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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[thurgogopro]

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.

[redrick]

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.

[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.

[KnotHead]

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

[Inveterat]

Seems easyer to just create the part from scratch .

[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

[rondeangelis]

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 👍

[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) go out of the allowed scope 'Body'. Instead, the linked object(s) reside within 'N/A'.Why would that occur?

[richardgillies]

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

[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)

[youssefhamid]

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 !

[tonyp]

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?

[beauson]

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) 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?

[stevet]

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?

[morguematt]

My software doesnt have any of those settings you are using

[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...

[zapman]

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

[Hammerjockeyrepair]

I cannot find the new body button in my freecad 0.20.1

[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.

[snowhack]

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.