How to Upload to Simscale From Freecad

CAD Training and Upload

Preparing, uploading, and adapting your CAD model for simulation is the first step in setting up a simulation. CAD models cannot exist created in SimScale only they can certainly be uploaded, cleaned, and prepared to brainstorm the simulation. Some tips for CAD preparation and its proper upload are outlined below:

CAD Upload/Import

To upload a CAD file onto the SimScale Workbench:

  1. Open an existing project or create a new one.
  2. To open up the upload dialog, click the '+' push next toGeometries in the simulation setup tree.
  3. Drag and drop your CAD file or click to open the file selection dialog.
how to import directly from onshape to simscale
Figure 1: SimScale CAD upload dialog. Either upload files direct from your car or import via Onshape.

Alternatively, choose the import via Onshape to directly pull a design from your Onshape library.

Of import

When importing zip files to SimScale, the File format needs to be selected. For example, in the case of a Pack and Become file from SolidWorks, select SolidWorks (.sldprt / .sldasm) from the drib-down menu.

pack and go file warning zip during import format
Figure two: For zip files, delight select the correct file format from the drop-downwards bill of fare.

Did you know?

SimScale also supports simulation using uploaded meshes. Then if you already have a meshed geometry and simply want to get going with the setup we refer you to this page.

Supported CAD Formats

SimScale supports the following CAD formats:

  • Parasolid (.x_t, .x_b)
  • SolidWorks (.sldprt, .sldasm)
  • Autodesk Inventor (.iam, *.ipt)
  • Rhino iv, five, 6, and vii (.3dm)
  • CATIA (.CATPart, .CATProduct)
  • PTC Creo (.prt, .asm)
  • Siemens NX (.prt)
  • Solid Edge (.par, .asm, .psm)
  • ACIS (.sabbatum, .sab)
  • Step (.stp, .step)
  • IGES (.igs, .iges)
  • REVIT (.rvt)
  • STL (.stl)

This list is sorted in the preferred guild of formats. Mostly, it is recommended to upload the model in the native format of the tool it was created with (east.grand. every bit .sldprt if modeled in Solidworks). SimScale natively uses the Parasolid CAD kernel. In lodge to have all CAD manipulation functionality bachelor inside SimScale, the CAD model needs to be successfully translatable into the Parasolid format.

CAD Upload Options

While uploading the CAD model, information technology undergoes optimization steps automatically to best suit the simulation. These steps are explained in detail beneath. Although not advisable, the user can plow these off if needed or desired.

CAD optimization options
Figure 3: CAD model upload optimization options recommended for simulations

Facet-Split on Import

Facet models comprise geometry that is not described past parametric functions merely by a surface mesh consisting usually of triangles. Ofttimes the whole faceted geometry is stored in ane big surface part and can not exist easily accessed to ascertain east.thou. boundary conditions on dissever faces. In guild to do that yous tin split the faceted parts of the models by a surface angle. For all angles that are higher than the given value, the algorithm tries to separate the geometry by introducing split up faces. Some formats contain but faceted data, for due east.g., *.stl files; others like Parasolid, Footstep or Rhino can contain mixed parametric and faceted parts. For parametric geometry, this setting doesn't take whatsoever effect.

To control the facets fully………

To control the facets fully, toggle off Facet divide on import and split up the STL exterior of SimScale by putting information technology to different STL files and upload everything as a cipher file. The files will be translated equally solids and the STL-solids will be translated as faces.

Automatic Sewing

Automatic sewing tries to connect parts of the model that are stored separately but touch exactly. In case a closed beat tin be achieved, it additionally creates a solid body spring by the original faces. As most simulations are carried out on 3-dimensional domains and require solid regions as input it is recommended to use this option on import.

Improve Data on Import

This option tries to better the topology (e.1000. edges, vertices) and geometry of the model past adjusting tolerances, simplifying entities, etc. Equally this pick should better CAD operations and data treatment for all downstream applications it is recommended to use it on import. For very complex models it can have a considerable corporeality of time though, therefore you can also opt-out and reconsider in case you face issues in geometry handling or meshing.

Optimize for LBM / PWC

This option allows you lot to import a *.stl file that is optimized for the Incompressible LBM and Air current Comfort analysis types. Information technology leaves out circuitous import steps like sewing and cleanup that are not required by the LBM solver and therefore likewise allows to import big and circuitous models fast.

Assembly Upload

To upload an assembly file from a particular CAD tool please collect all the related parts and sub-assembly files along with the assembly file and create a *.zilch file. Then upload this *.zip file using the upload dialog. Find a detailed guide on assembly upload here. Currently, SimScale supports the assembly upload feature for the following formats:

CAD Tool Native Part format Native Associates format
CATIA .CATPart .CATProduct
Fusion 360 / Inventor .ipt .iam
SolidWorks .sldprt .sldasm
PTC Creo .prt .asm
Tabular array 1: CAD Tools and their respective part and assembly formats

Go on in listen!

If sub-assemblies exist, the software starting time checks if the archive name matches any associates name in the archive – and we use this associates as a root assembly of the import.
If non, it and so checks the first assembly file alphabetically and uses this file as a root (parent) assembly of the import.

example of cad model being shown within simscale platform
Figure iv: Once uploaded and converted successfully, the model will be shown in the viewer and listed in theGeometries section of the navigation tree. Renaming the model is facilitated.

Note

In case round parts of your geometry appear to have corners, don't worry: SimScale will automatically simplify your geometry for display purposes to make sure that you tin fluently interact with the model. Internally, specially for the meshing process, SimScale uses the fully featured geometry.

Pack and Get

Some CAD tools, such as SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor, have a Pack and Go functionality, which saves together all files related to a model design with correct references. This workflow is helpful when exporting complex assemblies (parent and child assembly) since it handles the structure of the consign file automatically.

The paradigm below shows the steps to use the Pack and Become functionality on SolidWorks:

solidworks pack and go export for assemblies
Figure 5: One time the SolidWorks model is ready to consign, yous can navigate to File and select Pack and Go.

After navigating to Pack and Go, a 2d window opens with more options. Hither, enabling the Relieve to Zip file pick is important:

exporting a pack and go geometry as a zip file
Figure 6: Pack and Go setup window, showing different options

After saving, the Pack and Get zilch file can exist straight imported to the SimScale platform. Don't forget to select the proper file format for the zip file to upload.

Import Plugins

To enable a seamless pattern workflow, SimScale offers straight integration with a couple of CAD modeling tools. These integrations allow the directly import (via push/pull) of your designs into SimScale.

SimScale Connector App for Onshape

The SimScale Connector App for Onshape allows yous to apace import your CAD models direct from your Onshape account into the SimScale simulation platform without the demand of exporting and uploading files.

onshape importer widget
Figure seven: To import a model directly from Onshape, click 'Import from Onshape' in the CAD upload widget (meet in a higher place). A new window will open in which the model to be imported can be selected (shown hither for Pump).

SimScale Integration for Autodesk® Fusion 360™

Create your model on Autodesk Fusion 360 and with a few clicks push your geometry to an existing projection on SimScale without having to leave the application or do cumbersome format conversions when saving the models you lot want to use in your simulations.

To download, visit the Fusion 360 app store:

Supported CAD Operations

After CAD upload, some boosted training might be required. SimScale offers a dedicated environs to interact with your model called 'Edit in CAD style' or simply'CAD mode' that helps you optimize the model within SimScale without having to switch to other CAD software. Attempt this feature today.

The CAD fashion supports a ton of operations similar scaling, extrude, body and face delete, surface splitting, flow volume extraction, etc. To access the CAD mode follow the steps outlined in the figure below:

access cad mode from workbench
Effigy 8: Access CAD manner from the SimScale Workbench by clicking on the imported geometry and then on Edit in CAD style icon as shown.

CAD Preparation

Depending on the complexity and quality of your CAD model, some training and cleanup piece of work might exist required. Most of this cleanup work can be washed within the CAD mode environment. The post-obit full general guidelines might help go you to the first successful iteration of your simulation.

General Hints

  • Start simple and iterate
    A proven strategy for the simulation setup is to create it for a very simple version of the problem in order to see whether or non the simulation approach is viable.
  • Think the complete workflow through
    Having an idea near the mesh and the application of boundary conditions tin assist with CAD preparation.
  • Have a clear understanding of the problem
    This helps to decide whether certain effects tin be neglected or non.

Diving deeper, proceed in listen the following requirements for a successful and accurate simulation:

Model Dimension

The dimension of the model is very important for the simulation. If in that location are any discrepancies betwixt the model units and the SimScale units this can lead to unrealistic geometrical dimensions. In this case, information technology is crucial to perform a scaling operation.

selecting units accordingly before uploading the cad model
Figure 9: While uploading a *.stl file, the model dimension tin can be selected.

The default dimension used within the Workbench is Meter. The user can alter it to other units from the dropdown as shown above although this selection is just available for .stl files that do not contain unit of measurement information in the file.

Complexity Reduction

Very often the CAD model can be simplified to become more accurate simulation results in a shorter time. A few cases for potential optimization are listed below:

Defeaturing

CAD models often incorporate many detailed features considering of manufacturing constraints or the installation. Good examples are pocket-sized holes or windings. These detailed features might be relevant for the terminal manufacturing but they do not affect simulation results, rather only increase the meshing and computing time significantly. Therefore, such features should exist removed.

Remove Small Entities

Small entities can exist a problem when it comes to meshing. If there are very minor faces with sharp angles the surface meshing might fail. An instance is demonstrated below, where faces had to exist merged before a surface mesh could be generated. Such small entities should too be removed during CAD preparation.

example of small features that should be cleaned up before import
Effigy 10: Left: Very small face with very precipitous angles. Causes the surface mesher to neglect. Right: Problematic confront was removed, meshing works fine.

Use of Symmetry

If the problem is symmetric, ciphering time tin can be significantly reduced by using symmetry boundary atmospheric condition and performing simulations on but a part of the whole CAD model. In such a case only i example of the symmetric parts of the model should be imported.

Divide and Conquer

Analyzing smaller parts of the entire CAD one by i, rather than analyzing the entire CAD in a single simulation, tin can assistance reduce the complexity of the problem and speed up the simulation.

For Rotating Zones

When performing a simulation with rotating parts, such equally pumps and turbines, rotating zones demand to be created as a part of CAD preparation. This requires some additional steps including CAD mode before using the model for simulation. You tin can find a detailed approach to CAD training in the post-obit article:

CAD Faults

In instance your model could non be successfully translated into the SimScale-specific internal format, all entities that failed translation volition be exposed after upload. In guild to progress further, try fixing all faulty parts and upload the model in one case more.

cad faults interface shown within the simscale platform
Figure eleven: Faulty topological entities volition exist listed in the scene tree (top right). Click on a fault to visualize it in the viewer. To progress farther, all faults need to be resolved showtime and another case of the cleaned geometry needs to be uploaded.

Refer to our noesis base of operations article on how to find faults in your CAD model.

CAD Topology

In general, a CAD model consists of different types of topological entities such equally solids, faces, edges, and vertices. It'southward important to be enlightened of this topology since it volition have an bear on on mesh generation and simulation setup. Discover an introduction to CAD topology hither.

Nonetheless not satisfied? Looking for example-specific information? Visit the CAD PREPARATION section of our Knowledge Base articles.

Last updated: Apr 5th, 2022

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Source: https://www.simscale.com/docs/cad-preparation/

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