Pointwise

This page will help you navigate the finer points of Pointwise and act as a guide if SSI needs one.

Overview

1. Import the native SolidWorks file.
2. Check the integrity of the solid model.
3. Reorganize surfaces prior to meshing.
4. Set mesh defaults.
5. Mesh the model.
6. Adjust resolution of particular surface meshes.
7. Assemble the unstructured block.
8. Generate the volume mesh using T-Rex.
9. Set CAE boundary conditions.
10. Export the CAE file.

CAE = Computer aided engineering

Importing a Solidworks File

Importing native CAD is the same process as importing neutral CAD formats in Pointwise. From the File menu, select Import, Database. Pointwise recognizes the correct format based on the file extension. In this case, SolidWorks part files end with .sldprt.

The model size tolerance is an important consideration when importing CAD files into Pointwise. We recommend adjusting the model size tolerance to within about an order of magnitude of the largest spatial dimension of the geometry. This parameter is found in the File menu under Properties. Setting the appropriate model size tolerance helps Pointwise's geometry kernel interpret and process the geometric information with the highest possible degree of accuracy. In order to maintain maximum integrity, this step must be performed prior to importing the geometry. If you do not know the actual model size, import the geometry using the default model size tolerance, record the value from the File, Properties panel, undo the import, set the appropriate model size tolerance and re-import the CAD file.

Sources

Adapted from From CAD to CFD in Five Minutes: The Complete Story of Meshing a Real Geometry Using Pointwise