Learning Forum

[jtalaman]

Hi,

I am trying to import STL files into design modeler. I have done this in the past without issue. I am studying human arteries and blood flow through them. However, the STL file I am using imports the file with the inlet/outlets as 'invisible' and treats the entire model as one piece. I have attached a screenshot as an example. Previous artery imports show the artery with thousands of triangular facets, which I merge with the merging tool. I follow the "3D- Bifurcating Artery" example from Cornell that has been discussed on this forum.

Any ideas on how I should import this or how to fix it?

 

Thanks!

John

[Rob]

Are you sure the stl contains the flow boundaries?  In most cases you just want the artery wall and then add the flow surfaces in DM: this makes life much easier later on.  

[jtalaman]

I'm not sure if the stl has flow boundaries. Can this be added after importing?

[peteroznewman]

I noticed that DM imported the STL using a smooth rendering. After I brought it into Meshing, the facet showed up. SC did not do that. This thread describes using SC to convert an STL into a body that can be meshed as a fluid volume with a couple of faces for inlet selection.

[jtalaman]

 Yes, the facets show up, but the model can not be meshed.

I get "One or more entities failed to mesh. The mesh of the bodies containing these entities may not be up-to-date.  However, meshing might be successful on the other entities."

I've tried a few different approaches to this, all with no success.

 

[peteroznewman]

Do you have SpaceClaim?  If so, you can try following the videos in the thread I linked to above.

[jtalaman]

I am getting multiple errors titled "laminar edge found on solid body". I've looked this up with little success. Ultimately, I am importing STL files and they have several errors. I have tried to use to "seam repair" tool, but it was grayed out. I have tried other options as well with no success. I need to know what state I can import STL files in the DM to Mesh and the run Fluent.

 

Thanks!

 

[Rob]

Have you tried SpaceClaim, as Peter suggested?   If the stl is poor you can also import that directly into Fluent Meshing: it's not as simple as Workbench Meshing but will deal with the damaged geometry. 

Have you checked the stl quality in whatever generated it? 

[jtalaman]

I tried Spaceclaim with no luck. I was actually able to convert the model to a Stp and import. Although it still needs repairs. I get a few blue traigular cells when trying to use the merge function

[peteroznewman]

When I go to this page on the Cornell site, I can directly download a STEP file, which opens perfectly in SpaceClaim. 

I don't know where you got an STL file, but forget about that and use the STEP file.

[jtalaman]

My research group provides the files. They use stl files which were thought to open in the DM. Any ideas about the blue triangles when I merge them?

[peteroznewman]

Can you provide a sample STL file? You will have to put it in a zip file to attach it. Say what length units the STL file data is in.

[Nilzon]

.

peteroznewman  could you resend the thred please I can not open it, i am facing the same problem,

thanks in advance

.

[peteroznewman]

.

Nilzon

If you are referring to the Cornell site, they removed those web pages. I don't have a copy of the files.

.

[cfdshark]

Hi John.

I know I am a couple of years but this might help some other people. Save the CAD file as extension IGES and import it to DesignModeller. When you generate it under '0 Parts, 0 Body' in DesignModeller, you should get a certain # of Parts and Body for each distinct part. If that doesn't work, you can try uninstalling the software and installing it again, and following the same steps above.

Hope this helps.