Need suggestions for Geometry cleanup options in FreeCAD software

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Kishor Namaji
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Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:40 am

Need suggestions for Geometry cleanup options in FreeCAD software

Post by Kishor Namaji »

In FreeCAD, can we work on the imported geometry, i.e., splitting the surfaces, toggling the lines, defeaturing, offset the lines?
chrisb
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Re: Need suggestions for Geometry cleanup options in FreeCAD software

Post by chrisb »

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Yes and no: Imported objects have no history, so defeaturing is possible, and you can use the object for further operations such as splitting, extracting faces etc. But you cannot directly change the existing geometry.
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Kishor Namaji
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:40 am

Re: Need suggestions for Geometry cleanup options in FreeCAD software

Post by Kishor Namaji »

okay, but can you suggest some manual/tutorial/links which can show how to do defeaturing & do geometrical operations?
I have checked FreeCAD, but i am not able to do defeaturing or splitting
I have .STEP file with me,i want to do modification on that..
If it is not possible in FreeCAD, can you suggest some other open source CAD software's which you are aware of?
Kishor Namaji
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:40 am

Re: Need suggestions for Geometry cleanup options in FreeCAD software

Post by Kishor Namaji »

okay, but can you suggest some manual/tutorial/links which can show how to do defeaturing & do geometrical operations?
I have checked FreeCAD, but i am not able to do defeaturing or splitting
I have .STEP file with me,i want to do modification on that..
If it is not possible in FreeCAD, can you suggest some other open source CAD software's which you are aware of?
Kishor Namaji
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:40 am

Re: Need suggestions for Geometry cleanup options in FreeCAD software

Post by Kishor Namaji »

okay, but can you suggest some manual/tutorial/links which can show how to do defeaturing & do geometrical operations?
I have checked FreeCAD, but i am not able to do defeaturing or splitting
I have .STEP file with me,i want to do modification on that..
If it is not possible in FreeCAD, can you suggest some other open source CAD software's which you are aware of?
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NewJoker
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Re: Need suggestions for Geometry cleanup options in FreeCAD software

Post by NewJoker »

For defeaturing check this tool: Part Defeaturing and this add-on workbench: Defeaturing Workbench.

When it comes to splitting, boolean tools should help you. They are listed here: https://wiki.freecadweb.org/Part_Module#Boolean

Also, search previous threads, there were many questions about various geometry cleanup operations that you may want to perform.
chrisb
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Re: Need suggestions for Geometry cleanup options in FreeCAD software

Post by chrisb »

The idea of working with an imported file is, that you don't start at zero, but with an existing solid. It acts like a Part->SimpleCopy in FreeCAD. You can add and subtract material, slice it, downgrade it to its components etc.
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papyblaise
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Re: Need suggestions for Geometry cleanup options in FreeCAD software

Post by papyblaise »

Import the STEP file, Part Wb > Create form from a mesh, then Part Wb > make a solid
you will have a solid full of facets but that you can work as a solid Fc object
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NewJoker
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Re: Need suggestions for Geometry cleanup options in FreeCAD software

Post by NewJoker »

papyblaise wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:48 pm Import the STEP file, Part Wb > Create form from a mesh, then Part Wb > make a solid
you will have a solid full of facets but that you can work as a solid Fc object
That’s the workflow necessary for STL, not STEP files. The latter are already solid and don’t have more facets than needed to represent CAD geometry.
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papyblaise
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Re: Need suggestions for Geometry cleanup options in FreeCAD software

Post by papyblaise »

That’s the workflow necessary for STL, not STEP files
sorry my stupid mistake
Last edited by papyblaise on Fri Aug 12, 2022 8:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
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