Help with cutting text from stl file

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mr6
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2022 1:14 pm

Help with cutting text from stl file

Post by mr6 »

OS: Windows 10 Version 2009
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.19.24291 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: releases/FreeCAD-0-19
Hash: 7b5e18a0759de778b74d3a5c17eba9cb815035ac
Python version: 3.8.6+
Qt version: 5.15.2
Coin version: 4.0.1
OCC version: 7.5.0
Locale: English/Netherlands (en_NL)


I've downloaded an Stl file and I want to add text to the side of it by creating a pocket.
I've imported the STL and I think I've converted it to a Solid, but I'm unable to create a pocket. When I try, I get this message:
FreeCAD_32jNMMOg4B.png
FreeCAD_32jNMMOg4B.png (7.35 KiB) Viewed 2236 times
FreeCAD_uygTS9LsGk.gif
FreeCAD_uygTS9LsGk.gif (711.15 KiB) Viewed 2239 times
But, I don't seem to be able to add the Blue cube (solid?) to a body.

So basically, what I want is to cut out the text from the side of the object. What is the best way to do this?
Attachments
labyrinthGiftBox_lid_long.stl
(52.72 KiB) Downloaded 27 times
FreeCAD_QOXN5RlldM.png
FreeCAD_QOXN5RlldM.png (9.31 KiB) Viewed 2277 times
lid with text.FCStd
(732.63 KiB) Downloaded 32 times
heda
Veteran
Posts: 1348
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 5:49 pm

Re: Help with cutting text from stl file

Post by heda »

it seems like the file you attached is not same as screen cast.

anyway, in the attached file there is a shell and a solid (from the mesh), the one that was in the part was the shell.

you can manage just fine without pd wb, extrude your shapestring in part wb and make a cut (or union) and you are done.
preferably you should refine your solid before any booleans are done to it.

btw, a shape like this is not much point in converting, stl is not something one should strive for when dealing with 3d - the shape is simple and is better done by remodel it in fc from scratch to the dimensions of the mesh and then add your text to the fc-native solid.
montyl
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2019 5:08 am

Re: Help with cutting text from stl file

Post by montyl »

You missed a step, getting a shape from the mesh. You can't go from a mesh to a solid directly.

Took your .stl, imported it, went to the Part Workbench then selected the mesh, Part > Create shape from mesh, then selected the shape, Part > Convert to solid.

Boolean it at will!

@heda The .FCStd file wasn't posted, the source .stl was. And yes, as simple as the source is, reconstructing it FreeCAD native would be a better way.

MontyL
edwilliams16
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Posts: 3108
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2020 10:31 pm
Location: Hawaii
Contact:

Re: Help with cutting text from stl file

Post by edwilliams16 »

Screen Shot 2022-01-25 at 4.50.19 PM.png
Screen Shot 2022-01-25 at 4.50.19 PM.png (42.35 KiB) Viewed 2141 times
Making from scratch is cleaner.
Attachments
lid_EW.FCStd
(163.64 KiB) Downloaded 28 times
mr6
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2022 1:14 pm

Re: Help with cutting text from stl file

Post by mr6 »

Thanks for the help and suggestions.

@edwilliams16
Recreating is not really an option, because the notch on the inside is now missing.
FreeCAD_GS9SxAUJ9N.png
FreeCAD_GS9SxAUJ9N.png (45.48 KiB) Viewed 2049 times
That notch is quite essential, since it is the part that goes to the labyrinth! The part is an elongated version of the lid from this box: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:201097
I want to 3d-print it so I can put a present in it that's a little longer than the original format.

@montyl: I don't see any attached files?

@heda: thanks, I wil try!
mr6
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2022 1:14 pm

Re: Help with cutting text from stl file

Post by mr6 »

I don't seem to be able to cut the extruded text part from the other part:
FreeCAD_bgA6RKLwJl.png
FreeCAD_bgA6RKLwJl.png (22.3 KiB) Viewed 2047 times
even though the text goes through the other body:
FreeCAD_j9aOnrxjlx.png
FreeCAD_j9aOnrxjlx.png (26.43 KiB) Viewed 2047 times
mr6
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2022 1:14 pm

Re: Help with cutting text from stl file

Post by mr6 »

For some reason the file gets too big if I put in the entire text "default", so I changed it to '1' which was about 0.5 megabyte less. :|

Uploading the file still gives me an http error.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A_Waz6 ... sp=sharing
kisolre
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Posts: 4163
Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2018 1:13 pm

Re: Help with cutting text from stl file

Post by kisolre »

mr6 wrote: Wed Jan 26, 2022 7:45 am Recreating is not really an option, because the notch on the inside is now missing.
Which of course is also quite easy to recreate if your interest in FreeCAD is not just a one time deal. Here is my recreation with fillets, chamfers, notch, ... You will need to point the shapestring to an existing font on your PC for it to properly recompute.
.
LGB_Lid.JPG
LGB_Lid.JPG (46.71 KiB) Viewed 1994 times
.
Attachments
LGB_Lid.FCStd
(372.79 KiB) Downloaded 23 times
mr6
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2022 1:14 pm

Re: Help with cutting text from stl file

Post by mr6 »

Great, thanks!

My interest in FreeCAD is more than a one time deal, but it is only my second CAD project, so recreating it seemed to me like a difficult option. I've started the print now, will post an update with the result!
domad
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Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2020 12:16 pm

Re: Help with cutting text from stl file

Post by domad »

Hello, greetings to the community!
...using mesh solidification, but of course the best solution is to remodel in FreeCad (as @kisolre did).
Attachments
labyrinthGiftBox_lid_long.FCStd
(892.61 KiB) Downloaded 22 times
labyrinthGiftBox_lid_long.png
labyrinthGiftBox_lid_long.png (484.8 KiB) Viewed 1942 times
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