How to manipulate STL file?

[DBFIU]

Hello,

Let's say I scanned something and have the STL. what if I want to add some more geometry to it and unite it in some CAD program? Is there anyway I can turn the STL into a parasolid or some other file type (STEP?) so I can manipulate it? I tried importing the STL into solidworks as a solid but it will not let me because of the number of faceted surfaces. Is there any way for me to solve this issue?

Thank you,

-D

[awerby]

If you want a cheap solution, try Cubify Sculpt http://cubify.com/en/Products/Sculpt . It will convert the STL to voxels so you can manipulate it easily. As long as your CAD software will output STL, you should be able to bring that into the program and merge it with the scan. I've got more expensive solutions that will convert the STL to STEP or whatever, but try the cheap one first.

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

[DBFIU]

Man this is a bigger pain in the butt then I ever expected. Sorry I am new to 3D printing. But I'm a practicing mechanical engineer with 8 years experience using UGNX CAD, I never needed to manipulate an STL in the past the way I do now due to the nature of 3D printing. Basically, I want to scan someones face. Then I want to add a base so when I print it out it looks like a head bust. How am I supposed to add the cylindrical geometry at the bottom with the base if I cant unite the STL with a solid? It sucks that I have to use all these other programs to do this! Thanks for your input, I will look into it some more.

[ssayer]

Blender does this pretty easy. That said, it doesn't matter what program you use, there will be a learning curve. After watching three videos (two from their site, and one from Youtube), I had the knowledge to do something like you wish to do. YMMV...

[DBFIU]

Can you direct me to the videos you watched?

[curious aardvark]

you can try openscad.
Lots of example tutorials on the interweb for importing and messing with .stl's, I've never had much joy with importing and adding stuff to .stl's - but that said I've only tried a couple of times.

The one time it seemed to work, nothing would read the output file. But that was a while ago, I've got a better idea what I'm doing now.

Another approach, is to make the bust and just merge the two prints on the printbed in the slicer. Might not be quite a sneat but you can always sand it down after :-)

[ssayer]

To learn the basics:

http://cgcookie.com/blender/cgc-cour...for-beginners/

Videos #2 and #3

To add the base to the scan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDweCpDAB_o

Blender keyboard shortcuts (print this out and your life gets easier while you're learning):

http://www.rigsofrods.com/images/imp...rdlayout-1.png

[Marm]

Thank you for those links ssayer! Blender has been sitting on my desktop unused for some time now........

[Bassna]

You could use something like Tinkercad if you are just trying to add a base to a head. www.tinkercad.com . As long as it's not a huge file size, should work for what you want.