Import and edit STEP files

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NavinF
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 3:05 am

Import and edit STEP files

Post by NavinF »

I'd like to make some changes to an imported STEP file, starting with removing the highlighted chamfers and making this hole larger:
screenshot.png
screenshot.png (484.44 KiB) Viewed 14923 times

I tried importing the STEP file, creating a sketch on a face, and creating a pocket, but got this error:
Screenshot 2021-02-14 024137.png
Screenshot 2021-02-14 024137.png (17.77 KiB) Viewed 14923 times

Something's off about my model tree. How do I turn the imported object into a FreeCAD body as if I had created it from scratch?

(Just to be clear, I'm not talking about STL meshes. See attached STEP file and FCStd file)

OS: Windows 10
Version: 0.18.4 (GitTag)
Build type: Release
Branch: releases/FreeCAD-0-18
Hash: 980bf9060e28555fecd9e3462f68ca74007b70f8
Python version: 3.6.6
Qt version: 5.6.2
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.3.0
Locale: English/UnitedStates (en_US)
Attachments
arm.FCStd
(127.26 KiB) Downloaded 71 times
Arm 150 Straight.step
(311.18 KiB) Downloaded 69 times
drmacro
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Re: Import and edit STEP files

Post by drmacro »

drag the Arm straight object into the Body.

This will create a BaseFeature.

you can then pocket from that.
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chrisb
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Re: Import and edit STEP files

Post by chrisb »

The message says it: The step object is outside of the body. The ShapeBinder doesn't give you a real object, it can be used only for referencing. You can drag the Arm into the body though.

I would rather recommend the defeaturing tool from Part workbench, because your object doesn't have any history anyway.
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NavinF
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 3:05 am

Re: Import and edit STEP files

Post by NavinF »

Thank you all! Part>Defeaturing got rid of the chamfers. After that, Part Design>Create Body created the BaseFeature I needed to create and pocket sketches.

Oddly enough I still can't create a body from the original STEP object; I can only do that after defeaturing at least one chamfer. I wonder why this doesn't work:
Screenshot 2021-02-16 043943.png
Screenshot 2021-02-16 043943.png (25.2 KiB) Viewed 14844 times
chrisb
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Re: Import and edit STEP files

Post by chrisb »

Probably because you haven't the model structure right. Try with a body insode of the Part container, or even better: remove the Part container from the model.
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heda
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Re: Import and edit STEP files

Post by heda »

just a general usability thought, since it seems like quite some people get stuck on the "out of active body" message.

a) change error message to include hint of what to do if it happens
b) instead of an error, code a selection dialogue that allows user to select a part to move into the body, or complain that there is no part at all in the file so nothing can be done.
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thomas-neemann
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Re: Import and edit STEP files

Post by thomas-neemann »

NavinF wrote: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:50 am
here a posibility

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMNONW5s-Jo


1.png
1.png (24.13 KiB) Viewed 14657 times
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M4x
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Re: Import and edit STEP files

Post by M4x »

Thomas, thanks for directly posting a screenshot!
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thomas-neemann
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Re: Import and edit STEP files

Post by thomas-neemann »

M4x wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 5:34 pm Thomas, thanks for directly posting a screenshot!
it's a screenshot from the video about it. linked videos are only shown as black rectangles in the forum
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