Many computer-aided modeling and drafting applications can read and write VDA-FS-format files; you can use these files to exchange geometry information between these applications and ABAQUS/CAE. Select File
ImportPart from the main menu bar to import a part from a VDA-FS-format file. You can export parts from ABAQUS/CAE into a VDA-FS-format file, but you cannot export the assembly to a VDA-FS-format file.
If the VDA-FS-format file contains multiple parts, ABAQUS/CAE imports them as a single part. An imported VDA-FS part forms the base feature of a new part in ABAQUS/CAE; you cannot modify this base feature directly, but you can add additional features to it, such as a solid extrusion or a blind cut.
To import a part from a VDA-FS-format file:
From the main menu bar, select FileImportPart.
The Import Part dialog box appears.
From the File Filter menu at the bottom of the Import Part dialog box, select VDA-FS (*.vda*).
ABAQUS/CAE lists all the files in the selected directory with a .vda* file extension.
Select the VDA-FS file containing the part to import, and click OK.
ABAQUS/CAE displays the Create Part from VDA File dialog box.
Click the Name-Repair tab to set the following:
The name of the new part.
The repair options that ABAQUS/CAE will apply during the import.
The topology of the imported part.
Click the Part Attributes tab to set the following:
The modeling space of the part being imported. When you import a part, ABAQUS/CAE scans the file and tries to determine the modeling space.
The type of the part being imported. ABAQUS/CAE always assumes that the part type is deformable. Toggle on Discrete rigid to import a discrete rigid part. For more information, see “Part types,” Section 11.4.2.
Click the Scale tab to scale the part during the import process.
Choose No scale to maintain the dimensions stored in the file.
Choose Use transform from file, including scale to read the scale factor, the rotation matrix, and the translation matrix from the VDA-FS file.
Choose Multiply all lengths by, and enter a scale factor. ABAQUS/CAE applies the scale factor to all of the coordinates in the file. As a consequence, any offset from the origin will be scaled accordingly.
Click OK to import the VDA-FS part and to close the Create Part from VDA File dialog box.
ABAQUS/CAE scans the VDA-FS file and starts the repair process, depending on the options selected. If you wish to cancel the import process, click Stop in the prompt area.
When the part is imported, ABAQUS/CAE displays a message in the message area indicating if the part contains any validity or precision problems. If necessary, use the Query toolset to locate areas of invalid and imprecise geometry. For more information, see “Using the Query toolset in the Part module,” Section 11.16.4.
