[snappyHexMesh] Using snappy on a propeller stl - not working

orkavic · December 12, 2013, 02:55

I am new to paraFoam and was wondering if I could get some pointers on what I need in order to make snappyhexmesh run effectively on an STL file that I brought over from solidworks. I guess I am mainly having trouble figuring out how to effectively refine the mesh around the propeller.

pbachant · January 21, 2014, 01:28

You're not giving much for details, but when I exported an STL model from SolidWorks I had to change some default settings:

Make sure it's exported as ASCII, not binary.
Make sure the units are correct. I think SolidWorks by default exported in mm.
Uncheck the option to make all dimensions positive.

gelbebanane · January 21, 2014, 02:35

Normally CAD programs use measures in "mm" but OpenFOAM reads them as "m" so you have to convert your stl file.
You can do that with "admesh" or after meshing with "transformPoints". If you dont know what you can do else just check this tutorials about snappyHexMesh http://www.holzmann-cfd.de/index.php/tutorial because the OpenFOAM snappy tutorials have some more advanced meshing options and are not so trivial to understand and to use afterwards for your own case.

More information would be very helpful
Greetings

December 12, 2013, 02:55	Using snappy on a propeller stl - not working	#1
orkavic New Member neek honeys Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 7 Rep Power: 12	I am new to paraFoam and was wondering if I could get some pointers on what I need in order to make snappyhexmesh run effectively on an STL file that I brought over from solidworks. I guess I am mainly having trouble figuring out how to effectively refine the mesh around the propeller.

January 21, 2014, 01:28		#2
pbachant Senior Member Pete Bachant Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 173 Rep Power: 13	You're not giving much for details, but when I exported an STL model from SolidWorks I had to change some default settings: Make sure it's exported as ASCII, not binary. Make sure the units are correct. I think SolidWorks by default exported in mm. Uncheck the option to make all dimensions positive.

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January 21, 2014, 02:35		#3
gelbebanane Member phil Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 12	Normally CAD programs use measures in "mm" but OpenFOAM reads them as "m" so you have to convert your stl file. You can do that with "admesh" or after meshing with "transformPoints". If you dont know what you can do else just check this tutorials about snappyHexMesh http://www.holzmann-cfd.de/index.php/tutorial because the OpenFOAM snappy tutorials have some more advanced meshing options and are not so trivial to understand and to use afterwards for your own case. More information would be very helpful Greetings