[Sahar FaPerhu]

Hello everyone!

I have a technical question about Ansys Workbench capability of parametric study... I know that if I create a geometry by Design modeler, I can make the dimensions as parametric variables. But I need to know if there is any way to import a parametric desinged geometry from Solidworks? I have prepared a parametric geometry in Solidworks ( a design table) but when I import the solidworks file to workbench, its no longer parametric...
I really appreciate it if anyone could help me know about this capability
Thank you
Sahar

[stuart23]

Sahar, this requires the bi-directional CAD interface for Ansys to pass variables and receive the updated geometry. This may however require an additional license if you do not already have it.

Stu

[Sahar FaPerhu]

Dear Stu,

Thank you for your reply. I was kind of dissapointed if anyone could help me......I really appreciate it if you could explain what do you mean by bi-directional interface...
I made some progress , I made the interface between solidworks and workbench activated (via insturction#1, as follows) , then I went through instruction #2 (followed by this comment), but
There is still one problem that might be related to bi-directional CAD interface...?
Now I can export the solidworks directly to workbench, but the geometry cannot be opened in workbench to edit , it says:
"collection was modified, enumeration execuation may not execute"
do you know why this error happens?
besides that, I can see the parameters in mesh/workbench




I would like to share those two instrustion that I followed, it might be helpful for others as well...

*******************instruction #1*****************
I figured out there is no link between my solidworks and workbench installed on my compouter 'cuz I could not export my solidworks file directly to workbench.
Then I found an instruction for that:

"Start>program>Ansys 14.5>Utilities>CAD configuration manager
I had to right click on that to "run as asministrator" cuz I am not the administrator user...
then I chose Ansys and solidworks to configure from CAD section tab
next
select CAD confugration tab to configure selested CAD interface"

*********************instruction #2************************
here is the instruction to make the dimension parametric:

"You have to rename the dimensions from within solidworks in the "primary value" box to something starting with DS. it seems that DS is the parameter key for workbench. DS_1_width for example. Do the same with all the dimensions you want to convert to parameters.

Then export the assembly to workbench, check that the option parameters is on (you can find it in parameters, it is on by default). Insert a static structural item to use the geometry we have just imported. Edit the model tab. Go to the "geometry" item in the tree and expand it. Click on each part in the tree and look at the details box below the tree. In the last group "CAD parameters" you should see all the parameters for each part.

To activate them just click on each check box and a blue P will appear. Close the static structural window and go back to the project window. You should see now a tab named "parameter set" that you can edit. "

[neewbie]

You need to take care of the settings while importing the external data from the cad system. Check out the option in the low left corner when highlighting the Import feature in the tree view within DM.
There is an option "parameters" which needs to be set to yes.You also have to set the parameter-key (right below it) accordingly. You can either set an key like "DS" which needs to be beginning letters of the parameter in SW or just delete the key and import ALL parametric values from the SW system.
To make this work, just declare a name for the diameter, length, etc. in SW. Via the key-option you can filter your parametric values from SW by the given key. (I would guess DS stands for DesignSpace).

neewbie

[shree272]

the following video will solve ur problem....

http://www.ansys.com/Resource+Librar...r+Damper+Model

[Sahar FaPerhu]

Thank you Shree! this video was really helpful...

[Sahar FaPerhu]

Thank you Neewbie! I did this procedures...everything works fine now, I have those parameters in wrokbench mesh...except the workbench designmodeler which cannot be opened which I really need to open that...it gices me some error, I think it must be some wrong set up while installing the Ansys...Im going to reinstall it...
but anyway, thank you, your comment and Shree's video link was really helpful...

[shree272]

Sahar FaPerhu thanks alot....
about ur error or design modeller check ur firewall status does it allows ansys app to access all networks ...

[neewbie]

i think i´ve heard smth. about the fact that you have to install ansysWB after the CAD system to make it work.
What´s the error?

[shree272]

if ur importing geometry directly from solidworks i.e .sldpart file then install sw first and ansys later.....while running ansys for first time take care tht firewall gives access to app for all networks

[Sahar FaPerhu]

Thank you Neewbie and Shree,
I am using the softwares which is already installed by my mentor. If this is the case that we must install the CAD first and then ANSYS, that I am not sure...so, I think its better to reinstall it,
When I try to open the geometry after direct import from SW, the error is "threw exception during invoke;object reference not set to an instant of an object"
then I again try to open it and gives me anothwer error
"collection was modified, enumeration operation may not execute"

[neewbie]

i am not quiet sure but i remember doing smth. similar and when using the direct import from SW to WB i need to have the CAD system running when working on the geometry in DM.