The previous research group I worked with at UMass, Amherst used Mimics to create FE models from CT scans, but in order to bring them into ANSYS we needed to use Strand7 as an intermediary program

It's been a little while so I forget--what are the options for exporting from Mimics?  If you can get your hands on a trial for Strand7, you could use it to import the file from Mimics and then export a *.cdb

In general, MIMICS exports an STL-file that can be next imported by ANSYS.

I guess it would depend on what you want--I deal mainly with solid models, so *.stl's don't do me any good!

Agreed with what been said by Dr. Christopher Provatidis.

STLs should work just fine as solid bodies, though often programs default to import them as 'graphics' or 'shell' bodies.

Try this: (found via google)

"1) Make sure there are no gaps (use Surface Patch if you must)

2) Use Tools/Fill:

- Extraction Type: By Caps

- Target Bodies: Selected Bodies

- Bodies: 1 (select your patch)

- don't preserve capping bodies nor solids

3) Press "Generate""

Alternatively, you could MIMICS to output IGES files, then import them into ANSYS.  This absolutely works, but 'capping' the ends of the body can be tricky. 

Good luck!

The uber answer to your question is to export MIMICS file as IGES and then import it to ANSYS. ANSYS does a pretty good job in reading IGES/STL files. STL stands for stereolithography. You can use STL files in 3D printers. IGES files contain geometric data but no instruction for 3D printers.

Hi, I have use ScanIP which is quite similar to mimics. Exporting IGES is good, but sometimes can cause the software to crash. Other options as good as IGES are STEP files or Parasolid. These are solid bodies and are quicker to import. In case of bones the use of Point Cloud format (*.xyz) could be better if you import that into solidworks and create the solid from those points. These options have been working well for us using long bones.

The idea of MIMICS is exporting the CAD model , generate 3D mesh in Ansys and comeback to MIMICS to estimate spatial pattern of E for finite elements from CT density (special FE addins).

CAD model can be exported directly (if you have CAD addins to basic MIMICS). Importing STL to ANsys is wrong way, Ansys gets thousands of triagular surfaces. It is hard to making body from that STL model but possible, apparently.  In fact, the best way,it is reconstructing the surfaces as CAD.

If you haven`t the Mimics addins try reconstruct CAD surfaces on STL with Solidworks and their Scan 3D - switch in add (there many examples on youtube)., and PowerShape or special revers eng. CAD).  After reconstruction the bone model can be imported to ANsys (parasolid X_T works well, as also solidworks or any anther CAD part files).

Ansys has got problems with read the same surface as the same from CAD model, becasuse one is concave (in hole) and one is convex (implant). If there are difficulties with overlaping on the interface of an implant/bone hole try boolean in Ansys.

You can use 3-matic to export IGES, provided you have the correct licence. IGES can be imported into ANSYS mechanical and meshed. Otherwise you can use ICEM CFD to create a volume mesh from STL (which is only surface mesh) and create an input file for ANSYS Mechanical APDL. Using Scan3D option in solidworks is also an option but I find ANSYS Mechanical struggles to mesh it.

Save the file as STL on MIMICS, import the file into SolidWorks but as a "solid" model, then save the model as IGES. Open the design modeler in ANSYS and import the IGES file easily.

I have another scenario for very complicated geometries if you want. Just let me know

You'll face issues with STL files as you're only exporting surfaces.

My proposal is to export your remeshed object in Mimics to an Ansys format.  Read this exported file in ANSYS APDL, and create a volumetric object there, which you can export back, either to Ansys workbench to be directly simulated, or to Mimics, where you'll manage to assign properties and re-export again to whichever the FEA package.

Let me know if you need any additiional indication on this.

Materialise Interactive Medical Image Control System creates a 3D surface model from stacks of 2D image (CT/MRI scan data).

An alternate method: If you have left over Diwali diyas, you can melt them over the bone and then deep-freeze the waxed-bone. After solidification, the wax takes the contour of bone's outer-surface. The wax can be cut longitudinally along the length of bone - care needs to be taken to preserve the form of wax and not abrade the bone's surface - concurrently the temperature around the wax must be maintained such that wax do not expand more than the bone contracted during the deep-freeze. Subsequently the internal surface of wax can be measured for diameters using a 3D scanner/Coordinate Measuring Machine in a temperature-controlled laboratory. The diameters are not all going to be along a straight vertical axis; the axis may not be vertical, particularly for a fractured-bone. Corresponding point data (cloud data) can be imported to any software.

Please be aware of the options for 3D scanning :

Ofcourse the bone can itself be scanned; it is good to have redundancy.

http://ed.iitm.ac.in/~gsaravana/rplab.htm

 I exported those stl files as dxf file, then I used autoCAD to convert it to iges. But when I imported the iges file into ansys, there were meshes in the geometry, and I couldn't mesh them again in Ansys. Can anybody tell me how did you solve this problem?

I am also facing the same problem. I did my surface and volumetric meshing in Mimics and exported the file to Ansys (cdb format). I used FE modeller in ansys and imported the meshed file. The meshed object came up. But where the problem is now is that my Model did not show in Mechanical environment. 

YOU CAN ALSO READ FROM HERE; USING MIMICS WITH ANSYS FROM HELP MENU ON MIMICS

Hello Mr Phanindra, PhD scholar at NIT Warangal, I have solution to your problem. go to the link below and your problem is solved.

http://www.simutechgroup.com/FEA/fea-tips-tricks-post-processing-apdl-ansys-workbench.html

Thank you Mr Bolarinwa Gabriel Oladeji for your answer and link provided but i tried this way again i got problem with loading because my part littlebit complex geometry so what ever the link had its not a complex one.

i will try to do again and again to get best output, 

Dear Bolarinwa Gabriel Oladeji, Do you know how to make holes for that mesh/.cbd file ? 

Mr Phanindra Bogu, I have solution to your loading problem. It all depends on what you want to do. You can still import from Mimics to Ansys in another way, there you can load. Option 1: Save your model in cdb format, Open Ansys and select Finite element Modeler, Right click on Model, add input mesh and select your directory. Double click on the imported cdb (Mode), you , click on bodies, then select your model, click on select node,or faces or elements depending on what you want to do. right click on the selected point and add component, click ok. select other areas of your choice. the close FE Modeler. Update your project. you can move the model to any cell depending on your area of interest.  Open my attached file. It will help out. " Do you know how to make holes for that mesh/.cbd file ? "  please rephrase this question, i dont understand it". If this helps out kindly acknowledge. Thanks. If the option is not suitable, kindly get back to me.

Finally what the conclusion of your answer "Yash Agarwal"

Hey Phanindra,

Basically if you are trying to export mimics files to ansys it always exports in surface and volume mesh what you had created in mimics. there is no volume or area i.e .CDB file .

So if you are trying to export your bone model from mimics to ansys and trying to assemble these with your implant...it will be very difficult. so try to assemble your bone model with implant in mimics only.

further you can try surface modeling software like materialise 3Matic. Rhino etc. 

Basically you have to improve your meshing according to ansys element shape quality before importing to ansys in CDB format. If there will be considerable element or triangle error,  I am sure you can do simulation in ansys properly. 

Hi

You can save the file as STL on MIMICS then import it easily into ANSYS. Please let me know if further help is needed.

Thank you Sherif, STL importing can be possible but how we can mesh the STL file in ansys?

Here is the plan, import the STL file into SolidWorks, make sure to select "Solid" during the importing process into the SolidWorks. Save that file as IGES file, open the Design Modeler (DM) on ANSYS and import the IGES file into it. Then you can smooth the surface and do the meshing quite easily. Please try it out and let me know if you have any problem. Thanks

Thank you, i will be touch with you

Hi

Did it work with you? Thanks

Dear Dr. Sherif Ashaat

Thank you for your concern. Currently, I am using Rhinocers software which can convert STL to NURBS file. However, conversion of files are very easy in simple geometries compared to complex geometries such as bone data.

I found few alternatives to convert STL file to solid for structural analysis in Ansys.

I always welcome your suggestions to improve my research work

Hi Phanindra

That's good to know. Wish you all the best with your research.