Importing Inventor assemblies in Workbench

[gitpicker85]

I need to import a solid, rigid frame from Inventor into Ansys Workbench to do a full stress analysis. I've tried a few times by selecting "Import from another CAD system" into design modeler, but it tells me that it could not find the geometry. One of my partners designed the frame in Inventor (a program which I know hardly about) and now it's my task to analyze using Ansys, which I'm somewhat experienced with. Any advice?

 

[cbrn]

Hi,
yes, two ways:
1- transfer a "dumb" geometry from Inventor, using a neutral file format (step, Parasolid, IGES) depending on the import plugins you are licensed to in ANSYS (IGES is default with no additional license and so should be STEP if I remember well; all others are license-dependent)
2- provided you have the license for this, install the 3D-Connection Plugin for Inventor when you install WB. If you have an ambient already running and configured, then either you can access the installation via the "Install-Remove Programs" of the Control Panel (should redirect you to the Windows Installer where you can choose "modify"), or you have to re-install Ansys from the start and be careful to which options you choose.

Hope this helps...

Regards

 

[Rooster67]

Hi gitpicker85,

I use Inventor 2008 Pro and ANSYS 11 SP1, in these you can load a model in Inventor then use the intergrated ANSYS 11 toolbar to start ANSYS and load the Inventor model automatically.

I'm not sure however, if previouse releases of the software can do this.

Regards,

Rooster67

 

[timkwan]

Hi gitpicker85

Please ensure that the version of ANSYS that you are using supports Inventor eg ANSYS 11.0 supports Inventor R10 and R11.

You will also need valid licenses for both Inventor and the ANSYS Geometry Interface for Inventor.

Next, Inventor has to be installed on the same PC where you are using ANSYS, and it has to be runned once, before installing ANSYS. This means that you must be able to use Inventor on this PC too.

When you install ANSYS, please make sure to select Geometry Interface to Inventor/MDT (this is automatically selected if detected).

Now, when you use ANSYS Workbench, you should be able to import the Inventor model.

If you don't have both the Inventor and ANSYS Geometry Interface for Inventor licenses, then your option is to have your partner provide you the model in either STEP or IGES formats.

Lastly, if you have an ANSYS Geometry Interface for SAT license, then you can have your partner provide you the model in ACIS SAT format.

Regards,

Tim