Import an IGES file

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Import an IGES file into Strand7

Import IGES file

Delete Faces
Surface Automesh

Import IGES
Import the IGES file from it's stored location, using the File > Import menu. The program
defaults to IGES.
A copy of the file is located here

Delete Faces
Once the file is imported - it will take a second or two - we can start to delete faces from it.
We need to delete faces to make a plate model. We will then apply material properties to the
plate model, as we did in the Simple bracket tutorial. It may be easier to rotate the model to
gain access to all the faces.

To select a face, ensure that the Face Select icon () is selected and start selecting the faces to
be deleted. I suggest that you leave the outside or back face in tact. If a face is selected in
error select again to de select, or click the Undo icon.

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Import an IGES file

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After a few faces have been deleted the model will be approaching something like the
above.
Once all the required faces have been deleted, you will be left with the model below

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Import an IGES file

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Back to the top

Surface Automesh
The next stage is to mesh the surface. To do this select the Tools > Automeshing (at the
bottom) > Surface Mesh menu. An alternative keyboard shortcut is Ctrl + M .You do not
need to select the model as Strand7 automatically meshes everything on screen.

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Import an IGES file

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Once the mesh is complete, click the Close button.

One thing to check on any model, but not quite so important on an automeshed model is the
Free Edges. In plain English, this means that the model is made from one mesh, and not
several disconnected meshes. Sound stupid, but believe me it's very easy to do! Before we
look at a mesh that's gone wrong, lets look at how to check the mesh for Free Edges.
Click on the Free Edges tool
and the system will calculate/check the model, and finally
will draw a yellow border around the model on screen to show the the edge of the mesh

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Import an IGES file

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Now we know what it should look like, lets have a quick look at what happens if the mesh is
refined by sub-dividing a plate as in the example below.

It can be seen that the larger, main mesh, effectively has a hole around the bottom corner
where the plate is subdivided. Strand will then analyse the plate as if it has a hole where the
plate is and the reults will reflect this. This may or may not effect the results, but most
probobally will. To clear this problem up the plates surrounding the sub divided plate

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should be graded. Details of sub division and plate grading will be covered in another
tutorial, or this one will be updated at some point in the very near future.
The model can now be restrained and have loads applied, just as the Simple Bracket
Tutorial.

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