export surface or face?

[joseph Flack]

Hi,

I'm a big fan of python and I do a lot of work with Engineering Finite Element Analysis programs, in particular Strand7. 

Before I learn CADQuery too far, can CADquery export just surfaces or faces into IGES or STEP?

FEA is most efficient for my type of jobs using shell elements, which can easily be generated from surfaces or face geometry. I'm looking to write a script to convert a 3D solid model, for example of a car, into a "shell" model or "surface" or "face" model, so I can quickly import into Strand7 and Strand7 can then mesh it.

Thanks Joseph

[Jeremy Wright]

The following Python code produces a STEP file which opens fine in FreeCAD and shows just the top face. I don't know if it will work for every face/surface you'll be working with, but the base capability is there.

import cadquery as cq

from cadquery import exporters

face = cq.Workplane().box(1, 1, 1).faces(">Z")

exporters.export(face, "/home/jwright/Downloads/face_export_test.step", exporters.ExportTypes.STEP)

[Adam Urbanczyk]

Same is possible for shells:

s = cq.Workplane().box(1, 1, 1).shells()

s.val().exportStep('shell.step')

[joseph Flack]

great thanks!

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