2018.1 Readme

Simulation Utility

• Importing STL files into Simulation Utility on a Windows 7 Remote Desktop produces a crash. As a workaround, you can launch Simulation Utility from a command line with the following command: tscon 1 /dest:console start "appname.exe modelfile.stl" where modelfile.stl is the name of the file to be imported. If this does not work, a more extensive procedure is as follows:

  Determine your remote desktop session ID

  1. At the Command prompt, type query session and press Enter.
     
  2. Find the ID number in the rdp-tcp row (typically 1 or 2).

  Create and run a batch file

  1. In a text editor, create a two-line batch file (.bat) with the correct Session ID, Netfabb install directory, and STL file path. These elements are located as shown below:

     tscon <session ID> /dest:console 
     start "" "<Netfabb install directory>\SIM\appbase.exe" "<STL file path>" ""
     

     An example is as follows:

     tscon 1 /dest:console 
     start "" "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Netfabb Ultimate 2018\SIM\appbase.exe" "c:\test\1.stl" ""
     

  2. Run the batch file as an administrator.
     Note: The batch file will end by logging you out of the remote desktop connection. Log back in to see the imported STL file in Simulation Utility.
• If you close Simulation Utility after initiating a cloud solve, the cloud solve is interrupted. As a workaround, you can enter your Autodesk Account credentials and enable the Stay signed in check box. When you close Simulation Utility, you will be prompted to save your project. The next time you open Simulation Utility and open the previously saved project, you will be automatically signed in and your cloud solve will show that it is running (if not already completed). As a best practice, we recommend that you are always signed in before opening a project or importing a new model in Simulation Utility.
• Simulation Utility does not solve simulations if it encounters Unicode characters, such as Japanese or Chinese, in the path to the solver. To check this path in Simulation Utility, select Simulation menu > Settings > Solver tab and see the Executable field.
• Simulation Utility cannot work with files or directories named with Unicode characters, as used in Japanese, Chinese, or Korean languages. Avoid using such characters to name any files to be imported, such as process parameter, STL, and TIVUS files. Also avoid using such characters to name directories when saving files or projects.
• If you open a Netfabb 2017.3 project in Netfabb 2018.1 and use the Simulate Process functionality to send the model to Simulation Utility, models with open supports are suppressed in Simulation Utility. As a workaround, you can regenerate the supports in Netfabb 2018.1 and click Simulate Process to send the model to Simulation Utility.
• Simulation Utility does not work if Netfabb is installed in a folder whose name contains international characters.

Local Simulation

• The first time you solve from the command line, you may receive a message saying "'pan' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file." As a workaround, edit the Path environment variable (Control Panel > System Properties > Environment Variables) to point to the bin directory of the Local Simulation installation (typically C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Netfabb Local Simulation 2018\bin).
• If the *SUB2 card is used in auto meshed DED models, the bounding box of the substrate as defined by *SBDM or *SBXY is not the size specified by the user.
• Local Simulation cannot resolve relative paths to navigate to the execution folder. As a workaround, use the "cd" command to navigate to the directory containing the input file.
• Local Simulation cannot work with files or directories named with Unicode characters, as used in Japanese, Chinese, or Korean languages. Avoid using such characters to name any files to be imported, such as process parameter, STL, and TIVUS files. Also avoid using such characters to name directories when saving files or projects.
• Be sure to set the netfabb_sim_vars.sh environment variable according to your system. Refer to the Shell and Intel MKL Environment Variables section of the help for details about controlling the number of threads and the memory limit per thread. If these variables are not set in accordance with your system, a segmentation fault can occur.
• Unconstrained DED toolpaths will create unconstrained floating elements and incorrect results.
• A new heat treatment option was added after the deposition process.
• A new plasticity algorithm was added that is faster and more accurate than previous versions.
• A mesh preview option was added for DED simulations.
• The moving adaptivity feature was extended to toolpaths with multiple layers.
• A multiscale model was added for lack of fusion and hot spots.