using sketchup with openfoam
DESCRIPTION
Presentation of the use of SketchUp as a 3D design engine in conjunction with openFoam. Presented at the first openFoam Hangout on Air, 20th November 2013.TRANSCRIPT
Using SketchUp with openFoam
openFoam Hangout on Air #1Wednesday 13th November 2013
Presentation
1.Presenter background
2.SketchUp History, Basics and Limitations
3.SketchUp/openFoam workflow
4.Good aspects of SketchUp
5.Not so good aspects of SketchUp
Presenter Background
Dr Julien de Charentenay:
Practical engineer with excellent CFD knowledge and an interest in software
development
SketchUp
• History2000 Released by @Last Software
2006 Acquired by Google
2013 Acquired by Trimble
• Programs of interestK-12
African University
Visiting Professionals
Project Spectrum
SketchUp
SketchUp Basics
• SketchUp Make (Free) vs SketchUp Pro
• Modelling principles
• Plugins
SketchUp Limitations
• Minimum length
"tolerance factor for length is 0.001 of an inch"Source:
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=25175&p=218997#p218989
0.001 inches = 0.0254 millimetres
SketchUp Limitations
• Minimum length
openFoam Modelling Workflow
SketchUp, what's great?
• Ease of use and flexibility
SketchUp, what's great?
• 'Follow-me' tool
SketchUp, what's great?
• 'Follow-me' tool
SketchUp, what's great?
• 'Follow-me' tool
SketchUp, what's great?
• 3D Warehouse
SketchUp, what's great?
• 3D Warehouse
SketchUp, what's great?
• Geolocalisation
SketchUp, what's great?
• Geolocalisation
SketchUp, what's great?
• Geolocalisation
SketchUp, what's great?
• Geolocalisation/Google Earth integration
SketchUp, what's great?
• Photomatching
Example from http://help.sketchup.com/en/article/94921
SketchUp, what's great?
• Photomatching
SketchUp, what's great?
• Photomatching
SketchUp, what's great?
• Plugins and ruby scripting
http://extensions.sketchup.com/
SketchUp, what's not so great?
• Curves
SketchUp, what's not so great?
• Curves
Cylinder with 24 sides
SketchUp, what's not so great?
• Curves
Cylinder with 48 sides
SketchUp, what's not so great?
• Watertightness
• Plugin to assess watertightness - http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30504
• More attention with the advend of 3D printing
SketchUp, what's not so great?
• IGES/STEP support
• No in-built support• Available through - paid - extension(s)
SketchUp, what's not so great?
• Importers and plugins speed of execution
• Due to speed execution, some functionalities may be impractical for large cases.
Overall
SketchUp is a great 3D design tool:
Easy to pick-up and ease;
With a good base of users;
Very practical for quick modelling for use in conjunction with openfoam;
But has practical limitations.
References
http://www.sketchup.com/
http://sketchucation.com/
http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.mastersketchup.com/10-sketchup-tips/
http://rhin.crai.archi.fr/rld/