Autodesk University 2011: SimplificationWorking with any CAD format and Autodesk Simulation 2012

SimplificationWorking with any CAD format and Autodesk Simulation Luke Mihelcic – Autodesk

MA4712-P Class Description: Learn how multi-CAD engineering organizations are using Autodesk Simulation tools. Autodesk Inventor® Fusion allows the integration of virtually any CAD model into Autodesk Simulation.

Learning Objectives At the end of this class, you will be able to: 

Use Inventor Fusion to manipulate and prepare simulation models



Work with CAD models from virtually any system



Realize the benefits of direct modeling



Identify and overcome typical CAD challenges when working with various CAD systems

About the Speaker Luke has been involved with CAE since 1995. His various roles as educator, end-user and provider give Luke a unique perspective on identifying, understanding and helping solve engineering challenges. As the Technical Marketing Manager for Simulation at Autodesk, he provides relevant user focused content and tools that help users understand and utilize the Autodesk Simulation Portfolio.

Email: luke.mihelcic@autodesk.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/lmihelcic Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Autodesk-Simulation/134510189984528

Working with any CAD format Autodesk Simulation

Manipulate and prepare simulation models Model Simplification

The Simplify command removes constant radius fillets, equal distance chamfers, and holes. It provides tools for selecting the features based on type and size.

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Working with any CAD format Autodesk Simulation

Model simplification is typically used to prepare models for simulation analysis. Many CAD models are too complicated for CAE applications like FEA and CFD. Small features can cause a significant increase in analysis time. CAE analysts typically remove these details before meshing the model. While most small features can be removed, some features are important for the analysis. The Simplify command checks the model for features and provides tools for removing them based on type and size.

Model simplification results The wizard can take three actions on the selected features: Delete Removes the selected features and extends the adjacent faces to close the gaps. If the faces cannot be extended for a particular feature, then that feature is not removed.

Select Retains the selection set after you click OK. You can quickly select a group of features to edit with modeling commands.

Create Favorites Creates a Simplify Favorites Folder in the browser with the feature definitions. You can click the folder in the browser to select all model features that meet the criteria.

Feature types in the Simplify dialog box The Simplify dialog box contains a check box for each feature type, and sliders to set the range of sizes.

You can deselect feature types, and filter them by size.

Note Simplify does not analyze the model. It retrieves only features that are identified in the browser. Run the Find Features command to identify features in imported models.

In addition to feature type, you can filter for fillet geometry, and counterbores on holes.

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Working with any CAD format Autodesk Simulation

Fillets:   

Convex Concave Radius

Chamfers: 

Leg Length

Holes:    

Depth of Holes Diameter of Holes Depth of Counterbores Diameter of Counterbores

The black slider button sets the lower limit, and the red button sets the upper limit. You can drag the slider buttons to change the limits, or click the number and enter a new value. You cannot make the lower limit greater than the upper. As you change the limits, features outside of that range are deselected.

In the images below, the settings filter for concave fillets between 2.4 mm and 5.1 mm radius.

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Working with any CAD format Autodesk Simulation

Find Features Find Features, also called feature recognition, is a process to extract design feature information from a solid model. Currently, Find Features supports:       

Fillet Hole Chamfer Extrude Revolve Patterns Mirror

The Find Features command adds features to the browser. The command does not modify the geometry of the body. Features aid in selecting geometry to modify the body. You can perform Find Features on bodies or faces. You can specify the feature types to recognize.

When an Inventor file (IPT, IAM) is opened in Inventor Fusion, Find Feature creates a Fusion feature for each Inventor feature in the model.

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Working with any CAD format Autodesk Simulation

In the following image, Find Features adds an extrude (the rectangular body) and a counter bore hole (the cylindrical cut) to the browser. After a feature is found, it is managed the same as features created with traditional methods. Features can be edited, deleted, or dissolved.

If a downstream operation modifies a feature face, the owning feature is re-evaluated. If the face set does not satisfy the feature definition, the feature is removed from the browser. In the previous counter bore hole example, if you move the highlighted face, the feature is not a valid counter bore hole. It is removed from the browser at the end of the move operation.

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Working with any CAD format Autodesk Simulation

If Find Features recognizes a feature in a way that does not fit your intent, you can change it. In the browser, right-click and change the feature type. For example, to recognize a hole as a revolve, you can dissolve the feature, which removes the feature from the browser, but leaves the geometry on the model.

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Working with any CAD format Autodesk Simulation

Working with CAD Models Part and assembly files from other CAD systems can be imported for use in Autodesk Inventor Fusion.

The import operation does not maintain associativity with the original file. Changes to the original file after the import operation do not affect the imported part or assembly. Likewise, changes to the imported part or assembly do not affect the original file.

When assemblies are imported, Autodesk Inventor Fusion attempts to preserve the assembly and subassembly structure of the original file. However, for SAT files, the subassembly structure is decomposed so that all subassembly parts become components of the top-level assembly.

The import process creates base features in Autodesk Inventor Fusion representative of the geometry and topology in the source file. You can use Autodesk Inventor Fusion commands to adjust the base features and add new features to the Autodesk Inventor Fusion feature tree.

Translate files into Autodesk Inventor Fusion data You can open or import part and assembly files from other CAD systems.

To translate a file In Autodesk Inventor Fusion 1. Click the Open button.

2. In the Open dialog box, in Files of type, select the file type.

3. Browse to and select the file to import.

4. Click Open to import the file.

Import CATIA V5 files Open and change models created in CATIA V5 (versions R6 - R19). Autodesk Inventor Fusion translates assembly and part files, solids, multi-solids, surfaces, and more. After the import operation is complete, you have a base feature or features that match the geometry and topology of the original file. Use commands in Autodesk Inventor Fusion to adjust the base features and add new features to the feature tree.

Types of CATIA V5 files you can import: 

*.CATPart (part)

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Working with any CAD format Autodesk Simulation



*.CATProduct (assembly)

After changing the file, you can continue to open it in Autodesk Inventor Fusion.

Import Pro/ENGINEER files Open and change models created in Pro/ENGINEER. Autodesk Inventor Fusion translates assembly and part files, solids, multi-solids. After the import operation is complete, you have a base feature or features which match the geometry and topology of the original file. Use Autodesk Inventor Fusion commands to adjust the base features and add new features to the feature tree.

Types of Pro/ENGINEER files you can import:   

*.prt* (part) (up to version 4.0) *.asm* (assembly) (up to version 4.0) *.g (Granite) (up to version 5.0)

After changing the file, you can continue to open it in Autodesk Inventor Fusion.

Import SolidWorks files Open and change models created in SolidWorks. Autodesk Inventor Fusion translates assembly and part files, solids, multi-solids. After the import operation is complete, you have a base feature or features which match the geometry and topology of the original file. Use Autodesk Inventor Fusion commands to adjust the base features and add new features to the feature tree.

Types of SolidWorks files you can import:  

*.sldprt (part) *.sldasm (assembly)

Import STEP files You can import a STEP file (versions AP214 and AP203E2). The solid body is saved in an Autodesk Inventor Fusion file, and no links are maintained to the original file.

If an imported STEP file contains one part, it produces an Autodesk Inventor Fusion file with a single body. If it contains an assembly, it produces an Autodesk Inventor Fusion file with multiple components.

Import SAT files You can import a SAT file (versions 4.0 - 7.0). The solid body is saved in an Autodesk Inventor Fusion file, and no links are maintained to the original file.

If an imported SAT file contains a single body, it produces an Autodesk Inventor Fusion part file with a single body. If it contains multiple bodies, it produces an Autodesk Inventor Fusion File with multiple components.

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Working with any CAD format Autodesk Simulation

Benefit of Direct Modeling Autodesk® Inventor® Fusion is 3D modeling software that showcases intuitive direct manipulation capabilities for unrivaled ease of use. By uniting direct modeling and parametric workflows, Inventor Fusion offers the best of both worlds. Designers can freely explore complex shapes and forms while maintaining the underlying parametric history. Inventor Fusion makes it easy to open and edit 3D models from almost any source and incorporate them into your design, enabling rapid design changes without limitations.

Challenges    

Model tolerances Overlaps Gaps Interoperability

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