Producing 3D geometry from a dxf file

[Conlisk]

Hi all,

 

I am having a big problem trying to generate a geometry from an output dxf file.

 

I use LabVIEW to model microchannels. My output is a 2D array containing height information. I export this array to Matlab and produce a dxf file.

 

My ultimate goal is to obtain the solid geometry of the channel as if someone used this as a mold and cast the channel from it. I need to model this in a CFD package so I need a solid geometry and don't know how to use the dxf file to achieve this.

 

My thought was to turn the dxf file into a surface and use it to slice a solid block to produce the channel geometry but I've been unsuccessful so far as my CAD experience is very limited.

 

I have uploaded the dxf file of a very simple channel to sendspace as it was too big to attach. If anyone can shed some light on my problem I'd really appreciate it - I'm completely out of ideas.

 

Kevin

 

www dot sendspace dot com/file/pf3zbn

(sorry this is not spam, I don't have the required posts to publish the link correctly)

[JD Mather]

It is an open envelope of surfaces? Do you have a picture of what the end result should look like? (I can't figure where it should be closed to stitch into a solid - or should the surfaces simply be Thickened, and if so in what direction and how much?

[Conlisk]

Thanks for your quick reply.

 

I've attached two images: The first is the image (green) of the surface as it looks when plotted in my LabVIEW program. The second image is an example of what I need to convert it to so I can model it in a CFD program. I need to turn the channel section itself into a solid - I'm not concerned about the surrounding area.

 

I know this is a simple layout that I could just produce in CAD and import to my CFD program without all this hassle. However, I've have more complicated geometries designed in my LabVIEW program so I would like to establish some sort of a routine to - export (LabVIEW) - convert (in CAD) - import (CFD).

 

Any thoughts would be much appreciated as I've ran into a brick wall here in my research group and nobody has any ideas.

 

Kevin

[MikeScott]

Could we see a more complex one, so we can determine the limitatons imposed by the complexity?

[Conlisk]

Ya sure.

 

I've attached a small channel with various structures embedded in the walls. Generally speaking the structures in the channels I produce are angular in nature. Although, some will have curved elements - I'm not sure if this poses an extra problem.

 

I could live without using some of the curved elements if it means getting some sort of conversion up and running.

 

The dxf file of the attached microchannel is here:

 

www dot sendspace dot com/file/wtddyw

[Conlisk]

Anyone any further thoughts on this?

 

It'a really bugging me as I've spent a couple of weeks now trying to find a solution. If nothing comes of it I will have to scrap the approach and try something new.

 

That's why I'm very interested in your opinions as CAD users, if you think it cannot be done - or done simply - then I'll have to look at another way.

 

Cheers,

Kevin

[MikeScott]

Seems like if you turned it on it's side, you could draw parallelograms and then extrude them the required height.

 

I don't see a quick fix here though.. unless you lofted crosssections? (anyone else think loft might work? I don't have that feature)