Exporting CAD files from Solidworks for analysis in Mecway

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Comments

  • traemandtraemand
    edited August 2022
    I have a question in relation to my initial one.

    I have started using Salome to do meshing, and i must say i quite like it after the initial steep learning curve. One thing though: Coming from Solidworks simulation i would have the option to "Treat as beam" which was a convenient way to quickly convert a complex assembly of multiple mated parts into a "simplified" line mesh of 1D beam/line elements. For analysing large chassis/frames i like this as an initial approach. I don't seem to be able to do something similar in Mecway, as it seems imported geometries (.step at least) are limited to volume and surface meshing. I've then tried meshing imported 3D geometries in Salome as 1D elements, but it seems i'm unable to get it working.

    I realise that i could potentially model the chassis manually in Mecway, but this becomes cumbersome with several models that contain 100+ parts. The attached image is only attached for clarification, not to show my actual model. The photo attached in one of my previous posts illustrate the type of models im speaking of.

    I wonder if anyone would know of a way to achieve the above?

    Thank you.

  • SergioSergio
    edited August 2022
    @traemand I model structures like that, CAD and FEA. I use Solidedge, where those structures can be modeled using a special feature that draws profiles over an 2D or 3D sketch. These sketchs can be exported as stp, if they are 3D sketchs, and the option to export curves is selected (default one is export only solid, but can be changed to include surfaces and lines). Then this stp can be imported in Salome to mesh with 1D element, and then exported as UNV and imported in Mecway. 2D sketchs and lines of FreeCAD can also be exported as stp and imported in Salome.

    In Mecway you can choose several kinds of beam elements using the internal solver, with CCX you will be limited to square/circular shapes.

    If you have imported the frame as a solid in Salome, you could extract some lines to create a 1D mesh, probably you will have to add some lines to conect them, and move to positionate in the center of the beam.
  • traemandtraemand
    Thank you Sergio.
    I will have a look at SW and see if I can find an internal way to export it, but I doubt its possible with the current models. I suspect it would be easy if they were modeled as structural members in a weldment assembly, but if its all independent parts, I don't think so.

    In Salome I've tinkered with the "wire frame discretization" for 1D, but I have not been successful in extracting a common centerline for the structure. I've searched the web for ways to do it but have come up short. If anyone finds a way, I would appreciate the knowledge
  • SergioSergio
    The true is that the 3D cad model for this cases is normally use as a base to redraw the frame with lines for the FEA modeling. Draw a couple of lines and find a way to export it before making the whole model again.

    If it were made with perfect round tubes, in Salome there's a tool to extract the paths.
  • dculpdculp
    Sergio --

    Very nice tutorial (https://we.tl/t-LIeS8U1LIz). Thanks.

    If your step file isn't confidential, could you also post it so that I could follow step-by-step?
  • SergioSergio
    @dculp , the stp was uploaded by user @Lorenzo in this same thread.
  • MMK66MMK66
    https://mecway.com/forum/discussion/366/importing-mesh-in-mecway-from-salome meybe this help??
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