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This video will show you how to import geometry in to Patran 2010
so now that I've opened a new database in Patran
I'm ready to import my CAD model
from the File menu, I'll select import
and with the object set to model
the alternative would be results
I'll choose the type of
CAD file that I'll be importing into my Patran database
I have some universal formats like ACIS or Parasolid
some CAD specific formats like CATIA, Ideas,
ProEngineer, or Unigraphics
or some other file formats like
Express Neutral, IGES, Nastran input file (.dat or .bdf)
an existing Patran database, neutral, STEP,
STL, or VDA files
so in this case I'm going to start by importing a CATIA file
for my type I have options of CATIA V4 model, V5 Part,
V5 Product assembly,
or a CATExpress file
the part that I want to import now is a CATIA V5 part
and in in this directory it is this top lock link
so I'll go ahead and click apply
and I can see that the translator comes up
and then begins the process of reading this file
translating it in to Patran and and then when it's done I get a summary
saying that it imported in this case one point and one solid
so I can click OK
and then rotate my model
and inspect the geometry that I've imported
from CATIA in this case
I can shade it
and look and see it and verify that
this is the geometry that I wanted
to import into Patran
I can also undo
and go back and import different geometry
so
again I could go to the import menu
and then under
CATIA here
you'll notice that
no matter what format I select
ideas
CATIA, any of them, I have this options button
which brings us to this options form which allows me to select the entity types to be imported
from the file
by default all of the entities in the file will be impored but I could choose
just to import points or the curves or so on and not import other entities
and then whether to create parameterized solids or surfaces
and
some options as far as creating groups from the different layers
some of these options will vary based on
your type of source file. Some of these are specific
for CATIA
into Patran and others you'll see for all of the different
important inot Patran
and then you'll have some of these options,
whether you want it to equivalance edges
save the transmit file from when it converts it or allow a duplicate CAD model so if you're
importing something that's identical to what's already in your model should it let that happen?
that's off by default which
generally we'll go with the defaults here but if you need to change any of these options it's good for you
to know where they're at
so instead of a CATIA file this time say I want to impirt an IGES file
and in the same directory
I've got a piston
IGES file
that I'll select
and go ahead and click apply
again the translator comes up
runs through the translation
and now that it is finished I'll get a summary
and in this case it imported forty points and one solid
and so I could click OK and then rotate my model
and see that I've imported this piston geometry
I can shade it
and verify that this is the model I wanted to import
so again I can undo
and
one last time I'll import a model
this time we'll just pick a
standard parasolid file
it's a very common format to import into Patran
I've got a
lot of different ones to choose from here
but I'll choose this boom
parasolid file
and I'll go ahead and click Apply
and I can see that it comes in very quickly it imported
the one solid
and I can
view the geometry
so you see that it's really pretty easy to get a variety of formats in to Patran
and
and then you begin the process of
either modifying this geometry
or just
going straight to meshing it and creating your finite element model
another option to note is the formats that you can export from Patran once you've
made any changes in Patran to the geometry
you can export as a parasolid, ACIS,
CATIA, IDEAS,
IGES, Neutran, Step, or VDA file
just like for the import you have some export options to select what to export
versioning and etcetera
so that's basically
it, that's how you get
your CAD geometry into Patran and now you're ready to move on and create
your finite element model