603,796 active members*
3,195 visitors online*
Register for free
Login
IndustryArena Forum > CAD Software > Solidworks > Making a solid out of a wireframe
Page 1 of 2 12
Results 1 to 20 of 25
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    2985

    Making a solid out of a wireframe

    One of my buddies is trying to model some arbitrarily shaped polyhedra like this



    What is the easiest way to get these to solids in solidworks? The best way I know of is to make a block and a bunch of planes and cut it off piece by piece for each facet. This is very tedious when you have 216 of these to model. He already has written a macro which will generate the wireframe sketch. Is there a way to simply fill the 3d sketch into a solid?

    Thanks for any tips

    Matt

  2. #2
    Yes, make surfaces of each plane and thicken them. Post one of your wireframe files and I will see if I can help you.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    2985
    Mike

    I thought of that but would it be any more efficient to make all the surfaces and thicken them than to cut chunks off a cube? You need a separate sketch for each surface right? You would also have to stitch the surfaces before thickening, correct?

    I am attaching a file if you want to take a look.

    Thanks for your time
    Matt
    Attached Files Attached Files

  4. #4
    Matt,

    I have SolidWorks 2006. You must have a later version (2007/2008) because I cannot read your file. Can you post a wireframe IGS file? If you have a solid in that file you can post it as a Parasolid (.X_T) and I can read it. Thanks. By the way SolidWorks 2007/2008 lets you have only one sketch and make solids from a partial chain from that sketch. 2006 and earlier does not have that feature.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    2985
    Mike

    I have 2006 as well so I can't open it either. My buddy is using 2008, the file I posted is from him. I whipped up an example similar to the shape he is working with.

    Thanks
    Matt
    Attached Files Attached Files

  6. #6

    SolidWorks Solid from Wireframe

    Matt,

    Here's a solid I made from your wireframe in SolidWorks. It was fairly easy to do but I don't know how you would make it parametric.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails matt-facet-part.jpg  
    Attached Files Attached Files

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    2985
    Thanks, But how did you do it? All I get is an imported solid? No tree?

    It is doable one by one, we are trying to figure an easy way to batch process 216 parts.
    My buddy is working on a macro to "brute force" it right now. Each plane will be defined by three points and then cut from chunk to get the finished shape.

    Matt

  8. #8
    Matt, unfortunately not every plane in that model is defined by 3 points. Some are defined by four. By the way where do the points come from in the first place?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    2985
    Mike

    The geometry is from a model of grains of a metal alloy. There are 216 grains which will be assembled to make up the model. A macro is being used to bring the geometry from an excel spreadsheet. It will be transferred to FEA once the model is constructed. The model I provided was rather crude, all the data, although it may have 5 points on each surface, is indeed planar, so only three points are needed to define each surface.

    Matt

  10. #10
    Matt,

    Were you able to open that model I posted?

    Yes, of course any of the planes can be defined by 3 points but then you have to trim them.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    2985
    Mike

    see post #7

    I opened it but I only get an imported solid, not how you did it.

    Matt

  12. #12

    3D Wood

    Oh, how I did it..... I made a 3D drawing on each face consisting of either 3 or 4 lines. Then I made a Filled Surface for each sketch. Lastly I Thickened each suface inward. Voila! One solid model.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails matt solid facets.jpg  

  13. #13
    By the way I had to add this line to the one 3 line segment that was not planar.
    Attached Files Attached Files

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    2985
    Yeah, I said it was crude.

    Thanks for your input
    Matt

  15. #15
    Matt,

    Anything I can do to help.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    1660
    An even simpler route. After you get all the surfaces drawn just knit them together and click the 'try to form solid' button. Voila..
    JerryFlyGuy
    The more I know... the more I realize I don't
    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  17. #17
    Thanks Jerry.

  18. #18
    Try converting entities for each facet in a 3d sketch, fill surface, then knit
    Attached Files Attached Files

  19. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by clembrant View Post
    Try converting entities for each facet in a 3d sketch, fill surface, then knit

    Yes, exactly what JerryFlyGuy said in post #16.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    2985
    Its done.

    Macros were written to make a big block, and then cut off chunks for each facet, based on existing geometry. Here is the assembly of all 216 pieces.

    Thanks for the suggestions
    Matt
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails assem1.jpg  

Page 1 of 2 12

Similar Threads

  1. Making the gantry solid
    By MBG in forum DIY CNC Router Table Machines
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 02-21-2008, 10:47 PM
  2. 2D Wireframe Error
    By ramasule in forum Mastercam
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 01-17-2008, 01:50 AM
  3. 3D Software for making 2D nets from 3D Solid geometry
    By ALAN2525 in forum Uncategorised CAM Discussion
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 01-31-2007, 05:10 AM
  4. Solid to wireframe HELP
    By Clawsie Machine in forum Mastercam
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 05-22-2006, 04:10 PM
  5. 3D Wireframe to 3D Solid. How is this done?
    By Beezer in forum Autodesk
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 07-23-2005, 04:15 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •