Problem with repetitive object coming from different sketches

[chrisb]

And here is the array with a very simple tree, now having only slightly more than half of the original size.

[pablin]

Hi and thanks for all these help messages.
I tried to follow the sphere headed cylinders and I thought I was alomst there when all went black... I tried to build a negative image of what I want as a final shape in the block:

Dsn004a.png (161.2 KiB) Viewed 1263 times

Then arrayed it:

Dsn004b.png (822.43 KiB) Viewed 1263 times

Built the block to substract:

Dsn004c.png (173.22 KiB) Viewed 1263 times

But when substracting (Pad then array) all goes black... :

Dsn004d.png (133.36 KiB) Viewed 1263 times

Any idea or comments on the whole approach?

Also the file is too big (>4Mo) so that I can upload it, is there any alternative way?

Thanks again to you all!!!

[bejant]

ut when substracting (Pad then array) all goes black... :

Something went wrong and so FreeCAD doesn't know how to render the image. As a guess: in the history tree find your Array and select it. From the Data tab in the Combo View (lower left corner of the FreeCAD window by default) and look at the Property > Fuse. If is is False change it to True and then see if that fixes your model.

Also the file is too big (>4Mo) so that I can upload it, is there any alternative way?

Upload it to a free file hosting service like Dropbox or Google Drive, then post the link.

[pablin]

Hi all
Thanks bejant you solved it! I still don't have the reflex to check in the data tabs!!!
Just a picture of the result

Dsn004_Vsb013.png (267.02 KiB) Viewed 1246 times

and here is the link
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B11Dt ... XVyakFnREk
btw, the file is much lighter now!!!

Thanks again
Pablo

[pablin]

Ok
Now last improvement, I will be printing on a Form 2 printer (https://formlabs.com/3d-printers/form-2/) and I would like to hollow the part so that it doesn't need too much material... I've been trying the Thickness tool from Part WorkBench on both the final version of the part (prevoius post), or at earlier stages as here (note that the feature Join "intersection" doesn't work, only "Arc" works)

Dsn004_Vsb008_001.png (72.07 KiB) Viewed 1241 times

Dsn004_Vsb008_001.FCStd

(318.6 KiB) Downloaded 10 times

but it doesn't work for fused arrays of 2 of this part (before hollowing - crash). Is there another tool/way?
Thanks
Pablo

[Willem]

Hi Pablo, the design can be much more simple when you use the array function instead of two times a mirror and a fuse function. The Thickness tool works well in this configuration. I did not exactly understand what your problems were, but I did not check with your configuration.

[pablin]

Hi Willem
Thanks for your answer.
Sorry I was unclear, may be with illustrations it would be easier to explain:

-for a unique part (as the one in the picture and file from my previous post), there is no problem (although your way looks indeed easier than the one I used)

-problem starts with an array of as low as 2 of this part fused, as here

Dsn004_Vsb008_002Willem.png (175.27 KiB) Viewed 1233 times

Dsn004_Vsb008_002Willem.FCStd

(152.23 KiB) Downloaded 10 times

where I can't manage to get the Thickness tool to work

-the final goal is to manage to get this part (picture below, file here https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B11Dt ... XVyakFnREk), which is based on an array of 12 by 8 of the unique part, holowed...

I hope it is a bit clearer, if not, just let me know.
Thanks
Pablo

[Willem]

Hi, it is possible to make it hollow. The funnel type shape on top has to be separated from the shaft. An array of the shaft can be made and hollowed with the thickness function. An array can also be made for the funnel shape on top. This must be cut to make it hollow. I did this for a 3x2 array and I thought already that my PC was frozen, but it needed such a long calculation time

Schermafdruk van 2017-01-17 16-56-14.png (53.93 KiB) Viewed 1224 times

[NormandC]

Hello Pablo,

Now last improvement, I will be printing on a Form 2 printer (https://formlabs.com/3d-printers/form-2/)

Nice!

and I would like to hollow the part so that it doesn't need too much material...

With FDM-based 3D printers, you can adjust settings in the slicer software to hollow out a solid, or fill it only partially. This is called infill.

http://manual.slic3r.org/expert-mode/infill
https://www.typeamachines.com/cura-type-a

I would be surprised if the Form 2 software didn't offer such a feature. Using this, there would be no need to "complexify" your model further.