CFD does not load any file except the ones in Tutorial, nothing else at ALL

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

As the title states, AutoDesk CFD 2016 does not open any other file other than the ones the tutorial. I have spent days learning to use it so that I can complete my assignment, in the end, it just does not work. I regularly use Solidworks 2016 and have recently started using Inventor Professional 2017 and AutoDesk CFD 2016. The files in the tutorial load flawlessly, whether its inventor or solidworks, however, when I try to load my own files, it just gets stuck at 'Reading Model File...'. I have tried to load simple models from both inventor and solidworks (by simple I mean just a cube), but apart from tutorial files it does not load anything.

It just does not make any sense, seriously, it just doesn't. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

[Jon.Wilde]

My guess would be file location - are the files on your local hard drive like the tutorials?

Try moving them to the same location, as we know it works for you 🙂

[Anonymous]

Its my personal computer and I am using files on my local drive. I have moved the cube to the exact same location as tutorials, still does not load. Same message as before

[Jon.Wilde]

Weird, what file type are you trying to read in?

Could you share it here?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your reply Jon. The files are simple cubes that I have drawn in inventor and solidworks. Both of these files do not open in simulation cfd.

Please find the files attached. 

Location of the files in my computer is C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\CFD 2016\Tutorials. Except for the files in the tutorials, I cannot load any other file (no matter how simple the file is) onto simulation cfd.

Update on the Issue : - I managed to save my heat exchanger as step file and I found that file can be uploaded onto cfd without any issues even after checking import diagnostics when creating a new study. If I save files as SAT in inventor, simulation cfd accepts that file too. I prefer to work with native formats such as .ipt or solidworks in cfd, however.

So in short, I found out recently that step files and sat files (only when saved via inventor) works on cfd. But native solidworks or inventor files (other than the ones in the tutorial don't), well....I am confused...

[Jon.Wilde]

I can read these in, so we can rule out a model issue (plus they are just a cube 😉 ).

Are the .sat files you are saving in the same place as the ipt and sldprt files?!

Actually, I would say it is totally fine to export .sat and would not impact the results. It is just not an ideal workflow...

I often used to use this approach as a quick fix to repair poor geometry (trade secret 😉 ).

I can only see that this is a file read issue still. Do you really find the same if they are in the exact same folder as something you CAN read in?

Thanks,

Jon

[Anonymous]

No the .sat and .stp files are in a different folder to those cubes. The only drew cubes to rule out the model issue. .sat and .stp files are for my actual heat exchangers. If I save .sat files via solidworks, it still doesn't open it. .sat files need to created via Inventor, cfd accepts .stp files regardless how they were created (i.e. with both Solidworks and Inventor).

The only Solidworks and Inventor files I can read in are in the tutorials. If I copy and paste that simple 'Cube' files (cube.sldprt or cube.ipt) in the same folder, simulation cfd doesnt read it. It reads .sat and stp files, regardless of the file location.

In short, only Tutorial Solidworks and Inventor files are recognized by CFD. No other Solidworks or Inventor file can be opened, regardless of the location (i.e. even the files are in the same folder as tutorials). .sat and .stp files are read with no issues so far.

Any other Ideas? I have a pretty new hardware and system (windows 10 home) is also pretty stable. So I am not sure how to fix this problem. 

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Maybe the old story: are you using a newer Inventor version than your CFD version?

[Jon.Wilde]

*walks away in shame*

(Good thought Marco, thanks!)

[Anonymous]

Hi Marco, 

Thanks for the reply. Yes......I am using Inventor 2017 and CFD 2016.......

[Jon.Wilde]

Well then nice work Marco! 

This is very likely to be the issue, CFD 2017 work be OK but not 2016.

For now then, I suggest you stick to the sat files.

[Anonymous]

Well, still doesn't make any sense. I am using Solidworks 2016, and it doesn't open any Solidworks files either, except the ones in the tutorials. Plus, why CFD 2016 wouldn't open on inventor 2017. It says in CFD documents that it opens .ipt and .iam files, doesn't specify any version. What about that 'improved compatibility' that is stressed so much in CFD 2016 user guide?  Now that's not very good . CFD is an Autodesk product, independent of Inventor, therefore should run old inventor files as well. Moreover, as I just mentioned, Solidworks version that I use is exactly the same year as CFD 2016.

[Jon.Wilde · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Different companies have different numbered releases at different times 🙂

Here is a link to what CAD is supported in CFD2016. (Up to SWx 2015 only)

Things often change from one CAD release to another, in an ideal world we would always know in advance of course 🙂

CFD should run old Inventor files, the possibility is that it might not open future versions, unless it was updated to do so through a service pack.

I hope this helps to clarify for you.

Thanks,

Jon

[Anonymous]

Thanks Jon. Yes that explains why I wasn't able to open these files. I am using SW 2016 and Inventor 2017 and both of them are not supported yet by CFD 2016. Time to upgrade to 2017 :D. Thanks for following up on this issue till the end. I appreciate that. Have a good day.