software that support STL export
 

hi foamers

what is the programe should i use to draw my geometry and get an output file in that format (.STL) ,, any one know a free CAD or any other free software that support STL export ?

thanks for reply
sayed

Google Sketchup is one option. You can easily find a plugin that will inport/export stl files. I have used it sucessfully.
Simon

thank you simon ,, it is a good one ,, but it is free for only 8 hours :)

Hi Sayed,

On the download page of Google Sketchup you have 2 versions: Pro and Free!
The Pro version is only available for 8h, but the Free version is always free ;)

Another program I've used in the past, which is completely free with a GNU Public License, but not as sophisticated as Soogle Sketchup, is Art Of Illusion. And this one also needs you to download the plugin for exporting STL. NOTE: The downloading is done from inside Art Of Illusion!

Best regards,
Bruno

thanks Bruno ,you always help me , from the first time i use openfoam :)

actually i want to simulate flow around sphere as training to my complex free surface flow of my master
any how, i downloaded this Art Of Illusion , installed it , draw a sphere ,, but i can't find STL format to export ,, so, how can i export to this format

and spouse that i got that STL format file ,, what then i can do ,, may i use snappyHexMesh ,, or what can i do exactilly to simulate flow around sphere

If you open ParaView. Use Sources->Sphere to create your sphere and then File->Save Data you'll have the option to export the sphere into stl format.

Good luck!

Nice one Adriano! But if the geometry is meant to be more complex in the future, then it's going to be much harder to use Paraview!


As for Art of illusion, go to the Menu in AoI: Tools->Scripts and Plugins Manager

Then go to the tab Install, wait for it to update the list (or vice-versa); now open the tree branch Install scripts and plugins->Plugins and select the STLTranslator plugin, by clicking on the Selected check box. Then click on the Install all selected files button.

Close and re-open AoI.

NOTE: if it doesn't list the plugins, try clicking on the Rescan button.

OK, now you have on the menu File->Import and Export, the STL import and export options.

As for how to get things under way, use the motorBike tutorial as a basis for your setup! Read the user manual about snappyHexMesh. Also, try searching this forum and the openfoamwiki.net for more info on snappyHexMesh. I haven't checked it in a while now, so there might be something more than the motorBike case.

For more on tools for dealing with STL files, here is a helpful page from the RepRap wiki. I first started using AoI because RepRap has useful tutorial on how to use it.

Good luck!
Bruno

i found that some members here use a program called netget ,, i install it using my ubintu by typing

apt-get install netget

and it works and the software is installed ,, when i want to open netget i just type netget on the terminal ,,

but the problem now is to when i load my .stl geometry file the window of the netget disappear and i found that error message on my terminal window :

Load stl geometry file /home/sayed/Desktop/geometry.stl
Segmentation fault

As far as I know, your operating system is debian based, you can get and install the salome cad modeler running on your box, just log on salome-platform.org
Good Luck

Hi Ahmed , thanks for that software

are you sure about that salome ,, it is 1.04 G !! it is a monster ! i hope i can install after the effort of downloading ,, i use ubintu 9.04 and i have 32bit machine what is the file i have to download ,, from this options :

• Download a complete version for Debian 3.1 Sarge (1G, md5sum)
• Download a complete version for Debian 4.0 Etch 32bit (1G, md5sum) or Debian Etch 4.0 64bit (1G, md5sum)
• Download a complete version for Mandriva 2006 32bit (1G, md5sum) or Mandriva 2006 64bit (1G, md5sum)
• Download a complete version for Mandriva 2008 32bit (1G, md5sum) or Mandriva 2008 64bit (1G, md5sum)

does it easy to install ??
really i take much time to install openfoam ,, and it was a very hard mission for a linux beginner like me ,, i hope that nightmare not repeat itself in the installation of salome

regards
sayed

Mandriva is a rpm based distro, so you cannot install these files on a debian based distro, you can download either the sarge or the etch file.
Read the documentation of your distro and see what debian version your distro is based on. any how, I installed the etch file on my lenny,
so try it.
Good Luck

For a free CAD system, you could try either Free CAD:

http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawik...itle=Main_Page

or HeeksCAD

http://code.google.com/p/heekscad/

I only know them from heresy (ie, I haven't try either of them myself).

This might help
 

Sayed, You are not doing your home work.
1- You need to learn how to use google (bing/Wolfram Alpha) to search for information on the web
2- You need to know how to ask questions on the forums of your linux distro, had you asked your question there, you might have received a lot of good answers.
So here is something that might help you:
1- log on this site http://www.caelinux.com/CMS/
down load their latest distro, then burn the file to a dvd
2- This live disk, has a lot of programmes (OpenFOAM, salome, salome meca, Elmer, ..............................................) already installed, so you can test and practice all the times you need without having to install anything on your own computer (just remember no results are saved),
and when you are comfortable with every thing you need and acquired a decent level of experience, you can then install it on your computer.
By the way, the latest file is mounted on a Ubuntu distribution.

To the more experienced readers of this forum:
Please do not forget, you were as green as Sayed and other new comers, So please Guide with no tongues in your cheeks.
Good Luck

.................................................. .. Open Source For Ever .................................................. ..................................

But I think OpenFoam is not for users like you.

why you thought that ?

Thank you very much , Ahmed , this DVD is a very good idea

regards

take a look at http://meshlab.sourceforge.net/
you can convert

import:PLY, STL, OFF, OBJ, 3DS, COLLADA, PTX, V3D, PTS, APTS, XYZ, GTS, TRI, ASC, X3D, X3DV, VRML, ALN
export:PLY, STL, OFF, OBJ, 3DS, COLLADA, VRML, DXF, GTS, U3D, IDTF, X3D

so you can use many tools and convert to stl.

but Blender is a hot tool for many because there is a lot of documenttion using blender
http://www.openfoamworkshop.org/08/p...FOAMCharts.pdf

you have so many opportuneties => that makes it hard to sort out ;-)

good luck

elvis