I can't make a union.

[DAP]

Boiler plate:
OS: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.17.13519 (Git)
Build type: None
Branch: releases/FreeCAD-0-17
Hash: 1a8b868018f45ea486c0023fdbfeb06febc1fb89
Python version: 2.7.12
Qt version: 4.8.7
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.2.0
Locale: English/UnitedStates (en_US)

In the attached design, I would like to make a union of the Clone001, FrontFoot, BackFoot, BackFoot (Mirror#2), and FrontFoot (Mirror#2).
If I use the "Part" workbench and select "Make a union of several shapes" the computer thinks for a bit, then causes an exception (the exception message does not hang around long enough for me to read it). the preview window goes blank, and there is a fusion item in the model with a bang on it. the tool text says "MultiFusion Failed". Not very helpful.

If I try and open the dependency graph, I get "Graphviz failed to create an image file".

"Check Geometry" finds no errors in any of my bodies.

If I make "Socket" my active body and attempt a boolian operation, it won't let me "Add Body" the feet.
If I select the feet before clicking on the boolean, a whole list of items appear in the body list. If I click OK, I get a boolean with a bang, with the tooltip "Fusion tools failed".
If I then delete the broken boolean, the feet become invisible, and can't be made visible.

It is clear I don't know what I am doing, and could use a clue.
Thanks.

[chrisb]

What does the Report view say? The (vanishing) exception should be protocolled there.

[DAP]

What does the Report view say? The (vanishing) exception should be protocolled there.

What the report view says is not very helpful: "Exception (Sat Apr 28 23:39:19 2018): MultiFusion failed"

[Willem]

DAP wrote

(the exception message does not hang around long enough for me to read it).

The report view can be activated to read the message

Schermafdruk van 2018-04-29 09-14-58.png (235.5 KiB) Viewed 1603 times

[Willem]

It took a while to find the solution but Backfoot loft is not solid

Schermafdruk van 2018-04-29 09-36-13.png (246.15 KiB) Viewed 1595 times

[HarryGeier]

I think , the reason is that you mixed Part Design and Part functionalities quite much..

I had this Problem also in the past, and i use a workaround, when it up to 3D Printing...what i assum in your case too.

I create SEPARATE Stl´s and UNION these in Mesh Workbench

See my Version

2018-04-29 09_06_40-FreeCAD.png (106.58 KiB) Viewed 1590 times

Edit : Willem looked deeper.. I assumed that your elements are ok as such, before you asked for help...

[DAP]

DAP wrote

(the exception message does not hang around long enough for me to read it).

The report view can be activated to read the message
Schermafdruk van 2018-04-29 09-14-58.png

I did that, the text I put in quotes was a copy and paste from the report view. Unfortunately, this text was not any more enlightening than the tool tip was.

[DAP]

It took a while to find the solution but Backfoot loft is not solidSchermafdruk van 2018-04-29 09-36-13.png

This is probably it.
I seem to have extreme difficulty remembering to click on the solid checkbox every time I do a a draft. I know I went back and re-did both drafts because I forgot to do that the 1st time, but it looks like I forgot to do it the 2nd time on one of them.
Thanks for catching that.

Except that appears not to be sufficient.
I fixed that issue and tried to make a union and got:
"not a freecad file: .STL
Exception (Sun Apr 29 10:41:17 2018): MultiFusion failed "
I'm not sure where the .STL error comes from, I have not attempted to load any .STL files.

[DAP]

I think , the reason is that you mixed Part Design and Part functionalities quite much..

I had this Problem also in the past, and i use a workaround, when it up to 3D Printing...what i assum in your case too.

I create SEPARATE Stl´s and UNION these in Mesh Workbench

See my Version
2018-04-29 09_06_40-FreeCAD.png


Edit : Willem looked deeper.. I assumed that your elements are ok as such, before you asked for help...

Do you know if the meshes are linked? Will the mesh follow the design if I change one of the spreadsheet items? Or will I need to rebuild the meshes every time the spreadsheet is adjusted?
Thanks.

I tried to change the spreadsheet, but the design broke before it even got to the meshes.
I get the following errors:

"
not a freecad file: .STL
Part::FeaturePython: Links go out of the allowed scope
Draft: wrong face index
Sketcher::SketchObject: Links go out of the allowed scope
Sketcher::SketchObject: Links go out of the allowed scope
"

Can someone point me at documentation that describes the "allowed scope"?
Thanks.

[HarryGeier]

Do you know if the meshes are linked? Will the mesh follow the design if I change one of the spreadsheet items? Or will I need to rebuild the meshes every time the spreadsheet is adjusted?

No they are not linked, must be rebuilt..But i do not know a way to get STL generation parametric .. I made a script to create my STL´s with 2 mouse clicks.. and i delete them after export each time.