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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.
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.
Exposing a Parameter
You can expose an existing dimension as a design parameter and rename this parameter. Use this technique if you want to control a model dimension without editing the corresponding feature directly, or if you want to define other variables in terms of the selected dimension.

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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
  - 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.
    - What Is a Design Parameter?
      A design parameter is a reference variable that you can use to define model dimensions and feature sizes.
    - Creating a New Design Parameter
      Parametric modeling allows you to create designs in 3D-CAD that can be easily altered afterwards.
    - Exposing a Parameter
      You can expose an existing dimension as a design parameter and rename this parameter. Use this technique if you want to control a model dimension without editing the corresponding feature directly, or if you want to define other variables in terms of the selected dimension.
      - Concealing a Design Parameter
    - Using Design Parameters in an Expression
    - Changing the Value of a Design Parameter
    - Deleting a Design Parameter
- 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.

Exposing a Parameter

You can expose an existing dimension as a design parameter and rename this parameter. Use this technique if you want to control a model dimension without editing the corresponding feature directly, or if you want to define other variables in terms of the selected dimension.

When you expose an existing dimension as a design parameter, a corresponding node is placed in the Design Parameters manager node in the 3D-CAD feature tree. This node allows you to use the dimension as a variable when defining other model attributes. You can also edit the value of the dimension by changing the value of the associated design parameter.

There are two methods of exposing a design parameter:

Exposing a dimension that defines a feature
Exposing a dimension that defines a sketch entity

When you delete a feature that contains an exposed dimension, the associated design parameter is not deleted. Instead, it is reclassified as user-defined.

Exposing a Parameter from a Feature

To expose a feature dimension as a design parameter:

In the corresponding feature dialog, click the (Expose Parameter) button.

The Design Parameter dialog appears.
Activate Expose Parameter to confirm that you want to expose this dimension.
In the Name field, enter the name for the design parameter.
Click OK.

Note	If you cancel the creation of the feature, the design parameter node still exists in the model tree. To reverse this process, conceal the parameter.

Examples of feature dimensions that you can expose as design parameters are:

The Distance of an extrusion or extruded cut feature
The Angle of a revolved or revolved cut feature
The Radius of a fillet feature
The Distances of a chamfer feature

Exposing a Parameter from a Sketch Entity

You can expose a dimension that defines the size of a sketch entity as a design parameter. To expose this dimension:

Applying a dimension to a sketch entity, or edit an existing dimension.
The Dimension dialog appears.
Activate Expose Parameter.
In the Name field, enter the name of the design parameter.
Click OK to expose the parameter.

A design parameter node is added to the 3D-CAD model tree under the Design Parameters manager node.

The icons for features exposed design parameters are colored in blue.

Note	If you cancel the creation of the feature, the design parameter node still exists in the model tree. To reverse this process, conceal the parameter.