Using Point Clouds for FEA Analysis

[bladesandvanes]

Hi,
I am trying to import point clouds or stl files into Ansys for modal analysis. Does anyone have any ideas on how to do this without spending a great deal of time in Imageware or Unigraphics creating a solid model that can be imported in as a parasolid. I am looking at some type of software that will read in a STL file and convert it to a solid or read it into Ansys as a meshable part for running a modal analysis on it. Mike

 

[Stringmaker]

Pro/E will do this...I think UG might too.

 

[GBor]

I'm not familiar with how ANSYS handles CAD import files, but SolidWorks has been useful for opening a variety of file types and exporting them in a variety of FEA packages for meshing...

 

[cbrn]

Hi,
I fear the O.P. intended something different. Yes, Ansys CAN handle faceted representations of geometry, in order to re-create a solid geometry, parametrize it if needed and re-create a mesh linked parametrically. BUT... you've got to have a license for the advanced meshing capabilities of Ansys.
Moreover, I strongly doubt that this would work for a "pure cloud of points in space"...

Regards

 

[annebai]

Hello,

How complex is the model?
Could the file be available for download?

 

[MrMyers]

Last time I needed to work with point clouds it was suggested I look at a program called Rhinoceros 4.0 [ www.rhino3d.com ] but I didn't have the patience to figure it out - fortunately I could play a few tricks on my data and ended up using Abaqus' internal lofting and face creation tools.