Working with the 3D-CAD View Scene

The graphical user interface within the 3D-CAD environment contains toolbars, menus, and a 3D-CAD model tree that allows you to design and modify 3D-CAD geometry. The model is rendered within the 3D-CAD View scene using tessellated surface data that 3D-CAD generates based on the CAD model.

Several properties are available within the Tools > Options dialog that control how 3D-CAD renders CAD data in the scene. Available properties include:

Display Resolution: controls the visual quality of the geometry that is displayed in the scene. For large models you are advised to use the Light Weight Display option. You can control the display resolution of an individual body by right-clicking the body within the Body Groups node in the 3D-CAD panel and selecting Display Resolution. In the Bodies Display Resolution dialog, set the resolution you want to apply.
Several color options including Selection Color, Edge Color, and Free Edge Color.
Retain visualization data: provides option to save the tessellation data in the simulation file for faster rendering when you next load the model.
Several performance options to improve the speed of response when working with large models.

For details on all properties, see the 3D-CAD category in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Default Options.

The image below shows the interface elements within 3D-CAD.

3D-CAD Model Tree

The 3D-CAD Model tree is separated into four categories:

Body Groups: Contains the collection of body groups and bodies which are organized in a specified hierarchy. See 3D-CAD Geometry Modeling.
Features: Contains the feature tree from which the 3D-CAD geometry model is built. See Working with Features and the Feature Tree.
Design Filters: Contains design filters that help you to interact with and review large collections of geometric entities. See Creating Design Filters and Search Tool.
Design Parameters: Contains design parameters that are assigned to specific dimensions or features. See Design Parameters.

Visibility Toolbar

The Visibility toolbar is designed to control how geometry is displayed in the 3D-CAD View scene. For more information, see Geometry Visibility in 3D-CAD.

Features Toolbar

The Features toolbar provides you with direct interaction with features while working with your geometry. For more information, see Features Toolbar.

Search Tool

The Search Tool helps you to find and organize geometric entities using one or more filters. You can use this tool to find faults and interference among bodies before passing the results to tools that can help you fix these problems. For more information, see Search Tool.