LiveLink™ for PTC Creo Parametric™ Updates

For users of LiveLink™ for PTC Creo Parametric™, COMSOL Multiphysics® software version 5.4 brings support for synchronizing read-only parameters, object selections generated for material selections, and user-defined selections. See the LiveLink™ for PTC Creo Parametric™ updates in more detail below.

Support for Synchronizing Read-Only Parameters

Relation-driven dimensional parameters in the CAD model can now be transferred during synchronization. These parameters are treated as read-only parameters and are available for use in a COMSOL Multiphysics® model. The values of these parameters cannot be changed inside the model, but they are updated with each synchronization based on the changes in the CAD model.

An example of read-only parameters in the PTC Creo Parametric software.

The d6 parameter is relation driven in this PTC Creo Parametric™ part file.

The d6 parameter is relation driven in this PTC Creo Parametric™ part file.
An example of read-only parameters in LiveLink for PTC Creo Parametric.

After synchronization, the d6 parameter appears in the Read-only parameters section and the associated global parameter, LL_d6, can be used in the simulation setup.

After synchronization, the d6 parameter appears in the Read-only parameters section and the associated global parameter, LL_d6, can be used in the simulation setup.

Object Selections Generated for Material Selections

Material selections, which are generated from the material assignments in the CAD model, are now available as general object selections. These selections are available in the lists of input objects for the geometry feature nodes, below the LiveLink™ node in a geometry sequence.

An example of object selections generated for material selections in LiveLink for PTC Creo Parametric.

After synchronization, the COPPER material selection appears in the Object Selections table.

After synchronization, the COPPER material selection appears in the Object Selections table.
An example of accessing a material selection in LiveLink for PTC Creo Parametric.

The synchronized COPPER material selection can be accessed as input to the Union 1 operation to form the union of all objects that have been assigned the COPPER material in the PTC Creo Parametric™ file.

The synchronized COPPER material selection can be accessed as input to the Union 1 operation to form the union of all objects that have been assigned the COPPER material in the PTC Creo Parametric™ file.

User-Defined Selections

Expanding on the functionality that synchronizes selections based on material assignments in the CAD model in PTC Creo Parametric™, the LiveLink™ interface now adds support for user-defined selections. In the newly added COMSOL Selections interface in PTC Creo Parametric™, you can define selections that are synchronized with the COMSOL Multiphysics® model. You can choose to synchronize selections for assembly components, features, bodies, faces, edges, or points, which become selections in the model when the CAD design is synchronized with COMSOL Multiphysics®.

An example of user-defined selections on an assembly in the PTC Creo Parametric software. The selections defined on this assembly of an induction motor are synchronized with the COMSOL Multiphysics® model.
The selections defined on this assembly of an induction motor are synchronized with the COMSOL Multiphysics® model.
An example of synchronized selections via LiveLink for PTC Creo Parametric. The selections synchronized into the COMSOL Multiphysics® model, which were defined in the PTC Creo Parametric™ induction motor.
The selections synchronized into the COMSOL Multiphysics® model, which were defined in the PTC Creo Parametric™ induction motor.

New Tutorial: Two-Pole, Three-Phase Induction Motor

This new tutorial illustrates how to compute the torque of a three-phase squirrel-cage induction motor at various speeds. The torque is computed by averaging the results from simulations performed on 2D cross sections at several locations along the induction motor. The 3D geometry and selections, which are used for the physics settings, are transferred from PTC Creo Parametric™ via the LiveLink™ interface. By defining a work plane in the 3D geometry, the 2D geometry used for the analysis is generated in the COMSOL Multiphysics® model using the Cross Section operation, which retains the selections defined in 3D.

The Two-Pole, Three-Phase Induction Motor model.

The Graphics window shows the 2D magnetic flux density norm results on the synchronized 3D geometry of the induction motor. The Plot 1 window displays the computed torque versus slip curves at different axial positions, as well as the averaged data.

The Graphics window shows the 2D magnetic flux density norm results on the synchronized 3D geometry of the induction motor. The Plot 1 window displays the computed torque versus slip curves at different axial positions, as well as the averaged data.

Updated Support for New CAD File Format Versions

The CAD file import and export functionality has been extended to support new versions for the following file formats:

Read from File

  • AutoCAD® (.dxf, .dwg): 2018 and 2019
  • Inventor® (.iam, .ipt): 2018 and 2019
  • NX™ (.prt): 12
  • Parasolid® (.x_t, .xmt_txt, .x_b, .xmt_bin): V31.0
  • PTC Creo Parametric™ (.prt, .asm): 5.0
  • SOLIDWORKS® (.sldprt, .sldasm): 2018

Write to File

  • Parasolid® (.x_t, .xmt_txt, .x_b, .xmt_bin): V31.0

Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, AutoCAD, and Inventor are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. Parasolid and NX are trademarks or registered trademarks of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. PTC, Creo, and Creo Parametric are trademarks or registered trademarks of PTC Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and in other countries. SOLIDWORKS is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. COMSOL AB and its subsidiaries and products are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or supported by these trademark owners.