Use of a design in Autodesk AutoCAD in Autodesk CFD to run CFD

[Anonymous]

I want to make a bioreactor. Can I draw it in Autodesk AutoCAD/ Fusion 360 and do computational fluid dynamics of the drawing I have made in 3D? If so, how do I upload the dwg file in the CFD software?

[matt.bemis]

Hi @Anonymous,

I recommend using Fusion 360. Autocad is not really built to be a 3D solid body CAD tool. Also, dwg is not a support CAD format. Refer to this list. 

Thanks,

[Anonymous]

So technically, I can do it, just I have to convert dwg in compatible format.

[matt.bemis]

Hi @Anonymous,

I think so, but am not sure. I've never used Autocad before. It is definitely not a typical user workflow.

Thanks, 

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Yes, you can do this. I use AutoCAD 2016 all the time for this exact purpose for models with simple geometries, using the following workflow:

1. Design the part in AutoCAD
2. Make sure all the part components and fluid volumes exist in AutoCAD as 3d objects
3. Export all the 3d objects in your model as a .SAT file

You can then open the .SAT file in CFD or SimStudio Tools.

[Anonymous]

Thank You for the assist, yesterday when I was designing objects for practice, I saw a few different formats. I thought that maybe I could save in a compatible format, and now I have the answer. Thank You.