File Naming
Basic simulation:
The default file name for a simulation project file is of form
<simulation name>-v<version number>.spf
...where the <simulation name> is the name given for the simulation when the simulation was created.
This name can also be changed later in the Casting Properties dialog. The <version number> is the
version number for the simulation. Initially the version number is 1 and increases by one for every new
version created.
Restart runs:
For restart simulations the name is a bit more complex. For the first restart simulation it is of form
<simulation name>-v<original version>.<restart version>.r1.spf
...where the <original version> is the version number of the original simulation from where the restart
run was made, and <restart version> is the version number of restart simulation.
If yet another restart simulation is made continuing from where the 1
st
restart simulation ended it will
follow form
<simulation name>-v<original version>.<1
st
restart version>.<2
nd
restart version>.r2.spf
...where <1
st
restart version> is the version number of the 1
st
restart simulation from where the 2
nd
restart continued and <2
nd
restart version> is the version number of the 2
nd
restart simulation.
If yet another restart simulation is created continuing from the previous restart simulation the version
name will be appended yet an additional .<Nth restart version> and the restart count number at the
end of the file name (for example r2) is incremented.
Animation results:
The animation data simulation projects have an additional postfix Anim before the file extension .spf.
Modeling Geometry
Importing Geometries as STLs
Typically at least the casting piece itself is modeled in a CAD system and exported in STL format. The
STL format describes geometrical object by specifying its surface using surface triangulation. In case of
complex feeding system, cooling channels etc it may be a good idea to model those in the CAD system
as well. Each object should be exported as a separate STL file.
The STL geometries are imported to FLOW-3D
®
Cast by either using Geometry Import function or by
dragging the files on an open FLOW-3D
®
Cast document window. Within FLOW-3D
®
Cast the
geometries can be moved around, scaled and rotated if necessary.
For each geometry imported in FLOW-3D
®
Cast an interpretation must be assigned. This will tell the
FLOW-3D
®
Cast what the imported geometry represents.
During the initial phase of the simulation each calculation mesh cell is assigned properties (one/closed
cell, material properties for closed cells etc.. etc..) based on the imported geometries and their
assigned interpretations.
Using Primitives for modeling casting system
In addition to importing geometry data as STL files from the CAD system, it is also possible to model
simple geometrical features within FLOW-3D
®
Cast. Simple shapes like boxes, cylinders and spheres
can be defined. Usually for these are not sufficient for modeling the casting piece itself but often it is
possible to model the feeding system using these primitive components.
Once defined these simple geometric shapes behave in the same way as geometries imported from
CAD system as STL files.
Geometry Library
User Manual: FLOW-3D
®
Cast 3.2