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Old 12th December 2018, 02:00 AM   #1
Baenlynn
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Default Boolean Subtract/Cut Away generating Errors

As it says on the tin. I'm working on a 3D print that will be holding an acrylic sphere, I'm trying to make the fit as snug as possible, and I want to subtract the imprint of the sphere from the claw that will be holding it, but keep getting errors using 'Boolean > Subtract' and 'Cut Away' with the final object having missing and duplicate surfaces and vertices from object B just hanging in mid air.

What's the better way to do this? Drop the poly count? Use a different technique? Do I have too many close calls between surfaces/vertices? Should I just start over?
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Old 12th December 2018, 09:47 AM   #2
Andy
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Default Re: Boolean Subtract/Cut Away generating Errors

Try running Tools->select-leaky-surfaces on it and see if any areas have holes.


Also try running Object->Optimize-vertices&surfaces and see if anything gets removed.


Press 'n' to check normals are facing out. Another quick way to check is to set all surfaces to 1S (single sided) (control panel, bottom) and spin the model to see if any surfaces 'vanish'. If so, they need flipping - select one surface that you know is correct and use Surface->Unify-normals.

Once you get the objects right, you have a better chance of Boolean ops working but a non-leaky object with correct normals is a minimum requirement.



Looks good - let us know how you get on.

Last edited by Andy; 12th December 2018 at 09:49 AM.
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Old 19th December 2018, 03:07 AM   #3
Baenlynn
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Default Re: Boolean Subtract/Cut Away generating Errors

Thanks for the feedback Andy. I did manage to find the problem, there were orphaned surfaces and vertices inside the model because of how it had been put together. in the end I had to go back to working with the separate pieces, fix the issues there, combine them, then perform my boolean operations in a specific order.

It's sliced and ready to print right now.
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Old 19th December 2018, 09:49 AM   #4
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Default Re: Boolean Subtract/Cut Away generating Errors

Excellent - please post a pic when it's done.
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Old 2nd January 2019, 08:40 PM   #5
Baenlynn
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Default Re: Boolean Subtract/Cut Away generating Errors




The sphere in the claw was dyed red with acrylic fabric dye. Image 1, Image 2

Finally back home after the Christmas break. Have to say that AC3D performed flawlessly with the Lulzbot. I broke the model into several pieces, printed it in PLA and glued them together. The base was added to the cane body and is entirely friction fit, I have no hope in hell of getting it off again. Now that is precision. Likewise the spherical subtraction from the hand. I gave myself two tenths of a millimetre to play with, anticipating a few burs from support material, and some expansion from painting and gilding (which didn't end up happening because I couldn't make it stick), and the sphere rolls freely without any hint of wobble.

Coming from a Photoshop background to 3D modelling I had a hard time wrapping my head around every other CAD and modeling program I tried. With AC3D I was doing what I wanted to do within minutes, and learning more about the program and better techniques as I worked on my project. Well worth every penny I spent, and I'm already working on my next 3D printing project.
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Old 4th January 2019, 08:02 AM   #6
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Default Re: Boolean Subtract/Cut Away generating Errors

Excellent!
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Old 7th January 2019, 11:13 AM   #7
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Default Re: Boolean Subtract/Cut Away generating Errors

Wow! That looks amazing!
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