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Quadcopter Build

Discussion in 'Projects' started by JDM_, Apr 6, 2013.

  1. JDM_

    JDM_ New Member

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    Hello RoBoers... One of the projects I am working on is a custom quadcopter that I will be printing on my new RoBo 3D. I am modeling it after the TBD Discovery model. Seen here....
    TBS-Discovery-quadcopter.jpg

    I was hoping one of you guys could do me a solid... I found a STL of an arm I want to use and was hoping someone could convert it to a STEP for me.. This way I can make small mods to it and fit it to the custom body I'm designing.... Any help on this project would be great as this is my first quadcopter build....

    "I'm getting an error trying to upload the STL"
     
    #1 JDM_, Apr 6, 2013
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  2. Printed Solid

    Printed Solid Volunteer Admin
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    I'd like to hear someone else give you a better answer to this, but I haven't found any programs that do a good job of converting mesh files to solid geometry.

    I tried out a program called STL 2 STEP http://www.solveering.com/products/products.html
    It was hit and miss. Its a free download. I think they are trying to make it into something that they sell, but it doesn't work well enough yet.

    The other option is to hack it up with booleans in meshlab or something.
     
    #2 Printed Solid, Apr 6, 2013
  3. Seshan

    Seshan Active Member

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    The problem converting .stl's to a CAD file is that they contain different types of data, It's not like converting a .jpeg to a .png. It is possible to convert them, but they won't be the same as the original CAD file.
     
    #3 Seshan, Apr 6, 2013
  4. JDM_

    JDM_ New Member

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    As far as I can tell STL 2 STEP is a Win compatible program only. I was hoping someone had the ability to convert this for me. I don't need to edit it, just use it to design a body around it or maybe design a new arm using the measurements from this file.

    I would print it then measure it to design the body but RoBo aint here yet... ;)

    Here is the file:
     

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    #4 JDM_, Apr 6, 2013
  5. Seshan

    Seshan Active Member

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    Here you go, I do not know how well it will work, but let us know.
    http://dl.dropbox.com/u/810494/Three Letter F450 F550 Arm.stp

    Uploading to the site gave me a error, so I used dropbox.

    *edit* hold on, that doesn't appear to be working properly.

    *edit#2* Okay, right click the link and click "save link as" that may work, dropbox is opening it like a text file. :/
     
    #5 Seshan, Apr 6, 2013
  6. JDM_

    JDM_ New Member

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    It's showing up as a text file.... :(
     
    #6 JDM_, Apr 6, 2013
  7. Seshan

    Seshan Active Member

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    #7 Seshan, Apr 6, 2013
  8. JDM_

    JDM_ New Member

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    Thank you Seshan... Let me see if it works.. fingers are crossed....
     
    #8 JDM_, Apr 6, 2013
  9. Printed Solid

    Printed Solid Volunteer Admin
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    @Seshan, what did you use for the conversion?
    @Justin, sorry, I guess your avatar should have tipped me off that you might not be able to use that program.
     
    #9 Printed Solid, Apr 6, 2013
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  10. Seshan

    Seshan Active Member

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    I used the one you posted. The one I was using before (meshlab) doesn't convert to .stp.
     
    #10 Seshan, Apr 6, 2013
  11. JDM_

    JDM_ New Member

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    I sent the GrabCAD creator of this file a message last night.. he said he would post a STEP of the file for me but hasn't done so yet. He said he had to find the memory stick the file was on. Hopefulle he will be able to find it...
     
    #11 JDM_, Apr 7, 2013
  12. Seshan

    Seshan Active Member

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    So did the file I post not work?
     
    #12 Seshan, Apr 7, 2013
  13. JDM_

    JDM_ New Member

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    Unfortunatly not... I tried opening it in AutoCAD, Inventor Fusion, and Fusion 360. It locked up all of them and never opened.
     
    #13 JDM_, Apr 7, 2013
  14. Seshan

    Seshan Active Member

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    I think that's part of the problem with converting .stl's I tried opening the ones I converted before in solidworks and it was pretty damn laggy, and that was on my PC with a i7 8gb of RAM (at the time still have to put in my new 16gb :p ) and a SSD, My Mac would probably die. (2008 MBP) lol
     
    #14 Seshan, Apr 7, 2013
  15. William Muraski

    William Muraski Member

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    whats missing is the changing of "Save as Type" from "Text Document " to "All Files"
     
    #15 William Muraski, Apr 16, 2013
  16. JDM_

    JDM_ New Member

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    #16 JDM_, May 16, 2013
  17. JDM_

    JDM_ New Member

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    #17 JDM_, Jun 16, 2013

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