Remove existing component in imported stl

[sylvan356]

I am enclosing an Aspire file that is an import of an stl. Is it possible to remove the saddle (angled slot) and bridge pins to allow me to place them with 2d parts in the locations I want to have them? Thanks!
Sylvan

[Dale Vanderlaan]

I gave it a shot. This cleans up the bridge to be a blank that you can create the holes and slot onto.
I copied your component down in the y direction and drew a rectangle around just a sliver of the area above the holes on the copy of your component that was wide enough to extend beyond the holes and slot. I then trimmed the component outside this box and copied the resultant shape and pasted it down again and again until the area was big enough to cover the center area with new, overlapping slices. I set the combine mode of all of these to merge and then baked them together. I slid this back over onto your original component and baked it together. Here is the .stl (renamed as a .txt file so it would post) that was created. Save it and Re-rename it back to an .stl in order to use it. The holes show a shadow of having been there but the running coordinates on the screen really don't show a big change in elevation when the cursor slides slowly over their edges.

Dale

[sylvan356]

Dale -
Thanks so much! I am going to take the original and try to duplicate your work! Thanks again!
Sylvan

[highpockets]

I love Aspire, there always multiple ways to skin the cat....

I took your component drew a box around the center part where the convex area with the holes and notice that you wanted removed.

I made a duplicate of the original component and turned off the original component. Will need it later.

I selected both the component and box and using the Clear area of selected component outside selected vector tool under the Modeling tab.

I exported this as an STL and delete the component from the component tree.

I then imported the stl file back in orientated on it's edge, centered the model on the material and adjusted the Zero plane height to the bottom and clicked OK.

Export the component as an STL

I then imported the new stl file back in and oriented it to the same orientation as the original component, centered the model on the material and adjusted the Zero plane height to the bottom and clicked OK.

Next change the Combine mode to Merge on the imported component.

Turn the original component back on.

Click on Create component from visible model.

Turn off the original component and the imported component.

With just the Copy of visible Model component checked, click on Apply smoothing filter to visible model and select Max smoothing, check Preserve transparency, click Bake current smoothing and then OK.

Done.....

Honestly it will take longer to read the instructions then it does to actually do it....

Hope this makes since.....

[sylvan356]

Again, thanks so much for all the help! This forum and its' members are the best!

[ohiolyons]

I hope I'm not the only one who can't reproduce your technique Highpockets

Could you do a screen shot of what this looks like

I then imported the stl file back in orientated on it's edge, centered the model on the material and adjusted the Zero plane height to the bottom and clicked OK.

I'm trying to figure out your technique it will be very useful in the future.

[ohiolyons]

never mind just figured it out

[ohiolyons]

mine isn't as smooth

Great Technique Highpockets thanks a million

[ohiolyons]

Cheated I sculpted it smooth

[highpockets]

What ever it takes.

I'd like to say the technique was all my idea, but Michael Mezalick used it in a thread a while back and I was very impressed.