Translating a CAD Model

You can translate a CAD model into an equivalent Simscape™ Multibody™ block diagram. The conversion relies on the smimport function featuring an XML multibody description file name as its central argument. The XML file passes to Simscape Multibody software the data it needs to recreate the original model—or an approximation of it if unsupported constraints exist in the model.

You translate a CAD model in two steps—export and import. The export step converts the CAD assembly model into an XML multibody description file and a set of STEP or STL part geometry files. The import step converts the multibody description and part geometry files into an SLX Simscape Multibody model and an M data file. The model obtains all block parameter inputs from the data file.

What’s in a Translated Model?

The translated model represents the CAD parts—referred to as bodies in Simscape Multibody software—using Simulink^® subsystems that comprise multiple solid and Rigid Transform blocks. The solid blocks provide the body geometries, inertias, and colors. The Rigid Transform blocks provide the frames with the required poses for connection between bodies.

Consider the upper arm body of a CAD robotic arm model, shown in the figure. The Simulink subsystem for this body consists of one solid block connected to a pair of Rigid Transform blocks. The Solid block provides the reference to the upper arm geometry file and the inertial properties derived from the CAD model. The Rigid Transform blocks provide the frames for connection to the robot base and lower arm bodies.

CAD joints, constraints, and mates translate into Simscape Multibody software as combinations of joint and constraint blocks. In the CAD robotic arm example, the constraints between the upper arm and the lower arm translate into a Revolute Joint block. This block sits between the Simulink Subsystem blocks that represent the upper arm and lower arm bodies.

By default, the translated model preserves the structural hierarchy of the original CAD model. If the source model is a CAD model with multibody subassemblies, the subassemblies convert in Simscape Multibody software into multibody Simulink subsystems. Consider again the CAD robotic arm model. The model contains a grip multibody subassembly with seven bodies, shown schematically in the figure.

What’s in a Data File?

Blocks in the translated model are parameterized in terms of MATLAB^® variables defined in the data file. These variables are stored in structure arrays named after the various block types. The structure arrays are nested in a parent data structure named smiData or a custom string that you specify.

Consider an imported model with a data structure named smiData. If the model contains Revolute Joint blocks, the parameter data for these blocks is the structure array smiData.RevoluteJoint. This structure array contains a number of data fields, each corresponding to a different block parameter.

The structure array fields are named after the block parameters. For example, the position state target data for the Revolute Joint blocks is in a field named Rz_Position_Target. If the model has two Revolute Joint blocks, this field contains two entries—smiData.RevoluteJoint(1).Rz_Position_Target and smiData.RevoluteJoint(2).Rz_Position_target.

Each structure array index corresponds to a specific block in the imported model. The index assignments can change if you regenerate a data file from an updated XML multibody description file. The smimport function checks the prior data file, when specified, to ensure the index assignments remain the same. See Updating an Existing Data File.

Exporting a CAD Model

You can technically export a CAD assembly model from any CAD application. The Simscape Multibody Link CAD plug-in provides one means to export a model in a valid XML format. The plug-in is compatible with three desktop CAD applications: SolidWorks^®, PTC^® Creo™, and Autodesk^® Inventor^®. The plug-in generates not only the XML multibody description file but also any geometry files required for visualization in the final translated model.

The Simscape Multibody smexportonshape function provides another means to export a CAD model, from a cloud application named Onshape^®. This function exports in a format compatible with the newer Simscape Multibody blocks only. See Onshape Import for more information on exporting (and importing) CAD models from an Onshape account.

If you use an unsupported CAD application, you can create a program that uses the CAD API and Simscape Multibody XML schema to generate the multibody description and part geometry files. This task requires knowledge of XML documents, XSD schema definitions, and CAD APIs. See the schema website for the XSD schema definitions. See MATLAB Central for an example program built on the SolidWorks CAD API.

If a URDF converter exists for your CAD application, you may be able to export your model in URDF format and import the URDF file into the Simscape Multibody environment. Note, however, that the URDF specification forbids closed-chain model topologies, such as those of four-bar linkages and gear assemblies. For more information, see Import URDF Models.

Importing a CAD Model

You import an XML multibody description file using the Simscape Multibody smimport function in its default import mode. The function parses the file and generates a Simscape Multibody model and associated data file. For step-by-step instructions on to import a CAD assembly model via its XML multibody description file, see Import a CAD Assembly Model.

Warning: The set of constraints between upperarm_1_RIGID and forearm_1_RIGID
could not be mapped to a joint. A rigid connection has been added between port F
of upperarm_1_RIGID and port F1 or forearm_1_RIGID for these constraints.

Simplifying Model Topology

You can import a CAD model with a simplified topology. So that you can do this, the smimport function provides the ModelSimplification argument. You can set this argument to:

Use the bringJointsToTop or groupRigidBodies option if your CAD model has many rigidly connected components, such as nuts and bolts, that you prefer to group together—for example, to more intuitively grasp the key components of the model at a glance of the block diagram.

Use the bringJointsToTop option if your CAD model has joints inside subassemblies and you prefer to expose them at the top level—for example, to work with joint actuation and sensing signals without having to search for the joints inside different subsystems.

Note that model simplification is available for CAD import only. URDF models have flat topologies with little need for simplification.

Updating an Existing Data File

You regenerate the data file for a previously imported model by running the smimport function in dataFile mode. You specify this mode using the optional ImportMode Name,Value pair argument. The function uses the prior data file to keep the mapping between structure array indices and blocks consistent.

Before regenerating a data file, you must export a new XML multibody description file from the updated CAD assembly model. The smimport function uses the data in the new multibody description file to generate the new data file.

The function does not update the block diagram when run in dataFile mode. If you add or delete bodies in the source CAD assembly model, you must manually add or delete the corresponding blocks in the previously imported model.