Uploading Parts

Overview

Part files can be uploaded to a Project. Depending on the App, basic parts files can also be generated from specified parameters.

Contents of Page:

Geometry File Requirements

The following file types are currently supported:

  • .stl

Please note the following:

  • The uploaded geometry units can be in: meters, millimeters, centimeters, feet, and inches.

  • The geometry must be a complete 3D surface.

  • Do not upload a volume mesh.

  • Unless intended, the geometry must be a closed surface. If there are any openings that are not sealed, mesh will fill the volume, and the simulation may fail.

  • Vehicle needs to be oriented where the nose of the vehicle is pointed in the negative X direction, the positive Y direction is out of the right hand side, and positive z direction is up.

  • Geometry needs to be broken into more than one file based on application specific types. See below for geometry parts breakdowns.

  • Thin surfaces need to be thickened to 3 mm. For example, the trailing edge of the rear wing needs to have a thickness of minimum of 3 mm.

  • Be sure there are no gaps between the parts that you do not intend. This is especially important to check when geometry is split up into different files across geometry types. Gaps will cause problems and may cause the simulation to fail.

  • Limit the max edge length of the triangle size to half a percentage of the overall vehicle length.

  • If your file is over 1 GB, please separate geometry into different files.

Geometry Part Information

Additional information regarding geometry uploads can be found here:

Exporting as STL

The process to export files as STL is outlined here. The methods outline are using two different software packages.

Importing Parts from Onshape

You will be able to import any file type that Onshape supports into our app, by first uploading that file to an Onshape document, then following the process listed here to import it into the app.

Uploading Parts

Geometries can be created while viewing a Project.

Note: Part file names can not start with any number or special characters

To upload a part file:

  • Click the Geometries item in the Navigation Menu on the left side of the interface.

Note: More information about the different geometry upload groups can be found here.

  • To upload geometry files click on Parts then select the Upload button ( most right) and drag and drop the parts files to be uploaded into the upload box. Files can also be uploaded through a selection menu.

  • In the list of files to be uploaded, select an appropriate part type for each file.

  • Declare the length units of the parts files.

  • Click the Sumit button.

View the newly created/uploaded part by clicking on the part then selecting Show 3D View button under the options for the part, then go to the tab that is automatically opened at the top. It is a good habit to view each part to be sure they were uploaded properly. If the geometry did not upload properly, it will not load in the view screen.

Creating Group Assemblies

Group assemblies will group together different part files and create an individual force group for that assembly.

  • Click Assemblies then click Create Assembly and give it a name. Note: Assembly names can not start with numbers or special characters.

  • Next to the assembly you just created, the part files will appear.

  • Select part files you would like to include in the assembly.

  • Click Save