Setup

Requirements

• Operating system: Windows 10 64-bit
• Graphics card: NVIDIA Quadro P4000 or better (RTX 8000 is optimal)
• SteamVR software
• Compatible virtual reality equipment:
  • HTC Vive
  • Windows Mixed Reality
  • Oculus Rift S
  • HP Reverb G2

  When preparing to use any of these devices with Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality:

  • Follow the setup instructions from the manufacturer.
  • Obtain and install the latest driver for your NVIDIA graphics card.
  • In the NVIDIA Control Panel, set Threaded optimization to Off.

You can choose between two options for installing Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality—either on its own, or as part of an overall Simcenter STAR-CCM+ installation.

Installing Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality on Its Own (No License Required)

1. In a web browser, log in to the Support Center portal.
2. In the customer success portal, click Products > Downloads. Your browser is redirected to the Global Technical Access Center (GTAC) of Siemens Digital Industries Software.
3. In the Product Filter box, enter Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality.
4. To begin the download, expand the Full products folder then click the link to Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality.
5. When the download completes, open Windows Explorer and navigate to the folder that contains the downloaded executable file.
6. Either run the installer interactively or use the command line:
   • To run interactively:
     1. Right-click the .exe file and choose Run.
     2. Follow the on-screen prompts.
   • To run from the command line:
     1. Open a command prompt and navigate to the folder that contains the installer.
     2. Run the installer using one or more of the following options:
        • -i console runs the installer in console mode, which installs Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality with the default settings. Output from this installation is shown in the console window. Note that you are required to accept the license agreement and choose the location for the installation in the console.
        • -DINSTALLDIR=<path> provides an alternative location for the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality installation.
        • -DNOADMIN=true allows the installation and execution of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality without administrator privileges. You must choose an installation location that is not protected by administrator privileges.

Installing Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality with Simcenter STAR-CCM+

1. In the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Installation Guide, follow the steps for downloading and extracting Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
2. Continue by following the steps within Installing STAR-CCM+ on Windows > Installing STAR-CCM+ Using the Interactive Installer > Custom Install.
3. When you see the list of STAR-CCM+ Components from which to choose, include Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality in your selection.
4. Complete the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ installation.

Customizing Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality

You can customize the environment and rendering quality of the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality display. To do this, in the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality desktop client, select Tools > Settings. In the Settings dialog, you can specify the following:

• Volume Rendering Quality—sets rendering accuracy for direct volume rendering and isosurfaces.
• Precise Volume Bounds—allows clean clipping of the volume boundaries with the geometry. This clipping is designed to work with all three volume rendering modes (plane sections, isosurfaces, and direct volume rendering).
• Ceiling Texture—sets the holodeck ceiling texture, which consists of a .png image replicated over the ceiling tiles. To use a different image, click Choose and navigate to the replacement file.
• Ceiling Texture Scale—adjusts the scale of the repeated image in the holodeck ceiling texture.
• Floor Texture—sets the holodeck floor texture, which consists of a .png image replicated over the floor tiles. To use a different image, click Choose and navigate to the replacement file.
• Floor Texture Scale—adjusts the scale of the repeated image in the holodeck floor texture.
• Swap Left/Right Controller—switches left and right controller annotations and functionality.
• Preserve Scene Orientation—preserves a prepared view when the scene is loaded. This view can be either the orientation stored in a .sce or simulation file, or the view orientation of a scene opened in the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ client. This orientation is used when you reset the view. Scale and distance of the model are set to default values and are never preserved.