Lecture 7:

Introduction to Advanced Topics

15.0 Release

Introduction to ANSYS DesignModeler

1 © 2013 ANSYS, Inc. February 7, 2014 ANSYS Confidential

 Introduction to Advanced Topics

In this lecture we will learn about:

• Geometry Import Properties
• CAD Connections
• Uni/Bi-Directional Connectivity
• Parameters handling
• Some advanced topics

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 Geometry Properties (1)
Geometry properties
are import and data transfer related properties
• Most of the settings done through
• applicable for imports
– “Basic Geometry Options”
– and “Advanced Geometry Options”

• Basic Properties
– ‘Parameters’ option for importing
parameters defined in CAD package
– ‘Parameter Key’ filters the parameters
from CAD that enter Workbench
• If not specified, all parameters enter WB

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 Geometry Properties (2)

• Basic Properties (con’t)

– Named Selection
• Define in CAD & transfer to WB
• Filter under WB
– Set to NS (by default) – remove it to import all parameters
• Activate WB option
– Geometry import / named selections

• Advanced Properties
– Select ‘Use Associativity’ to establish association between CAD and
WB
– Import defined CAD properties :
• Coordinate Systems,
• Work Points, etc.
– Smart CAD Update
• Changes made in other options get updated in the mode
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 CAD Connections : Approach I
• Uni-directional connectivity
• Import neutral/native CAD files directly into Design Modeler

Import I Import II Import III

In workbench project page Geometry cell on project page In Design Modeler page
• File/import • Multiple imports possible
• Import • Appends geometries

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 CAD Connections : Approach II

• Bi-directional connectivity
• Launch Workbench from CAD System
Bi-directional CAD connectivity
• Export parameters from CAD to Workbench
• Parameter change in CAD reflects in
Workbench and vice versa
Bi-directional import from DM
• Attach to Active CAD Geometry
• Imports active CAD geometry in DM
• Can attach only saved CAD sessions

• Direct connection in UG NX

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 CAD Connections & Parameterization

CAD Connection
Parameterization
What is it ?

• helps execute a set of operations repeatedly with different input values

• Useful for analyzing multiple design points
 By modifying geometry/topology parameters
• Parameters can be either used for :
 Sketch dimensions, Plane creation inputs, 3D operation values, etc.
• Parameters can be linked with each other through expressions
 Defined in Design Modeler or Workbench
• Parameters can be controlled from Workbench
 No need for Design Modeler to be opened

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 Types of Parameters

Geometric parameters Topological parameters

Changes the dimensions or locations of a given Modifying the feature itself by adding or
feature removing geometry
• Does not necessarily change the total • Can change total number of entities in the
number of entities in the model model
Parameterized
number of copies
in a pattern

Parameterized
dimension

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 Bi-directional CAD Connectivity & Parameters

Parameters
• Hole diameters
• Number of holes
Parameters from
CAD to WB

CAD Parameters Design Modeler

Pro.Engineer

Parameters from
WB to CAD

DM Parameters
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 Creating Parameters in Design Modeler
Procedure
• Any input prefixed with the “□” symbol can be parameterized
– Toggle “□” to “D” to parameterize that particular input
• Default Parameter Name Pattern
– Feature Name.Dimension Reference
• Parameter name can be changed A dimension reference (FD1) for
Extrude1 = Extrude1.FD1

Examples:

A dimension reference (H1) for a sketch

created on the XYPlane = XYPlane.H1

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 Parameter Manager
Accessible from the Toolbar or Tools menu
• Design Parameters tab
– List the existing parameters & assigned values
• Parameter/Dimension Assignments tab
– Contains expressions
• relating the original dimension reference to the
value set in the Design Parameters tab

This 2 defined parameters become obsolete

and can be suppressed (or deleted)

Create the needed expressions &

‟Check” to evaluate them
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 Parameter Manager

• Parameters created into Design Modeler can either be managed in:

– Parameter Editor in DM
– Parameter Set in WB

Linked together &

Updated in background

Expression can be created in the Multiple Design Points can be created using
Outline of All Parameters in WB different values of the parameterized
independent variable
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 Miscellaneous Topics

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 Advanced Sweep Options
Sweep Options
• Scale
– Taper or expand the Profile as it is swept
along the path of Sweep
• Twist Specification
– No Twist : Helical sweep is not created
– Turns : Specify number of turns to complete
over the path length
– Pitch : Specify length per 1 full turn

4m

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 Body Operation: Move, Align and Orient
• Using “By Direction” option, one can align bodies by using
alignment vertices for aligning axes of bodies and orienting bodies
with respect to each other.

• User needs to select bodies, pair vertices for

Source & Destination Move and directions for
Source & Destination Align and/or Source &
Destination Orient
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 Coordinate File for 3D Curve
A coordinate file must be a simple text file in the following format:
• After a pound sign (#), everything else on that line is considered a
comment and is ignored.
• Empty lines are ignored.
• Data consists of five fields, all on one line, separated by spaces
and/or tabs:
– Group number (integer)
– Point number (integer)
– X coordinate
– Y coordinate
– Z coordinate
• A data line with the same Group number and Sequence number as a
previous data line is an error. A data line cannot contain the same
Group number and Sequence number as a previous data line.
• For a closed curve, the point number of the last line should be 0. In
this case, the coordinate fields are ignored.

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 Managing External Files
The Workbench project file structure provides a directory named Example Project Directory
“user_files” which may be used to store CAD, or any other files you Containing User Files
wish to associate with the project.

If you have used imported geometry in your Workbench project and

subsequently intend to transfer the project to another computer
you can move or place a copy of the required files in the user_files
folder.

When the project is reopened Workbench will prompt you to locate

the file.
• From the View Menu, select Files.
• Right click on the relevant file in the list and select Repair “filename.xxx”.
• Browse to the file in the user_files folder.
• The new path will be saved with the project.

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 Named Selections : Propagation Property
Original Selection

Merge
Yes No

Split

Copy
Introduction to ANSYS DesignModeler
Yes – Selection propagates to all resultant entities
No – Selection propagates to just one of the resultant entities or destroyed
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 Workshops

Do any 2 OR 3 workshops from Workshops number 7a, 7b, 7c and 7e

7a 7b 7c 7e

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 Summary

What have we learnt in this session?

• Geometry Properties
• CAD Connections
• Parameters

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