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Pre-Processing
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ solves physics problems on a computational mesh. To provide this mesh, you first define geometry using internal or external tools, and then create a mesh pipeline whose operations generate the mesh in repeatable steps.
3D-CAD
3D-CAD is a feature-based parametric modeler within Simcenter STAR-CCM+ that allows you to build geometries from scratch. The geometries that you create with 3D-CAD are stored as 3D-CAD models, which you can then convert to geometry parts for integration with the meshing and simulation process.
Importing and Exporting Geometry
Exporting Geometry from 3D-CAD

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Pre-Processing
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ solves physics problems on a computational mesh. To provide this mesh, you first define geometry using internal or external tools, and then create a mesh pipeline whose operations generate the mesh in repeatable steps.
- 3D-CAD
  3D-CAD is a feature-based parametric modeler within Simcenter STAR-CCM+ that allows you to build geometries from scratch. The geometries that you create with 3D-CAD are stored as 3D-CAD models, which you can then convert to geometry parts for integration with the meshing and simulation process.
  - 3D-CAD Environment
    The 3D-CAD environment provides you with a feature tree from which you can activate all steps for creating and modifying geometry, and a 3D-CAD View scene in which you interact with the geometry. Many of the same feature actions are available for selection in the 3D-CAD View scene.
  - Sketches in 3D-CAD
    3D-CAD supports two types of sketch—2D sketches that are created on a planar surface and 3D sketches that are built from points located anywhere in geometric space. You can use both types of sketch in 3D geometry operations such as extrude, revolve, or sweep.
  - 3D-CAD Geometry Modeling
    Bodies represent the individual objects that make up the 3D-CAD model. Imported CAD geometry appears as bodies in 3D-CAD, and you can also create your own bodies directly using 3D-CAD features.
  - Freeform Surface Modeling
    Freeform surface modeling is a modeling technique in 3D-CAD that allows you to deform existing surfaces for desired shapes.
  - Importing and Exporting Geometry
    - Importing Geometry into a 3D-CAD Model
      You can import solid and sheet (zero thickness) bodies into 3D-CAD. During the import process, you are presented with the option to include or omit sheet bodies. The import option is available within the main Simcenter STAR-CCM+ window as well as within the 3D-CAD environment itself.
    - Checking Geometry Validity
      Before you set up a simulation, you can check the validity of the geometry in 3D-CAD.
    - Exporting Geometry from 3D-CAD
      - 3D-CAD Export Options
        When exporting a model or body in 3D-CAD, you have a variety of options to choose from, depending on the format you choose.
    - Exporting and Importing 3D-CAD Model as a Parametric Model
      3D-CAD allows you to export an entire 3D-CAD model from a simulation file into a macro script and associated binary part files for any imported CAD. The macro script contains all 3D-CAD features such as design parameters, reference geometry, filters, and global options. You can then use the macro file to re-import the 3D-CAD model to an existing or a new Simcenter STAR-CCM+ session.
  - Working with 3D-CAD Models
  - Geometry Repair and Preparation
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a suite of tools in 3D-CAD that helps you to prepare your CAD geometry so that it is suitable for meshing. CAD that is designed for manufacture can have gaps or inaccuracies that cause problems when trying to generate a watertight mesh.
  - Design Parameters
    Design parameters allow Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to update geometry designs during design exploration studies. Although you define them within the 3D-CAD environment, they are exposed outside 3D-CAD for manual or automatic update.
- Modeling Geometry
  This part of the User Guide describes how to use 3D-CAD, the parametric solid modeler available within Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It also describes the features and tools available for further preparation of the geometry model and its surfaces.
- The Surface Repair Tool
  The Surface Repair tool diagnoses errors in, and provides repair tools for, tessellated surfaces and part curves. The same tool allows you to reorganize discretized geometry by searching for face-based features and attributes then assigning the results to new or existing part surfaces or curves.
- Defining the Regions Layout
  An essential part of the process in setting up your simulation is to define the relationship between geometry parts and regions, boundaries, and interfaces.
- Meshing
  A mesh is a discretized representation of a geometric domain. This domain can include real-world geometry, its content, and its surrounding environment.

Exporting Geometry from 3D-CAD

3D-CAD allows you to export solid and sheet bodies to a selection of neutral CAD formats. You can choose to export the whole model, selected bodies, or bodies chosen by a design filter.

If you want to export the entire 3D-CAD model, do one of the following:
- Right-click the root node in the 3D-CAD feature tree and select Export....
- Multi-select the body groups in the 3D-CAD View scene, click and select Export...
If you want to export selected bodies only:
- Multi-select the bodies within the Body Groups node, right-click on a selection and select Export....
- Multi-select the bodies in the 3D-CAD View scene, right-click on the selection and select Export....
- Multi-select the bodies in the 3D-CAD View scene, click and select Export...
If you want to export the bodies specified by a design filter, right-click the Design Filters > [Design Filter] node and select Export...

The Save dialog appears for all options.

In the Save dialog, define the save settings:
1. Navigate to the directory where you want to save the file.
2. In the File Name field, enter a name for the file.
3. In the Files of Type field, select an export file format:
  - Parasolid Text (.x_t)
  - Parasolid Binary (.x_b)
  - Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (.iges)
  - Standardized Exchange of Product (.step)
  - PLMXML file (.plmxml)
  If you want to export faceted models, choose the Parasolid Binary(.x_b) export file format. Alternatively, if you want to export the model along with the assembly structure and its associated metadata on the bodies and body groups, choose the PLMXML (.plmxml) export file format. You can choose the underlying part file format for the bodies to be exported as Parasolid, IGES, or STEP file formats.
4. Choose the export options. See 3D-CAD Export Options.
Click Save.

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ exports the file to the specified location. For PLMXML files, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ exports part files to a separate folder in the same location as the PLMXML file. If you rename a body during the 3D-CAD session, its name is preserved in the exported file.