# Tips for Recreating Imported Step Files

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tips-for-recreating-imported-step-files/31726>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [May 6, 2024, 3:11pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tips-for-recreating-imported-step-files/31726 "2024-05-06T15:11:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tonybb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@tonybb](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/tonybb)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 3:11pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tips-for-recreating-imported-step-files/31726/1 "2024-05-06T15:11:06Z")

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I would like to understand what tips might be out there for re-creating complex imported step files into smooth parametric versions. I am not exactly sure how to start. I am very new to Shapr3d and parametric modeling in general. I’ve attached some images with an example of what I want to recreate. Specifically what is the easiest way to ensure if I re-sketch this the sketches will be exact to the measurements of the imported step?

Thanks for any help!

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/e/2/e21795c8305c80abd78fa5343669b1d4a3aefa80.png)  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/1/1/11cfc265f7a86363a5ba16e1ac5cac73d1c09b43.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![TheBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@TheBum](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TheBum)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tips-for-recreating-imported-step-files/31726/2 "2024-05-06T18:18:42Z")

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Are you referring to STLs? STEP files are already solid bodies; they just have to be translated to Parasolid format. You can operate on bodies from imported STEP files just like you do bodies you create directly in Shapr3D.

STLs are surface models and the translation to solids is not trivial. You can use the free version of Fusion 360 to convert them to STEP files which can then be imported into Shapr3D and operated on.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tonybb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@tonybb](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/tonybb)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tips-for-recreating-imported-step-files/31726/3 "2024-05-07T14:32:19Z")

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Hi - I’ve made it a solid but it’s really unoptimized and has more edges then I’d like. I haven’t found a way to simplify it so I’m looking to recreate it using sketches in Shapr3D. I’d like to use the unoptimized solid body as a guide. I’m hoping to get some good tips how to do that.

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**Author:** ![TheBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@TheBum](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TheBum)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 7:13pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tips-for-recreating-imported-step-files/31726/4 "2024-05-07T19:13:51Z")

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Create an offset plane and project the body onto it. That’ll give you a sketch you can reference.

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**Author:** ![tonybb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@tonybb](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/tonybb)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tips-for-recreating-imported-step-files/31726/5 "2024-05-07T21:15:22Z")

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Ok that’s what I’ll do. Any way to reduce the “control points” (not sure that’s what they are called) without resketching it?

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**Author:** ![TheBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@TheBum](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TheBum)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 11:13pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tips-for-recreating-imported-step-files/31726/6 "2024-05-07T23:13:41Z")

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The projected sketch will not be editable but it is copyable. The copy can then be edited.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tonybb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@tonybb](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/tonybb)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2024, 2:39pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/tips-for-recreating-imported-step-files/31726/7 "2024-05-27T14:39:56Z")

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I’ve copied the sketch but it has way more endpoints than is necessary. Is there a fast way to simplify? Should I lock it and trace over it?.