How can I import a complex STEP file, retain only the outer surface, and convert everything inside into a solid block? Is there a Python script to automate this process for large assemblies?
It would be good if you could share the file or a simplified example and illustrate what your goal is.
Thank you for your response. I’ve attached some images of a simple flange assembly to illustrate my objective. This assembly includes 10 parts (washers and screws included), and the flange itself has special inner features like fillets and chamfers. However, for my design, I only need to show the outer surfaces of these components. I want to perform a boolean operation on the entire assembly, but it doesn’t work with these specific STEP files. Exploding and joining all the outer surfaces to create a solid model would be a significant task. I would appreciate your suggestions on how to proceed. Thank you.
It’s impossible to tell from images why that wouldn’t work. Please post a .3dm or .stp file.
-wim
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here is the .3dm file for the flenge.
flange_Krecotec.3dm (3.0 MB)
Thank you.
Some of your objects are exploded and need to be joined first.
Once all individual parts are available as closed polysurfaces, the parts can be unioned.
The result is one object representing the outer surfaces and three voids inside it which can be deleted…
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As Martin noted, some of those objects are exploded.
When you import the STEP file, do you have Join surfaces checked?
If you do, could you please post the original STEP file?
-wim
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Dear Mr Martin,
Thank you very much for your suggestion. Can I have your edited cad file so that I can compere.
Didn’t you succeed?
Yes, I succeeded; however, this was a simple assembly. I’m wondering about handling a large assembly, which is almost 1GB and contains many exploded surfaces. Since there’s no option for converting from a STEP file as they are already .3dm files, is there an easier method for these kinds of files? Thanks.