Using STL format files allows you to use the original geometry in ANSYS CFD-Post. This may be useful to add context to images of certain kinds of flows, in particular internal flows.
The easiest route to using the original geometry in ANSYS CFD-Post is to generate an STL file from the original CAD in ANSYS SpaceClaim.
The main restriction with using STLs in visualization is that an STL file is a surface file. This means that if you cut through it as part of the visualization (e.g. using Iso Clip) you get the appearance of two edges rather than a solid object.
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You can get around this by slicing the geometry in SpaceClaim.
Steps
1. Work out best view from original results.
2. Slice original geometry in SpaceClaim.
3. If you want different components to have different colors in the final plot export each needs to be exported separately (Save as -> .STL. You may need to go into Options and switch STL output to ASCII format).
4. In CFD-post import STL file as surface data (selecting .STL as the filter format).
5. Apply texture under render option for the new STL surface. There is a limited selection but there is also the ability to use a custom image.
6. Compose image.
7. The same technique can be used to construct and import any surface into post. Where the surface coincides with solution data it is possible to plot data on that surface.
Author: Chris Bennett, Senior Engineer
