Compare CAD Versions

The native CAD model is imported using CAD readers in HyperMesh that are run in the background, and exported in different HyperMesh versions over two sessions. Exported models are superposed and compared using advanced CAD-CAD comparison, and any loss of geometric data is identified along with any entity changes. A reference report is also created.

  1. Click the CAD tab then the Compare Versions tab.


    Figure 1.
  2. Select a CAD input file from the first drop-down menu.
    Supported file types include:
    • ACIS
    • CATIA
    • CATIA COMPOSE LINK
    • FiberSim
    • DXF
    • HDF5
    • IGES
    • JT
    • Parasolid
    • PDGS
    • ProE
    • SolidWorks
    • STEP
    • Tribon
    • UG
    • VDAFS
    • HM
  3. Select an output file type from the second drop-down menu.
    Supported file types include:
    • IGES
    • FiberSim
    • JT
    • Parasolid
    • CATIA COMPOSE LINK
    • STEP
    • HM
  4. Specify a current and reference HyperMesh version number.
  5. Enter a Tolerance value for use in the comparison.
    Tip: Click Native Reader to enable a native reader. Original CAD software and licenses must be used. Only available for the UG format.

    This method of import, along with feature-based meshing technology, provides a robust way to create high-quality CAE solid tetrahedral mesh models without a lot of geometry cleanup.

  6. Input files.
    Tip:
    • Click to search for and load additional input files. Select the top level folder to load all files of selected file type.
    • Click in the cell for each file type to activate it. Once the cell is active, click to display the file browser and load only selected files. You can also add multiple files.
    • Click to delete a row from the table.
  7. If you select Reference File instead of Reference Version, the GUI changes slightly. Select Reference File to compare your file with a reference file or previously certified file.
  8. Select an output directory.
  9. Click Import/Export to input your source file and output your result information.
    The time and status at import and export for each file is displayed in the Current and Reference file tables. Click Diff in the Compare versions table to view the report which lists the difference between the reference file (the input deck) and the HyperMesh exported file.
Tip:
  • The message log file displays the current status of processes in progress. Click Status/Diff to display the respective report. The message log file is a text file and is saved to your output directory.
  • Click Html Report to generate an HTML report of your session information for any number of files run through the process.