Working with an STL file

[jschrell]

I'm hoping you all can help me with a rough step by step process for something. My company is getting into additive manufacturing and we have part files that get run through stress optimization software. They come back to us as an STL file of the optimized FEM mesh surfaces. Now I would like to take the rough looking tesselated mesh surface of the STL and create a nice clean smooth tangent surface in the CATPart context.

I use the HD2 license and we have other license modules available through shareable products, though I don't know yet if we have what will be needed. I may be able to request it if I don't have it. We have a process to get a rough approximation of the surface but it is very lengthy and basically involves rebuilding the part from sketches, splines, and GSD surfaces. I'd like to take this down to a couple hour process instead of week long process.

How can I take the STL file and create good part surfaces that closely approximate the optimized FEM surface? What licenses, workbenches, steps do I need? I also have an IGES file available that, when converted into CATIA, is tens of thousands of triangle surfaces representing each element of the optimized FEM. I attached an image of part of the IGES/STL surface that I want to "smooth". Please help find an efficient way to do this.

Thanks.

 

[ferdo]

Hi,

Probably best solution would be to use Dassault Systemes CATIA - Shape Sculptor 2 (DSS) license

Regards
Fernando

https://picasaweb.google.com/102257836106335725208

https://picasaweb.google.com/103462806772634246699/

 

[itsmyjob]

if you want to deform your solid based on deviation from analytical result check Realistic Shape Optimizer. RSO License.

Eric N.
indocti discant et ament meminisse periti ​

 

[jschrell]

I think I figured out through the CATIA help documentation that I need to use Digital Shape Editor to import the STL point cloud and manipulate it and then use Freestyle Optimizer to fit a surface to the point cloud. Does that sound correct? I do not have access to these licenses currently and have requested my compnay purchase a seat to them. I did try shape sculptor but it didnt seem to give me the tools I think I need, however it did give me the capability to import the STL point cloud. I believe I could also do this with RSO or maybe Quick Surface Reconstruction, but those I also do not have access to currently. Thanks for the suggestions. If I get access to the DSE and FSO I will try and hopefuly get it to work. Thanks.