Generic Solids containing more than 1 Elements

[zoomer]

Those strange GS Solids that come by converting more than one Mesh

to Generic Solid at a time, containing more than one "solid" geometries

that don't touch each other,

won't get exported in DWG as Solids but single non welded faces instead.

Beside that I never have seen this type of generic multi solid in any other

volume modeler so far, if any one else needs to get rid of these without

losing the geometry, the only solution so far as I know :

- convert that GS Solid to mesh by CMD+ALT+R

- go in Mesh Edit Mode by double click

- select each bunch of touching faces that form a "solid" one by one and

convert these to meshes by CMD+ALT+R again.

- the original Mesh converted to a normal Group as there are now other

elements than plain 3D Polys

- exit Group

- ungroup while still selected

> single meshes

- Select each Mesh one by one and convert to generic solid one by one

Or, my standard to convert Meshes to Generic Solids :

- Push Pull one face out

- Push Pull back in

(Faster than going over Modify>Convert to GS)

[cberg]

On 12/3/2014 at 12:59 PM, zoomer said:

Those strange GS Solids that come by converting more than one Mesh

to Generic Solid at a time, containing more than one "solid" geometries

that don't touch each other,

won't get exported in DWG as Solids but single non welded faces instead.

Beside that I never have seen this type of generic multi solid in any other

volume modeler so far, if any one else needs to get rid of these without

losing the geometry, the only solution so far as I know :

- convert that GS Solid to mesh by CMD+ALT+R

- go in Mesh Edit Mode by double click

- select each bunch of touching faces that form a "solid" one by one and

convert these to meshes by CMD+ALT+R again.

- the original Mesh converted to a normal Group as there are now other

elements than plain 3D Polys

- exit Group

- ungroup while still selected

> single meshes

- Select each Mesh one by one and convert to generic solid one by one

Or, my standard to convert Meshes to Generic Solids :

- Push Pull one face out

- Push Pull back in

(Faster than going over Modify>Convert to GS)

 

 

Thank you zoomer.  This was driving me crazy.  I too have never experienced this behavior in any other 3d modeling program have worked with.  There should be some sort of explode function that breaks apart generic solids. 

[zoomer]

Hoo, that was from VW 2014 after only ½ year VW experience

 

Yes, these strange "Multi" Solids are still problematic.

And I have some more experience.

 

1.

There is no way to convert Meshes into Generic Solids

or anything else more intelligent.

Beside :

That Push Pull Tool 2nd Mode Trick

or

Ungrouping and tedious Stitching.

 

2.

"Multi" Solids in VW will happen when

a) Boolean Subtractions Cut a Generic Solid Volume

into 2 or more separate Volumes

b) When you Extrude more than 1 2D Element at a time,

convert that to Generic Solid without to ungroup into

separate Extrudes before.

c) when you Export such a "Multi" Extrude like in b) by DWG

 

3.

VW misses the common "Separate" Tool to divide these

separate Volumes in a single Solid, to separate Solids.

 

4.

a) I can create these strange Solids easily in Bricscad too.

b) I can separate these in Bricscad easily if needed

c) Microstation even prevents such strange Geometry

from happening automatically (Parasolid Core)

 

5.

When opening a DWG Export from VW containing such strange

Solids like in 2. a) - c), it will only import loose 3D Faces.

And tedious manual Stitching work needed

 

6.

When importing a Bricscad DWG containing such strange

Solids like in 4. a) into VW, it will only import loose 3D Faces.

And tedious manual Stitching work needed.

 

 

Conclusion :

 

1.

Don't use any of these handy VW Extrudes that contain more than 1

2D Base Object. Ungroup them into separate Extrudes.

(So miss the better 2D Tool options that can edit more than 1 Element

at a time and stay with more limited 3D Tools that can't)

 

2.

Don't try to better anything by just converting these handy Extrudes

from above into Generic Solids, it will not help at all.

 

3.

If you destroyed your Generic Solids by Boolean Operations into

strange Multi Volume Solids, try to make Duplicates and somehow

delete every other Volume by Subtraction.

Edited January 26, 2018 by zoomer

[cberg]

Thanks, Zoomer.  The only good thing is that relatively simple geometry can be converted back into generic solids after cleanup.  It's just odd odd odd solid modeling!