How to Convert STL to STEP using Free Software? (Short Tutorial)

Software to do this tutorial:
Original 3D scan of the part (STL):
Reverse engineered part with FreeCAD (STEP):
Deviation analysis of 3D scan and reverse engineered part (PDF):
GOM Inspect Software (Software for the creation of a deviation analysis):
Netfabb (version 7.4.0) (Software for measuring the 3D scan):
Netfabb (current version) (Software for measuring the 3D scan):
FreeCAD (free CAD software):

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:18 Step 1: Measuring in Netfabb and Creating a sketch for reference in FreeCAD
02:09 Step 2: Correct placement of the 3D-scan in FreeCAD
02:57 Step 3. How to change the transparency of 3D-scan in FreeCAD and create a profile
04:00 Step 4: How to hide part of the 3D-scan to model on the cross-section
04:50 Step 5: Connecting the profile sketches with the loft command
05:15 Step 6: Connecting all the parts with the boolean operation and exporting the part
05:47 Step 7: Compare the new part (STEP) with the original 3D-scan (STL) and create a nominal/actual comparison report.

About Holocreators:
Holocreators is a 3D-Scanning and Reverse Engineering Company. We'd love to help you with your projects. Please call us [phone] or write to us an email.

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[dodobarbar]

Just a comment... This is not CONVERTING but starting from scratch. You are using a 3D file for reference only. It is even easier doing some 2D measuring with a caliper directly on the original piece and than model a 3D part. Though the GOM is a good point! I owe you a beer ;-)

[stevesloan]

“New subscriber here”
So glad I stumbled across your channel. I really love how you zoom in on the buttons being used in the tutorials. Awesome for vision impaired and watching on phone screens.
Love your work and please keep your informative videos coming! 🇦🇺🤜🏼🤛🏼😎🍀🍀🍀

[Rycamcam]

Thank you! You actually linked the scan files. Took me a while to find a tutorial that has files so that we can learn along with the tutorial. Subscribed!

[bilaldjilali]

I subscribed cuz you realy look like someone who want to help others and share knowledge.

[dewexdewex]

Great video. It may be worth pointing out that Autodesk Fusion 360 is also free to use for SMEs. Fusion 360 is now the staple of the 3D printing community, and has been since Autodesk decided this policy a couple of years ago. Keep up the good work.

[D-qf]

Thank you for this video. It helped me a lot.

[alvaroperdigao]

Congratulation! Great video! Thanks a lot!

[cyberjoy]

This was pretty much a manual construction with no automation.

[mjktrash]

We previously paid a great deal of money to have professional point clouds (NOT from this vendor) made of very precise and complex parts with high tolerances. Trying to create and define high tolerance geometry with MANY point clouds that are patched together and then defining precision geometry, and complex surfaces was futile at best.

Combine this fact with the idea that you're scanning a manufactured part, (and rarely fresh from manufacturing and therefor deformed in various ways) but what you really want is the nominal or "Basic" dimension from the drawing and the process fails.

We determined that there was little value in reverse engineering complex parts with this or similar methods if the expectation is getting accurate geometry/models from the effort.

[ninjaabcde]

Hi there! love your video, could you please add the list of software you used in this video? particularly the inspection software you used in the end, also is it opensource? again, thanks a lot for such great quality content.

[benoymathew]

Hi Happy to have come to your channel. Do you have an option to convert a freeform object from .stl format to .step?

[Jim-eiiv]

This is very interesting. Can I use this method to scan a large object, something about 49 inches (125 cm) long by 12 inches (31 cm) wide? Its very high but I just need the bottom several inches. I looked at a handheld 3D scanner, but this seems to be too big to use one. Thanks!

[emalannaidoo]

I have a model of a boat that I need to make into a solid for a university project, do you think this method would work nicely for a model of that complexity? Just don't want to waste more time on the model part, I've basically used a iges file for my model and modeling on it on fusion 360 I know iges files are outdated but only way I was able to reduce the faces so I have flat surfaces to draw on any help will be much appreciated

[jongz]

How can I download the GOM software. There's no download link on their site. Thanks!

[xyrnge]

It's not converting to STEP I think? I cannot find the converted file.

[broderp]

I feel cheated. This is not converting anything. This is redrawing it the hard way.

[lookingforfreewifi]

Bei mir startet Freecad nicht. Es öffnet sich kurz und crasht dann direkt beim Start, richtig frustrierend.