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Attach thermal properties to CAD model

Question asked by Derek Feng on Sep 19, 2013
Latest reply on Sep 19, 2013 by Derek Feng

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Hi,

Would like to ask for help on a question about linking flow simulation properties with CAD. Hard for me to describe what I want to know but maybe easier if I give an example - a PC desktop CAD model with a video card in it.

For the purpose of D.O.E, the video card standalone is getting flow simulation modeling and analysis. In order to do that, a relatively large number of custom defined materials and components (PCB, two resistor chips, heatsinks etc) were pre defined and attached to the parts in the flow simulation project.

After that, the video card is put in the desktop assembly for a system level flow simulation. So far, I can only do the hard way - attaching all the components and materials again (already pre-defined, so can skip that) to the video card, which can be time consuming especially when there are several video cards in the assembly.

So is there a way we can store the video card CAD model with all the flow simulation properties attached and saved to the library? In that way, we can just grab the video card whenever we want without additional operations.

I hope I made myself clear and SolidWorks has the capability to do it.

Thanks,
Derek

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Jared Conway Sep 19, 2013 8:41 PM

Hi Derek, the only thing that a component can carry in today's software is the material properties.

In 2014, components can carry some additional characteristics but not to the level that you're looking for. You're idea is a good one, but currently not possible. The closest that i've seen someone do is build an assembly with everything defined, use that as a template and then eliminate the things that aren't part of their simulation. So for example build a top level assy that will eventually be your enclosure. Drop your video card in there, setup all the properties for the video card. If the geometry changes, no problem. When you need to assemble an enclosure, drop the case in there, assemble the video card and you're ready to go. Follow the same process as the video card for other components.

I highly suggest submitting your "submodel" idea as an enhancement request in the solidworks KB. I think it would be pretty great.

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Derek Feng Sep 19, 2013 10:07 PM

Hi Jared,

Thanks for your reply. I have been searching around and submitting subcription services, now I know for sure it doesn't work.

Your comment is very educative, I think it is very helpful to me for my future usage of the tool. But I think for the case where there are serveal video cards (of course then we are not talking about deskptop anymore), it is still time consuming and not intelligent to assign the same properities one card after another. Also applies to the case when we want to adopt the same video card to another desktop with different components inside not just the enclosure. To have the properties attached to the model and be able to check it in to PDM (for wide range of users) is still the more intuitive way to buid simulation projects for D.O.E, I would think.

Thanks again,

Derek

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Jared Conway Sep 19, 2013 8:41 PM
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Hi Derek, the only thing that a component can carry in today's software is the material properties.

In 2014, components can carry some additional characteristics but not to the level that you're looking for. You're idea is a good one, but currently not possible. The closest that i've seen someone do is build an assembly with everything defined, use that as a template and then eliminate the things that aren't part of their simulation. So for example build a top level assy that will eventually be your enclosure. Drop your video card in there, setup all the properties for the video card. If the geometry changes, no problem. When you need to assemble an enclosure, drop the case in there, assemble the video card and you're ready to go. Follow the same process as the video card for other components.

I highly suggest submitting your "submodel" idea as an enhancement request in the solidworks KB. I think it would be pretty great.
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Derek Feng Sep 19, 2013 10:07 PM
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Hi Jared,

Thanks for your reply. I have been searching around and submitting subcription services, now I know for sure it doesn't work.

Your comment is very educative, I think it is very helpful to me for my future usage of the tool. But I think for the case where there are serveal video cards (of course then we are not talking about deskptop anymore), it is still time consuming and not intelligent to assign the same properities one card after another. Also applies to the case when we want to adopt the same video card to another desktop with different components inside not just the enclosure. To have the properties attached to the model and be able to check it in to PDM (for wide range of users) is still the more intuitive way to buid simulation projects for D.O.E, I would think.

Thanks again,
Derek
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Attach thermal properties to CAD model

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