Learning Forum

[Tom Kay]

Hello,

This is my first post, so any help would be appreciated. I downloaded and installed the student Spaceclaim 2023 R2. It works very well and allows me to save each file that I start. My planis to use it to create 3D geometry for 3D printing, or as a reverse-engineering software, which usually is based on some 3D scanned item, and importing the scan file into Spaceclaim, then building a model in the same space as the scan file. Good news, that all works perfectly.

Bad news, after creating new geometry, or reverse-engineering a scanned item, although I can save the file, I cannot export the new file in any format. My preferred choices would be stl and then step files. This is simply not an option on the student version of Spaceclaim. I tried 17 ways to Sunday.

So, is there any known way to make the student version export any files ?  I called Ansys, and they said get in touch with my university, as they may have some agreement with Ansys to allow the software to fucntion fully, and export. But I really don't think my school has such an agreement.

Can anyone else solve this ? If I can't get files out of Spaceclaim, other than for practicing, this software would be pretty much useless to me.

One possible workaround I thought of is;  make a solid object in Spaceclaim student version, and see if somebody has the fully licensed verson to hopefully open my file, then export parts. Problem is, I'd have to find someone who has the full seat of Spaceclaim 2023 and the patience to export for me.

So, I hope that's all clearer than mud. Can anyone help with this ?  I would even be willing to pay a reasonable fee to have my designed parts exported.

Thank you, Tom Kay, Ottawa Canada.

[peteroznewman]

Hello Tom,

The free Student license limits exporting the SpaceClaim document in a neutral format. The intention of providing free software is so students can learn to use the software. Obviously, if Ansys provided full functionality in the free software, few people would pay for a license.

Many universities have purchased a Research or Teaching license which has no such limitation. If you ask at your university, you may find a computer in a lab on campus that has that license installed. It is true that if you take your .scdoc file from the Student version, you can open it on that computer and export the neutral file.

If you are not a student, but running a business, then you could purchase a license for SpaceClaim from Ansys.

[Rob]

Just a comment on Peter's last sentence. If you are using the Student software commercially please re-read the T&Cs and then get in touch to discuss getting the correct licences: there are options for start-ups too. 

If you're at University, think of it as a way to get them to get the software in house and taught to the whole course. Academic level licences are not expensive. 

As an aside, staff have also suggested stl export from the geometry tools for 3d printing..... 

[Tom Kay]

Peter and Rob,

I'm not using the student version commercially. That's seems to be impossible anyway, unless I didn't understand some detail.

OK, Plan B (or is it C ?), If I create a file in Student Spaceclaim, is there anyone at the Ansys company who could open my file and export the solid parts I've created? I'd assume that there would be a fee involved.

And last, since the student version offered on the Ansys website is 2023 R2, would a full commercial license of 2021 open the 2023 student file ? Or would it have to be the most up to date software, say 2023 ?

Thanks, Tom.

[peteroznewman]

Tom,

You can only open a file with the same or later (newer) version. So 2023 R2 or later.

I don’t work at Ansys, but I doubt you will find anyone who would export the neutral file.

Since Rob brought it up, I can walk you though the many steps that should result in being able to export an STL file after you build and mesh a model.

Peter

[Tom Kay]

Hi Peter,

If you are willing to discuss these steps, I am certainly willing to learn. And thank you again for your time.  Tom.

[peteroznewman]

Hi Tom,

Here is a SpaceClaim solid body.

Start Workbench 2023 R2
Add Steady State Thermal analysis
Import the SpaceClaim file into Geometry
Open Model
Mesh the geometry
 
Right click on Mesh to Export to STL and save the file.
Open the STL file in SpaceClaim to verify.
 

[Tom Kay]

Peter,

There doesn't seem to be s student download called "Workbench." I had assumed you meant that this student software could be used to export stl files from the student Spaceclaim. Am I missing something ?   Thanks, Tom.

[Tom Kay]

 

Ah, looking closer, perhaps the workbench is a grouping of Spaceclaim, and other softwares. I’ll download it and see what’s different compared to just Spaceclaim 2023 R2.

 

[peteroznewman]

The download is called Ansys Student.  After installation, there are lots of entries under the Ansys folder in the Start menu including SpaceClaim. The last item is Workbench.

[Tom Kay]

 

Peter,

For some reason, my last response to you disappeared, so here it is again.

I opened the Workbench from the Start menu. I then found the Steady State Thermal item in the dropdown list on the left, and clicked it.  A new window opened in the work space. I then hit the import tab and brought in my sample solid file. Again, it appeared as a new small window in the workspace. I could go no further. Nor could I see how to turn the solid into a mesh in Workbench, although it’s easy to do in Spaceclaim (use the facet tab).

I feel like I’m getting somewhere but just not there yet.

Can you tell me if this is being handled correctly thus far ?

Thanks, Tom.

 

[Tom Kay]

If it works, here's what I see on my screen.

[peteroznewman]

Right click on the Geometry cell A3 and Import the SpaceClaim file that you previously saved.

Then double click on the Model cell A4 to open Mechanical.

[Tom Kay]

Wow. Finally. Nothing about that was intuitive for me. I finally hit enough buttons and options to find a way to export an stl file of my simple cube sample model. I imported it into Rhino to verify that it actually worked.

Well Peter, thanks a ton. Sorry it was like teaching a rock to tap dance.

At the risk of making you bang your head against a wall, is there any way to export a step file of the same sample geometry ?

Either way, I think I'll practice that a few times.  Cheers, Tom.  One step forward, two steps back. 

[Tom Kay]

Peter,

I did a second sample piece of geometry and it worked. The only issue I see with my newly exported stl, is that it's very rough, what I call faceted.

Is there any way to boost up the resolution on the part either just before, or during the stl export  ? If I were printing this part, it would still end up quite rough.

Thanks, Tom.   PS, how much is my consultant bill up to so far ??

[peteroznewman]

Tom,

To get a finer set of facets in the STL file, use a smaller Element Size in the Mesh Details window.

Here is the result using the Default element size.

Type in a smaller number for the Element Size.

The number is in the current units of length.

[Tom Kay]

Peter,

Last general concept, is there any way to export a step file of a solid part that I model in Spaceclaim? If it requires 42 steps, plus the blessing of the Pope, I'm willing to learn. And once again, thanks for all your help.  Tom. 

[peteroznewman]

Not from the Student license.