Exporting Solid Model From Autodesk Simulation Moldflow CAD Doctor

Issue

You'd like to fix your CAD model to improve the overall quality of the representation in Moldflow and to do so requires the use of the solid model. To do so, you'd like to import the fixed version of the solid model rather than the *.udm surface representation. This article will detail the process to ensure the solid model is exported after the model has been fixed and modified within CAD Doctor.

Solution

The new release of Autodesk Simulation Moldflow CAD Doctor 2013 allows you to fix and modify your models as you normally can, but now you can export the final model as a solid model representation to improve the quality of the file imported into Simulation Moldflow products. It's important to note, that to access the full functionality of this feature, Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link is necessary.

1. Import the file using either option, depending on the geometry source (using Design Link or not)

2. Before doing anything else, modify the export option to Moldflow Study (exports a *.sdy file)

3. Go through the normal Check>Modify>Heal process to fix/alter your part (note you can't change the export option once the model is checked)

4. Export the model (a *.sdy format is now available for export)

If the initial model imported was a solid model (imported via Design Link) then the *.sdy file exported for use in Simulation Moldflow will be a solid model representation of the fixed CAD kernel. This will provide a higher quality representation of the fixed model, and improve the mesh and results of any analyses run with this model.