How to generate ".stl" file for OpenFOAM

kilroy · April 18, 2013, 10:50

For my analysis I need a ".stl" file of a shape, but I don't know how to generate that.

The mathematical equation of my shape is below:

y=B/L[1-(2x/L)^2][1-(z/D)^2]

where L=4, B=0.4 and D=0.25

The shape is basically a canoe.

What is the easiest way to get a shape like that?

Thanks,

mturcios777 · April 18, 2013, 14:19

You might be able to make it using sources in paraView; they have spheres as a source, which can then be deformed and clipped accoring to your needs.

Once you have the geometry you want, then run the "Extract Surface" filter, and save the data as an STL.

JR22 · April 18, 2013, 14:38

I would recommend FreeCAD. You can program shapes using Python, and it is Open Source. Another option is OpenSCAD, which is also Open source.

You can also generate your shapes with Soldiworks or even MATLAB.

onyir · April 19, 2013, 03:25

You could also try SALOME. I think you can make geometry from mathematical equations, apart from having powerful python scripting capabilities.

eelcovv · April 19, 2013, 03:45

A nice alternative to openscad is openJscad :

http://joostn.github.io/OpenJsCad/index.html

It is based on java and runs in your webbrowser wit webGL. The programminglanguage is more powerful than openscad though. Some nice tutorials can be found
Cheers
Eelco

wyldckat · April 19, 2013, 18:32

Greetings to all!

A couple more to add to the list:

pythonOCC: http://www.pythonocc.org/
This one I got find some time to try it out myself: https://twitter.com/swakPyFoam/statu...26121331355648

Quote:

Development version of #swak4foam now can combine searchableSurfaces via boolean operations (rapid geometry generation with snappy)

If it's what I think it is... it'll be a very wicked feature !

Best regards,
Bruno

kilroy · April 23, 2013, 10:45

Today I have learned that my university have licenses for the Creo software. I think I can use that for generating STL files too.

Thank you very much for your answers,

April 18, 2013, 10:50	How to generate ".stl" file for OpenFOAM	#1
kilroy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: USA Posts: 120 Rep Power: 13	For my analysis I need a ".stl" file of a shape, but I don't know how to generate that. The mathematical equation of my shape is below: y=B/L[1-(2x/L)^2][1-(z/D)^2] where L=4, B=0.4 and D=0.25 The shape is basically a canoe. What is the easiest way to get a shape like that? Thanks, ordinary likes this.

April 18, 2013, 14:19		#2
mturcios777 Senior Member Marco A. Turcios Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 740 Rep Power: 28	You might be able to make it using sources in paraView; they have spheres as a source, which can then be deformed and clipped accoring to your needs. Once you have the geometry you want, then run the "Extract Surface" filter, and save the data as an STL. ordinary likes this.

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April 18, 2013, 14:38		#3
JR22 Senior Member Jose Rey Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 134 Rep Power: 18	I would recommend FreeCAD. You can program shapes using Python, and it is Open Source. Another option is OpenSCAD, which is also Open source. You can also generate your shapes with Soldiworks or even MATLAB.

April 19, 2013, 03:25		#4
onyir New Member RDG Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 29 Rep Power: 15	You could also try SALOME. I think you can make geometry from mathematical equations, apart from having powerful python scripting capabilities.

April 19, 2013, 03:45		#5
eelcovv Senior Member Eelco van Vliet Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 124 Rep Power: 19	A nice alternative to openscad is openJscad : http://joostn.github.io/OpenJsCad/index.html It is based on java and runs in your webbrowser wit webGL. The programminglanguage is more powerful than openscad though. Some nice tutorials can be found Cheers Eelco

April 23, 2013, 10:45		#7
kilroy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: USA Posts: 120 Rep Power: 13	Today I have learned that my university have licenses for the Creo software. I think I can use that for generating STL files too. Thank you very much for your answers,