Import .step file to FC: edit, disassembly, select edges

[maker]

Hi all,

After several unsuccessful tries, with regard to FC import work functionality there are still a number of unanswered questions, that I cannot find explained in FC forum.

As working basis for further design in FC one part as one solid (format = .step file) is imported in FC as basis for design of a component fixture (external and surrounding part). The import worked in FC 0.18.16093 , but I could not achieve with the solid a basis for additional working in FC....

So I've very common questions completely detached from a working example to FC functionality:

1) Is a disassembly of a single imported step solid (external geometry) possible with FC

2) Is an edit of a single imported step solid (external geometry) possible with FC

3) Is it possible to select edges of a step single solid (external geometry) with Sketcher WB: Create an edge linked to external geometry.

Can anyone give some hints to this subject.

[mrdic]

1. Not disassembly. .stp is what's known as a "dumb solid" neutral format, it doesn't have any history, so an assembly is an agglomeration of features.
Some apps recognise features like "analytic" faces; planes, conical/cylindrical and spherical/ellipsoids that can be "direct edited" with offsets, transfomations and scales, in FreeCAD you have to do the recognition and figure out how to reconstruct lost faces. Possible but not automatic.

2. Some edits are possible but not parametrically from the import alone.

3. No, you have to redraw edges with sketcher, sketches and edges can't be associated or linked unless the sketch is used to reconstruct the import or to build new features on to it.

[kisolre]

2. If the step thing is a solid you can use it as BaseFeatire for PartDesign body and edit it - add features, holes,...
3. If 2. then you can reference edges.

[openBrain]

1) Is a disassembly of a single imported step solid (external geometry) possible with FC

You can have a try at the Defeaturing_Workbench

2) Is an edit of a single imported step solid (external geometry) possible with FC

If you get a valid solid at import (or after rework), you can use it with eg. boolean operations from PartWB, or use it as a BaseFeature to work with PartDesign WB.

3) Is it possible to select edges of a step single solid (external geometry) with Sketcher WB: Create an edge linked to external geometry.

Possible if your STEP solid is set as a BaseFeature in the PartDesign Body

[maker]

@openBrain

You can have a try at the Defeaturing_Workbench

WOW!
Pretty cool new tool!

First I've tried some faces to select with it and it works as a very good basis for using the sketcher!!!
Sounded very promising to work with it...

Thank you so much for this hint.