Odd Problem with Lofted Solids

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Odd Problem with Lofted Solids

This topic has 33 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 28 December 2016 at 13:39 by Peter Edwards 6.

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26 December 2016 at 11:06 #273750
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Help! If I create a lofted solid in turbocad, it appears to create a surface rather than a solid. I've checked that both the generating 2D objects are closed (they are just rectangles with rounded corners.

I'm confounded by this!

Neil

Edit: I seems I need to change the properties of the lofting tool to create object as solid, but it only give me the option of 'surface' – it seems this is a limitation of not having TC Pro.

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 26/12/2016 11:11:33
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26 December 2016 at 11:06 #21216
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
26 December 2016 at 11:19 #273753
Muzzer
Participant
@muzzer
Fusion 360 Ultimate – free, zero cost, gratis….
26 December 2016 at 11:39 #273756
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Neil Wyatt on 26/12/2016 11:06:52:

Help! …

Edit: I seems I need to change the properties of the lofting tool to create object as solid, but it only give me the option of 'surface' – it seems this is a limitation of not having TC Pro.

.

Solid = an infinite number of surfaces in a stack, so it's bound to need the Pro version.

MichaelG.
26 December 2016 at 14:59 #273782
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Posted by Michael Gilligan on 26/12/2016 11:39:44:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 26/12/2016 11:06:52:

Help! …

Edit: I seems I need to change the properties of the lofting tool to create object as solid, but it only give me the option of 'surface' – it seems this is a limitation of not having TC Pro.

.

Solid = an infinite number of surfaces in a stack, so it's bound to need the Pro version.

MichaelG.

Are you sure this will work?

It took me ages to stack an infinite number of surfaces, but it's still zero thickness.

Neil
26 December 2016 at 15:00 #273784
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Posted by Muzzer on 26/12/2016 11:19:15:

Fusion 360 Ultimate – free, zero cost, gratis….

Say NO to New Learning Curves!

Neil
26 December 2016 at 15:54 #273794
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Neil Wyatt on 26/12/2016 14:59:56:

Are you sure this will work?

.

Only conceptually
26 December 2016 at 17:07 #273799
Ed Duffner
Participant
@edduffner79357
Create Solid from Surface ?

**LINK**

Ed.
26 December 2016 at 17:16 #273802
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
That's very interesting, Ed

I don't have TurboCad, so I can't test it, but; it looks suspiciously like the two open ends have simply been 'skinned-over" … What happens if you slice that 'solid' object ?

Just curious

MichaelG.
26 December 2016 at 17:33 #273804
Ed Duffner
Participant
@edduffner79357
Hi Michael,

I'm afraid I don't have TC any more (used to have a very early version), this was just a quick search on the net. I know some programs do make a solid object with similar functions, dare I say Fusion 360 for one Perhaps Neil can check out the function and let us know?

Edit: It could be one of the limitations Neil mentioned.

Ed.

Edited By Ed Duffner on 26/12/2016 17:36:22
26 December 2016 at 17:55 #273809
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Posted by Ed Duffner on 26/12/2016 17:07:58:

Create Solid from Surface ?

**LINK**

That's where I discovered it only works in Pro and Pro Platinum
26 December 2016 at 18:35 #273814
blowlamp
Participant
@blowlamp
I'm learning Fusion 360, mainly for the CAM features. However, I can't see me moving from MoI as my main CAD application any time soon. In MoI, a solid is created from any surfaces that are water-tight simply by selecting them and clicking on the Join icon. Clicking the Separate icon turns them back to surfaces again. So quick & simple!

"Solid = an infinite number of surfaces in a stack,"… What a weird concept that is!

Martin.
26 December 2016 at 18:41 #273817
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by blowlamp on 26/12/2016 18:35:31:

"Solid = an infinite number of surfaces in a stack,"… What a weird concept that is!

.

It was offered as a bit of fun, Martin … But, as you find it objectionable; could you please tell me what is wrong with it ?

Take any solid, and peel-off a surface [being something with zero thickness] … What remains ?

MichaelG.
26 December 2016 at 18:59 #273818
Gary Wooding
Participant
@garywooding25363
TC Deluxe cannot create solids. All 3D models are hollow surfaces.

The Pro versions create solids by default.

Edited By Gary Wooding on 26/12/2016 19:00:11
26 December 2016 at 20:32 #273825
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Neil, out of interest, what version ?
26 December 2016 at 20:56 #273827
blowlamp
Participant
@blowlamp
Posted by Michael Gilligan on 26/12/2016 18:41:49:

Posted by blowlamp on 26/12/2016 18:35:31:

"Solid = an infinite number of surfaces in a stack,"… What a weird concept that is!

.

It was offered as a bit of fun, Martin … But, as you find it objectionable; could you please tell me what is wrong with it ?

Take any solid, and peel-off a surface [being something with zero thickness] … What remains ?

MichaelG.

Oh, I thought it may have come from the documentation.

I just don't see how stacking zero thickness surfaces can become a solid.

I think a solid is classed as a closed volume, so removing a surface probably makes it an open volume.

Martin.
26 December 2016 at 21:14 #273829
Mark C
Participant
@markc
I like the idea, a bit like straight lines being arc of infinite radius… and anyway, we have surfaces of zero thickness so why can't you expand the idea with some lateral thought? Apart from all that, apparently we live in a world of 3D printing = solids made up of sequential surfaces with some thickness, although they are trying to get them closer to zero!

Mark
26 December 2016 at 21:46 #273832
blowlamp
Participant
@blowlamp
Posted by Mark C on 26/12/2016 21:14:47:

I like the idea, a bit like straight lines being arc of infinite radius… and anyway, we have surfaces of zero

thickness so why can't you expand the idea with some lateral thought? Apart from all that, apparently we live in a world of 3D printing = solids made up of sequential surfaces with some thickness, although they are trying to get them closer to zero!

Mark

Hmm, so is an arc made up of lines of infinitesimal length?

Martin.
26 December 2016 at 21:48 #273833
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by blowlamp on 26/12/2016 20:56:34:

(a) I just don't see how stacking zero thickness surfaces can become a solid.

(b) I think a solid is classed as a closed volume, so removing a surface probably makes it an open volume.

.

(a) … as I said, it was just a bit of fun; I did mention stacking an infinite number of them

(b) … I think that re-states the problem that Neil is having. [i.e. he wants solid solids]

MichaelG.
26 December 2016 at 21:56 #273834
blowlamp
Participant
@blowlamp
Posted by Michael Gilligan on 26/12/2016 21:48:22:

Posted by blowlamp on 26/12/2016 20:56:34:

(a) I just don't see how stacking zero thickness surfaces can become a solid.

(b) I think a solid is classed as a closed volume, so removing a surface probably makes it an open volume.

.

(a) … as I said, it was just a bit of fun; I did mention stacking an infinite number of them

(b) … I think that re-states the problem that Neil is having. [i.e. he wants solid solids]

MichaelG.

Neil's problem is he needs a more intuitive CAD application.

Martin.
27 December 2016 at 00:16 #273843
Mark C
Participant
@markc
"Hmm, so is an arc made up of lines of infinitesimal length?" Certainly small lines especially if it is a cheap system!!!

Mark
27 December 2016 at 10:22 #273867
Gary Wooding
Participant
@garywooding25363
Neil,

If your requirement is to create solid models for 3D printing, then download and install MeshMixer which is totally free. Get it from HERE

It will accept STLs and there is a command to convert to solid.

An alternative that I, and lots of others, have adopted is Fusion 360. Its certainly a paradigm shift from TurboCad, but I'd be surprised if, after spending the time getting used to it, you didn't consider it a vast improvement over TurboCad. I've switched to using it for all my 3D modelling, but still use TurboCad for 2D drawing because, at the moment, its far better than Fusion.
27 December 2016 at 12:43 #273892
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
It's version 9.

As pointed out all TC deluxe 3D shapes are 'surfaces' which doesn't seem to upset a 3D printer.

This makes the problem (solved by another approach) curious:

If I place a cube to go through one side of a larger cube, then subtract it, I get a shape a bit like a Belfast sink. But i want a tapered shape more like a bath tub.

If instead the two shapes are lofted with a taper, rather than extruded squares, then a hole is cut in the intersected side of the larger shape and no surface is created for the 'inside' of the bath i.e. it isn't a 'closed' surface any more.

Weird.

I solved it by subtracting an extruded rectangle with rounded corners from a larger one, then moving the points at the narrow end of the taper towards the mid-line. This kept the radius of the corners constant bit anglesd teh edges, which looks fine.
27 December 2016 at 13:25 #273896
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Neil, can't you extrude cut with a draft angle? Alibre allows that not sure about your TC.

Edited By JasonB on 27/12/2016 13:32:36
27 December 2016 at 14:14 #273901
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
> Neil, can't you extrude cut with a draft angle?

Not in deluxe.

I did get there in the end, any guesses what this is?

Neil
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