The steps below outline how to import a CAD or FE file
using the Import CAD or FE using HyperMesh dialog.
From the Tools menu, select Import CAD or FE using HyperMesh to display the Import CAD or FE using HyperMesh dialog.
Specify the import options.
Import CAD or Finite Element Model With Mass and
Inertias - Import CAD or FE models as bodies with mass and
inertia. Refer to Note 1 below for available CAD/FE fomats with this
option.
Import CAD or Finite Element Model Only - Import
graphics only.
If Import CAD or Finite Element Model Only is selected, the following
sub-options are available:
Do not import into currently active window (save to output
file only) - Convert CAD to graphics H3D without importing
into the current active MotionView window.
Create one graphic per CAD component - Select
this option to create a unique graphic entity for each component in the H3D
file, otherwise, only one graphic entity will be created for all
components.
Select the importing CAD or FE file containing the source data for translation
using the Input File selector.
Select the CAD or FE type from the drop-down menu.
Specify the H3D file name which holds the graphic information using the
Output Graphic File selector.
Under MDL options, select the system into which the resulting MDL data is to be
loaded.
Place data in System
Place data in new system
Click the System collector and identify a
system.
Control the prefix for the variable names for the created points, bodies, and
graphics.
Enter a default variable into the Point Varname
Prefix field.
Enter a default variable into the Body Varname
Prefix field.
Enter a default variable into the Graphic Varname
Prefix field.
Activate the Import free points if available check box
to import any free points available in CAD as an MDL point.
Specify the meshing options for the surface data.
Allow HyperMesh to specify mesh options - Allow
HyperMesh to mesh the surfaces with the default mesh options.
Interactive mesh (launches Launches HyperMesh) -
Launches HyperMesh with the source file loaded, which allows you to mesh as
per your choice and macros to create MDL points.
If Allow HyperMesh to specify mesh options is selected, the following
sub-options are available:
Launch HyperMesh to create MDL points - Launches
HyperMesh specifically with a macro, allowing you to select FE nodes that
will become MDL points.
Control mesh coarseness for contacts - Activate
the check box to access options which allow you to control the mesh
coarseness for the contacts. Use the slider bar to adjust the mesh from
coarse to fine (1 - 10). The default setting is 5.
Optional: Expand the Locator Points (Must be in source reference
frame) section.
Three tags in the coordinate system of the geometry file that are stored in
the H3D graphics file. During import to the MDL model, these three points can be
matched to three MDL points and you can select auto-position, auto-orient, and
auto-scale based on those three points. For HyperMesh files, node IDs can be
used in place of coordinates.
Review the information and click OK.
If Interactive Mesh (launches HyperMesh) is selected under
Meshing Options for Surface Data, HyperMesh is launched and the file is imported into
Hypermesh. The Utility tab is displayed in the Browser that contains tools that can be
used for MotionView import. Using these tools, all surfaces can be meshed at once, and
nodes can be selected to be created as points in MotionView. You can also use other
general features of HyperMesh to mesh as per choice, edit the geometry, arrange
components in component collectors, etc. Once all editing is completed, use Save and
Quit tool under the Utility Browser to return to MotionView.
If Import CAD or Finite Element Model With Mass and Inertias is selected,
another dialog will appear that list the bodies with volume and mass information
(once the process in Hypermesh is completed). This dialog also has choice to specify
input file units so that the correct mass and inertia can be calculated.
Clicking Ok completes the process by creating the bodies, CG points,
and graphics.
Note:
The following CAD/FE types are supported for the Import CAD/FE with
Mass/Inertia option:
Catia
HyperMesh
JT
Nastran
Optistruct
Parasolid
ProE
SolidWorks
STEP
UG
The following additional CAD/FE types are supported for Import CAD/FE
only:
Abaqus
ACIS
Ansys
DXF
DXF
HyperMesh Ascii
Ideas
IGES/IGS
LS-Dyna
Madymo
Marc
Pamcrash2G
PDGS
Permas
Optistruct
VDAFS
Some of the CAD formats like Catia and UG could need additional CAD
reader license and library settings. Refer to CAD Reader Support for
more details.
The densities assigned are only applicable at the time of the import
process, and they cannot be changed once the import is completed. The
volume information will not be available until after the import process
is complete.
The accuracy and tolerance of mass/inertia and CG location for FE models
can vary marginally based on the coarseness of the mesh.
The mesh is used for graphic visualization only since this import is
restricted to rigid bodies only. There are no quality requirements on
the mesh.
This interface works well for up to a medium size CAD assembly (~100
components). A very large CAD assembly import may encounter memory
restrictions.