this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2024
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I want to duplicate an ocarina and stick them together and move and connect the two ocarina’s together with a centralized mouthpiece. Can I pay somebody to make a file for me to print at home? Thanks!

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

BTW, in FreeCAD, you start a project, then you use File > Import to bring in the STL. It is better if you can find a STEP file because these files contain the actual geometry instead of a mesh, but I didn't see one in a quick search. The real difference is due to π and how computers need to round infinite numbers. A mesh is ultimately removing the required rounding uncertainty that π causes... If you care about the details...

Once you have the STL in FreeCAD, there is a pull down menu for workbenches. Find the Part workbench. This WB is like Tinkercad or like playing with wooden building blocks as a kid. Once you are in the Part WB, highlight the STL file, then use the pull down top menu bar labeled "Part" and select the option to convert a mesh to a part.

This does not recreate π, so it does not recreate everything like the original. It is still a mess of triangles in this case, but it is a solid part at this point and not a container like a mesh. It still won't be perfect and the usefulness overall is debatable.

I've learned the hard way. I will only use a converted file like this for the most simple one or two step operations. This is what I was looking at doing for you if it seemed doable, but I don't think that is the case. My rule is to recreate the geometry properly in a Part Design Body in FreeCAD using sketch based design techniques. I don't actually use the converted part for anything more than a background visual guide.

The way I would remake this is complex for a beginner. The main challenge is the whistle itself. I would need a lot of trial and error of actually printing the thing and tuning it. I couldn't make something that works otherwise. I don't think anyone else can do this either.

I don't mind helping you learn how to make something like this, but there are a lot of little concepts you need to grasp with CAD that can be challenging to wrap your head around all at once. I'm good at explaining abstract concepts, but your level of abstracted thinking will determine how well you can follow along with how I explain things. In a nutshell, I can tell you the major steps to take along the design process and answer your questions while explaining the reasons why you need to do things a certain way in context. I know how to design things properly for functional parts, but I barely know sculpting. Sculpting could make this shape much faster, but the results would not be quite the same.

It is up to you. I don't mind either way.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Thanks for the help! Yeah I don’t really have the time for a deep dive into CAD right now. I have done some very basic edits to an STL file before, but what I want now is beyond my skill.

Did you say there’s a way to sketch a 3D model? I have a drawing pad. Is there a CAD program you recommend to do that with? I don’t mind doing the trial and error printing on my end, even though my printer is painfully slow.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The proper way to model is with sketches this involves mapping out 2D geometry on a plane and then performing operations on these sketches to make them into a 3D object.

All of our printers are pretty slow. That is not the issue. I do lots of unit tests where I print isolated sections of a print just to test whatever I need. Based on my intuition alone, I would need a couple of weeks to make something like this and I would probably need at least 3-4 iterations of a design where I'm printing the whole thing and doing tests, learning, and then starting over from scratch if I wanted to make something that really works.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

do you know how i can move the holes around on the ocarinas on this file i remixed? i'm using tinkercad but can use something else.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

If the surface is symmetrical on the other side that I cannot see. Make a duplicate, invert it and place it over the surface.

If you need help, save it as a STEP file and I'll do it for you. STEP is text so you should be able to use something like pastebin.