Woodwork and software problems

[Ollie78]

Hi

Just wondering if there is a way to do what I am trying to do.
I have some guitar part STL files, they are accurate and good files ( I purchased them ) but I want to modify some of the parts to my own design, adding and modifying the outer shape but keeping the important geometries of the parts the same.
Effectively, I want to convert the mesh to a solid component or model then edit it slightly for my design and the wood I have.

I plan to CNC machine them using Vcarve pro for the toolpaths but it does not have the modelling capabilities, for that I would need to upgrade to Aspire.

So I really need them as step files.
In fusion 360 I can do it but they have put the good ( prismatic ) version behind the paywall. So when I convert the stl to solid it leaves all the tiny triangles as individual surfaces. This means I cannot change the chamfer or thickness of the model components as I need to. It works fine on a simple component but a guitar body is very complex.

There are videos on youtube of people doing precisely what I need to but they are all from before they changed the free feature set in fusion. This is very annoying and clearly a ploy by autodesk to lure you in to the subscription, like limiting the rapids speed in the Cam section.

I also have the files in .igs format which seems to be a sort of shell construction, I cannot seem edit this type either.

In an attempt to try and do this I have tried doing it in Freecad which didn`t work and kept crashing the system, I think its because the models are pretty detailed.
I have tried blender but can`t output as step file.
Downloaded Solidedge free version which I can barely understand at all.

I could try Solidworks hobby version but thats £100 a year or something.
I could try Carveco maker or maker plus , maybe subscribe for 1 month but I can`t find out if I can do what I want.
I could just get one month of Fusion at £50 or whatever it is now. But I know I will be dissapointed when I have to revert to the free version again.

I have no problem paying for software in principle, I bought vcarve desktop then upgraded to pro and it is great and worth its money.
I realy like Fusion as I know how to work it and find it reasonably intuitive unlike solidedge which is very confusing to me. If I could I would probably just buy Aspire because at least with Vectric you own the software.
However, I don`t have any money right now so trying to find a free method or at least a cheap one that doesn`t require me to pay a monthly fee for ever.


Just hoping someone has encountered the same problem and found a way to do it.

Thanks

Ollie

 

[tibi]

You can try Freecad, it has both mesh and path workbenches, so you can edit solids, edit mesh and generate toolpath. As this is open-source software, it will not be yet as mature as a proprietary one (Autodesk Inventor, Solidworks, Catia, etc.). It had failed me many times in some very simple CAD operations, where I needed to look for a workaround so I have a love-hate relationship with it. But it is free and your files are not stored on some cloud.

 

[Ollie78]

You can try Freecad, it has both mesh and path workbenches, so you can edit solids, edit mesh and generate toolpath. As this is open-source software, it will not be yet as mature as a proprietary one (Autodesk Inventor, Solidworks, Catia, etc.). It had failed me many times in some very simple CAD operations, where I needed to look for a workaround so I have a love-hate relationship with it. But it is free and your files are not stored on some cloud.

Thanks Tibi, I tried it but despite following a youtube tutorial it would not do it on the neck file. I might try again later but yesterday it was driving me crazy.

Ollie

 

[Jacob]

Paper, pencil?

 

[tibi]

Thanks Tibi, I tried it but despite following a youtube tutorial it would not do it on the neck file. I might try again later but yesterday it was driving me crazy.

Ollie

I personally think that this software is as good as an open-source 3D CAD software can be ( given the complexity of the 3D cad software development). I think that it will receive incremental improvements over the years, but we yet have to wait years for it to match the basic functionality of a mature 3D CAD software (as the project is nobody's full-time job and each programmer's time contribution is purely voluntary). I have tried many hobbyist options, but the only software that I find the most intuitive for me and I have used it professionally for many years in prior employment (Autodesk Inventor) has no hobbyist option. And Fusion 360 with a hobbyist licence is a watered-down version of watered-down version of Inventor now (they keep putting features behind the paywal - like you can only have a single page on a drawing).

 

[MikeK]

Paper, pencil?

How would you recommend Ollie feeds the paper and pencil results into to his CNC machine that he clearly states he is using?

 

[Ollie78]

Been there, on my prototype guitar that I made years ago ( because my brother said I couldn't) . It worked OK but it took a long time and the accuracy was not amazing.

The reason I want to use the cnc is to get the critical dimensions spot on and adapt a few things to what I need.

Don't worry there will still be days of hand work, sanding, frets, electronics soldering, finishing etc.

Ollie

 

[Ollie78]

I personally think that this software is as good as an open-source 3D CAD software can be ( given the complexity of the 3D cad software development). I think that it will receive incremental improvements over the years, but we yet have to wait years for it to match the basic functionality of a mature 3D CAD software (as the project is nobody's full-time job and each programmer's time contribution is purely voluntary). I have tried many hobbyist options, but the only software that I find the most intuitive for me and I have used it professionally for many years in prior employment (Autodesk Inventor) has no hobbyist option. And Fusion 360 with a hobbyist licence is a watered-down version of watered-down version of Inventor now (they keep putting features behind the paywal - like you can only have a single page on a drawing).

You are right, it is amazing that its free, it would have cost thousands not long ago.
I will try to persevere later tonight.
I find it tricky as I am used to fusion now.
I am quite tempted by the solidworks hobby licence as its a year for the price of 2 months of fusion and this is only for my own fun but I don't even know if it will do it or not.

It's the time wasted trying stuff that is annoying, I know if I just pay up I can do exactly what I want.

Ollie

 

[Phill05]

Ollie, I use Aspire if I can help convert or change anything to what you want to work on let me know.

 

[Ollie78]

Ollie, I use Aspire if I can help convert or change anything to what you want to work on let me know.

That's great @Phill05.
I will have a go this evening and see if I can do it, otherwise I might send you a message.

Thanks

Ollie