creating a 3-point circle in the sketch. No measuring, no alignment, no trial and error.

[@Adventuresincreation]

Thanks for the feedback

[@nobeltnium]

damn, a tutorial for the tutorier 😉

[@thurgogopro5338]

Exactly what i needed to know. Before watching this I just thought it would be difficult, now I actually know it is actually almost impossible. Scrap the 3D printer idea.

[@Adventuresincreation]

Glad it helped (sort of)

[@thurgogopro5338]

Your welcome. Fantastic videos by the way. I'm still watching and copying on the laptop. If kids can do it I'm not giving up

[@LazorzPewPew]

Thanks., Great vid

[@Adventuresincreation]

You are welcome 😊

[@QEngineering]

Nice video 🤘🍻

[@Adventuresincreation]

Thanks!

[@jhaand]

Great video. This really helps to modify downloaded 3D files. Which was a real pain to look up and to do a while ago. One thing I would do different for aligning the sketch. I'd rather prevent the whole iterative approximation process. I would just use the 'External Geometry' tool in Part Design workbench to get the edge of the imported part and put the hole at the exact right location.

[@Adventuresincreation]

Good plan, I'll give that a try and see how it works

[@jamesperdue9088]

I think you should learn how to do something before you try teaching it to someone else. It would be a lot less confusing.

[@jhaand]

@@jamesperdue9088 I really like this channel because it's really hands on. Just start and see where things are going. That really encourages me to also start trying things out and is a lot more relaxing to watch. While still learning useful stuff. There are other channels that make really tight and scripted videos. (e.g. Joko Engineeringhelp and Flowies Corner) While they have a lot of content, it's also really intense to watch and you have to keep up. You can watch the 2.5 hours Part Design video from Joko from early this year. You might remember what every button does, but you would have no clue on how to get started and no motivation to just get going. While Adventures in Creation really tries to make it a fun adventure.

[@Adventuresincreation]

@@jamesperdue9088 a bit harsh James. Why don't you show us how it's done 🤣

[@yakdaymar6659]

Thanks you🥰🥰🥰

[@Adventuresincreation]

You are welcome 😉

[@MyHeap]

I am very much enjoying your tutorials. You have been very informative. Would you consider showing how to add fasteners to an Assembly 4 model? Joe

[@Adventuresincreation]

I will certainly consider it. Thanks for the feedback.

[@MyHeap]

@@Adventuresincreation Thank you for the consideration.

[@KnotHead1008]

Both you and mang0jelly solutions are the best FreeCAD tutors on YT.

[@Adventuresincreation]

Thanks!

[@Mikey_xx_]

When following your actions, moving the replate001001 (solid) to the Body, it created a BaseFeature, but didn't do the Sketch that is shown above at 5:17. I get an error that says: PartDesign::Body: Link(s) to object(s) 'XXXXX' go out of the allowed scope 'Body'. Instead, the linked object(s) reside within 'N/A'.Why would that occur?

[@Adventuresincreation]

There must be a difference. What version are you using?

[@Mikey_xx_]

@@Adventuresincreation .20 . I'll start again, I must have missed something :)

[@beauson1983]

@@Mikey_xx_ I had the exact same error, how did you fix it?

[@Mikey_xx_]

@@beauson1983 couldn't. Moved on to another walk-through unfortunately.

[@rondeangelis7384]

Great way to show the thought process to get the final result. Question: if that hinge was created in multiple parts (ie sketches). Is possible to modify to make it geometric with configuration constraints? Or is the stl one solid that cant be broken down? Hope my question makes sense Nice job in presenting 👍

[@Adventuresincreation]

It's one model, can't easily be broken down into parts.

[@richardgillies8794]

what does "sew shape" mean and what does the tolerance for sewing shape refer to?

[@Adventuresincreation]

Great question. It is my understanding that the "sew shape" refers to stitching all the triangles of a mesh together to create a solid. The tolerance is the distance between triangles that should be "sewn" anything outside of that tolerance would be a "hole" or gap in the mesh.

[@youssefhamid6772]

Thanks for the video, is it possible to align the origin of the stl file to the origin of the Body? And really thank you for mentioning Thingerverse, I did not know such a database existed !

[@Adventuresincreation]

I think so but when you create the solid it sometimes changes. Give it a go

[@jhaand]

You can look up the exact distance with the 'External Geometry' tool in sketcher and set the exact offset.

[@Inveterat]

Seems easyer to just create the part from scratch .

[@Adventuresincreation]

Many times it is. However, sometimes you just want a minor change this is a good way to do it.

[@Izzi-jaggii]

He could have avoided doing the alignment if he would have Transformed the part BEFOR he created the solid

[@tonyp4894]

Can you make an STL into a sketch? Once I make the mesh to a solid, then refine the image, I end up with a nice solid, but I can't figure out how to make it so that I can constraint the lines to add the dimensions and end up with a working sketch. This way I can put the dimensions into a spreadsheet and make the part parametric. Can you help?

[@Adventuresincreation]

I don't think you can do what you are trying to do. You can make a drawing from the model but you can't make a sketch that drives the model from the model. You could produce sketches then create a new model using your STL as a guide.

[@CLGilbert]

I think this is what most people are looking for when they convert STL files. It's like an open secret that you can't do this. So many 'edit STL file' videos but none will come out and say that you can't reverse engineer STL back into sketch based. You have to essentially recreate it. This is at least the first time I've seen it stated planely.

[@Adventuresincreation]

@@CLGilbert An STL just doesn't contain the information you would need to recreate the sketches it came from.

[@stevet8833]

My scale is wildly off once converted. What should be a 1.98 inch model is reduced to 1.98mm. How do I correct that?

[@Adventuresincreation]

That has to be the scale that you are bringing it in to. I believe the units are in whatever system you are using i.e. if it's 1.98 and you bring it into mm it will be 1.98mm if you bring it in to inches it will be 1.98 inches. I don't think it does any conversion.

[@beauson1983]

This tutorial doesn't work in version 0.20.1. When you move the file to body at 5:17 it doesn't create a sketch and when you try it gives the error; PartDesign::Body: Link(s) to object(s) 'XXXXX' go out of the allowed scope 'Body'. Instead, the linked object(s) reside within 'N/A' Any ideas how to fix this or why this error occurs?

[@Adventuresincreation]

I will take a look but it should work

[@argusz]

at 15:13 when you dropped that solid into body it automaticaly made a "Base Feature" file and a "Skech" file. how? I cannot get that automated Skech file...

[@Adventuresincreation]

The base feature didn't make a sketch, the sketch is what we used to modify the base feature and has to be created manually.

[@argusz]

@@Adventuresincreation I know. Sorry, my time code was wrong... At 5:11 you moved that "replate001001 (solid)" on "Body" and that made a "Base Feature" and underneath you have already a "Skech" file. I did all you steps and the "Schech" file vas not created. I just wonder why the difference... FreeCad 0.20.2

[@Adventuresincreation]

You can just create a sketch using the "create sketch" button. Then you can make the same modifications.

[@Hammerjockeyrepair]

I cannot find the new body button in my freecad 0.20.1

[@Adventuresincreation]

That's odd, it's out hidden in the row?

[@morguematt]

My software doesnt have any of those settings you are using

[@Adventuresincreation]

What version are you using?

[@morguematt]

@@Adventuresincreation whichever the latest one is. I switched over the AutoCAD and was able to get what I needed done.

[@zapman6528]

Anyone keep getting an error saying it cannot convert the shape when attempting to turn it into a solid because its “not a shell”?

[@Adventuresincreation]

I haven't seen that one.

[@zapman6528]

@@Adventuresincreation i figured it out. It means the model is broken. If anyone else is reading this that has this problem do NOT convert a shapes file type through blender first. Idk maybe you can but I cut a shape I needed using the boolean difference function and when i imported into freecad apparently the shape was broken. I figured out how to cut the piece within freecad and it was all good.

[@RoelAardse]

Your tempo of speaking is good following for me (81). Your cursormovement makes me nervous and tired (too much not necessary movements on the screen)

[@Adventuresincreation]

Haha, it's hard to record without moving the mouse 🖱

[@EatRawGarlic]

I thought: Let's watch a tutorial video, because there must be easier ways to do what I'm currently doing. After watching the video: No. Why reinvent the wheel? SolidWorks and Fusion 360 both have a convenient UI and useflow. FreeCAD has not.

[@Adventuresincreation]

It's hard to compare a free and open source application with a commercial product.

[@snowhack8903]

Following along exactly and get errors at every step. You need to realize people are following along. You move to fast and don't explain stuff you just do it like everyone is keeping up. For instance in the beginning you got rid of the mesh because you didn't need it anymore. How? It just greyed out without an explanation.

[@Adventuresincreation]

You need to n use the video controls and either slow it down or rewind that way you can control the speed yourself. I can't go super slow or no one would watch.

[@canadianpatriot5577]

​@Adventuresincreation but HOW did you "turn off" the mesh, etc?

[@Adventuresincreation]

@@canadianpatriot5577 you'll find it clearly explained in one of the videos. Off the top of my head, go into the draft workbench, look for the grid icon, it toggles it on and off. - If you want, you can include that icon in any of your workbenches by modifying the workbench to show it.

[@donoho93]

shit didnt work for me

[@Adventuresincreation]

I am sorry to hear that

[@barneycarparts]

A friend recommended Sketchup. for quick mods. I watched the YT it looks intuitive and fast.

[@rondeangelis7384]

Great way to show the thought process to get the final result. Question: if that hinge was created in multiple parts (ie sketches). Is possible to modify to make it geometric with configuration constraints? Or is the stl one solid that cant be broken down? Hope my question makes sense Nice job in presenting 👍

[@Adventuresincreation]

Thanks

[@nobeltnium]

I am too having this question in my head. And its been 6 months. Is there any chance that you found the answer my good sir?