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Scale STL File

Discussion in 'CAD' started by GRMark, Mar 25, 2020.

  1. GRMark

    GRMark New
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    I've been getting comfortable with my CNC router and with time on my hands I decided to move into true 3D. I downloaded the free version of Fusion 360 and began the learning process. At this point I'm not as interested in the modeling side of the program but rather the manufacturing side of the program. I downloaded a fairly simple STL file and was successful in generating the needed Toolpaths. What I don't understand is how to scale an existing STL file. The model size is huge as determined during the process. I would appreciate some advice on the best way to determine the dimensions and how to scale these files. Thank you all in advance! I have included the STL file I have been experimenting with.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    To scale .stl, or other files:

    Step 1) Measure your item's dimensions:
    Untitled1.png

    Untitled2.png


    Step 2) Modify --> select "scale" and select the "entities" you want scaled: Untitled3.png

    Untitled4.png

    Step 3) Choose your scaling value. Original is 1.0. Then, I chose 0.5 (1/2 scale) for this example:
    Untitled5.png
    Untitled6.png

    Now you can see it is 1/2 the diameter it used to be - - or approximately, because I do not know if I chose the exact same two points to measure:

    Untitled7.png

    This works really well for those dinosaur skeleton type wooden puzzles. If they are designed for 3mm ply wood, but you only have access to 3.175 mm, you do the formula (what I have/what the design calls for = scale factor). So in my case it was 3.175 divided by three giving me a scale factor of 1.058333333333. I just used this principle yesterday and it worked great.
     
    #2 Giarc, Mar 25, 2020
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2020
    Peter Van Der Walt likes this.
  3. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    For those that did not look at your file, I downloaded it for this example and yes, that was a huge (nearly 1 meter) rosette. What I have found to be fairly consistent when I upload .stl files to Fusion 360, is that if they are way off scale, it is usually by a factor of ten - most are 10 times too large. Every once in a while it is 1/10th scale. So when I am trying to figure out what dimension lumber it was designed for (if it is huge), I try 0.1 as the scale factor first.
     
  4. Christian James

    Christian James Journeyman
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    If you load a file into Netfabb, its very easy to scale a model
     
  5. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    I just looked at Nefabb and it looks impressive, is it free for hobbyists?
     
  6. Christian James

    Christian James Journeyman
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  7. GRMark

    GRMark New
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    Christian thank you that was easy! I very much appreciate your help.
     

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