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Import - Stereolithography and Render Files

You can import both Stereolithography (SLA) and render geometry into MD Adams. As you import the SLA and render geometry, you associate the geometry with an existing part or you create a new part with which to associate it.

Importing your geometry as SLA or render geometry is more reliable than using other CAD formats, such as IGES or STEP, and the file formats are very simple. There are, however, the following disadvantages:

•	The files are much larger than IGES and DXF files.

•	Because the surfaces have been represented as polygons, you cannot change the accuracy of the surface representations in Adams/View. You must specify the accuracy when you create the files in your CAD program.

 

Note:

Only ASCII .stl files (Stereolithography) are supported. Binary .stl files are not currently supported.

 

For the option:	Do the following:
File Type	Set it to Stereolithography or Render.
File to Read	Enter the name of the file that you want to import..
Part Name	Enter the name of the part with which you want to associate the imported geometry.
Scale	Enter the factor by which you want to scale the size of the geometry created in MD Adams. The default scale factor is 1.0, meaning that the geometry in MD Adams will be the same size as the geometry in the SLA or render file. A scale factor less than 1.0 reduces the size of the geometry and a scale factor greater than 1.0 increases the size of the geometry. For example, if you specify a scale factor of 0.5, MD Adams translates a cylinder of length 2 meters and diameter .5 meters to a length of 1 meter and diameter of .25 meters. MD Adams also scales the distance from the geometry to the coordinate system specified in the Relative To text box according to the scale value. If the cylinder was located at 3, 2, 0 in the imported file, it would be located at 1.5, 1, 0 after it is translated to MD Adams. The orientation of the geometry is not affected by scale value.
Location	Specify the translational position where the geometry in the file is to be located relative to the Adams/View part coordinate system. These coordinates can be relative to any other coordinate system defined in the model. By default, you enter Cartesian (x,y,z) coordinates. You can change the convention for entering translational positions. Learn about Setting Default Coordinate System.
Orientation	Specify the angular position where the geometry in the file is to be oriented relative to the Adams/View part coordinate system. These orientation coordinates can be relative to any other coordinate system defined in the model. Adams/View orients the coordinate system starting from the initial coordinate system and applying three successive rotations. By default, you supply body-fixed 313 angles. You can change the convention for entering orientation angles.Learn about Setting Default Coordinate System.
Relative To	Enter the coordinate system to which the translated geometry will be defined relative to. The coordinates you specified in the Location and Orientation text boxes are relative to the coordinate system that you specify. You can specify a coordinate system, part, or model.