4.1. Output Files

Part Output Files	Type	Description
Solver Voxel Input*	.vtk	An output file with a voxelized representation of the part and supports showing voxel densities. This file is output early in the simulation, after voxelization but before solution begins. If you specified automatic supports, the supports in this file are simply a generalized density, not specifically one of the optimized supports. If you imported support .stl files, this file shows your imported supports. You can see how well the part and support geometries are represented by the voxel mesh and to confirm that your supports are aligned correctly to the part. Density: A value between 0 (empty) and 1 (full) for each voxel indicating the material density ratio of the subvoxels after voxelization. State: Either part, support, or interface. Interface state means this voxel belongs to the part but has a support voxel below it.
On-plate Stress/Displacement*	.vtk and .avz	Voxelized part with predicted displacements and stresses (and optionally, strains) at the end of the build (that is, end state) while the part is still attached to the baseplate. Displacement in mm: magnitude, x, y, and z components End-state stress in Pa: von Mises, xx, yy, zz, xy, yz, zx components End-state elastic and plastic strain: xx, yy, zz, xy, yz, zx components (if Include strain in output files output option is chosen) Max stress during build in Pa: von Mises, and xx, yy, zz in compression & tension for each Blade crash severity (if Detect potential blade crash output option is chosen) High strain severity (if High Strain Areas output option is chosen)
After Cutoff Displacement	.vtk and .avz	Voxelized part with predicted displacements after cutoff has occurred (either part and support cutoff or support-only cutoff, depending on the Cutoff Mode option). Displacement in mm: magnitude, x, y, and z components
MAPDL After Cutoff	.zip	A zipped file containing the results file (.rst) and common database file (.cdb) that can be used in Ansys Mechanical to evaluate the results of the cutoff.
Layerwise .vtk files	.vtk (zipped)	A series of .vtk files that show voxelized representation of part layer by layer during the build. You will have as many .vtk files as voxel layers in your part, as layerwise files are not written for support-only layers. Use these files to animate the build process. View locations throughout the part of potential blade crashes and high strain areas that may indicate cracks. For each voxel layer: Displacement in mm: magnitude, x, y, and z components End-state stress in Pa: von Mises, xx, yy, zz, xy, yz, zx components Blade crash severity (if Detect potential blade crash output option is chosen) High strain severity (if High Strain Areas output option is chosen)
Geometry with Distortion	.vtk	Contains a representation of the original, undistorted part with predicted displacements at the end of the build while part is still attached to the baseplate. The geometry does not include the offset for supports between the baseplate and the part. Displacement in mm: magnitude, x, y, and z components
Geometry with Distortion (after Cutoff)	.vtk	Contains a representation of the original, undistorted part with predicted displacements after cutoff has occurred (either part and support cutoff or support-only cutoff, depending on the Cutoff Mode option). Displacement in mm: magnitude, x, y, and z components
Positioned Part	.stl	Input geometry (non-compensated) positioned into its start location and orientation, that is, offset to account for supports between the baseplate and the part.
Compensated Geometry	.stl	Contains the distortion-compensated 3D surface representation (tessellated triangles) of the part while the part is still attached to the baseplate. The compensated geometry is placed flush with the baseplate surface and does not include the offset for supports between the baseplate and the part. You may want to use this file as the part geometry for final production builds.
Compensated Geometry (after Cutoff)	.stl	Contains the distortion-compensated 3D surface representation (tessellated triangles) of the part after cutoff has occurred (either part and support cutoff or support-only cutoff, depending on the Cutoff Mode option). You may want to use this file as the part geometry for final production builds.

Supports Output Files	Type	Description
Supports Stress/Displacement	.vtk and .avz	Contains the voxelized representation of the support structure with predicted displacements and stresses at the end of the build (that is, end state) while the part is still attached to the baseplate. Displacement in mm: magnitude, x, y, and z components End-state stress in Pa: von Mises, xx, yy, zz, xy, yz, zx components Max stress during build in Pa: von Mises, and xx, yy, zz in compression and tension for each View this file together with On-plate stress/displacement to see full build together (part and supports). Note that these are the default uniform supports, not the optimized supports. Recall that stress is not accumulating in the supports until they are affected by the solid part material. See Define Support Options.
Uniform Volumeless Support	.stl	Representation of uniform thin-walled supports used in the finite element simulation before support optimization occurs. View this file to see areas of the part that need supports based on Minimum Overhang Angle specified on the simulation form. Compares to typical third-party software that generates supports on part areas that meet the overhang minimum.
Optimized Volumeless Support	.stl	Contains optimal volumeless support layout based on predicted stresses and distortions that can be used to minimize risk of support failure.
Optimized Solid Support	.stl	Contains optimal solid support layout based on predicted stresses and distortions that can be used to minimize risk of support failure.

.csv Files	Type	Description
Potential Blade Crash Locations	.csv	Includes locations of all potential and likely blade crashes and the predicted magnitude of the Z displacement at those points. Note that values of zero Z displacement indicate hanging/floating voxels. Global x, y, z coordinates, and total Z displacement in mm
High Strain Regions	.csv	List of high strain warning areas during the build. Global x, y, z coordinates

Files for Transfer to Ansys Mechanical	Type	Description
Sim#-mapdl	.zip	A zipped file containing the four files listed below. For details on how to use these files in Ansys Mechanical, read our additional instructions here.
Model	.cdb	An output file with mesh, material, and named selection information for the part and supports, if any. The .cdb format is an Ansys-specific coded database file that is used to import an external model into Mechanical. In Mechanical, named selections allow you to group similar geometry or meshing entities. The following named selections are included in the Model.cdb file and will appear in Mechanical's project tree: BUILD (External Model) – Element information for the part SUPPORT (External Model) – Element information for the supports, if any Constraints (External Model) – The boundary conditions representing the baseplate
State	.ist	Predicted strains at the end of the build (that is, end state) while the part is still attached to the baseplate. This will provide the initial stress state for subsequent processing in Mechanical. End-state elastic and plastic strain tensors (xx, yy, zz, xy, yz, zx components) Accumulated equivalent plastic strain
Knockdowns	.ist	An output file of the voxel densities of the part and supports. (These are the same densities as contained in the Solver Voxel Input file.) They are imported into Mechanical as knockdown factors. Density: A value between 0 (empty) and 1 (full) for each voxel indicating the material density ratio of the subvoxels after voxelization.
Displacements	.csv	Predicted displacements at the end of the build (that is, end state) while the part is still attached to the baseplate. Displacement in mm: magnitude, x, y, and z components