cad_to_mcnp_comparison

CAD to MCNP comparison

These tools are used to automatically produce reports that show the differences between a CAD document and its associated MCNP input file.

The plots' specifications are defined in the plot_instructions.txt file which is made up of the MCNP plotter commands.

Example of the contents of the plot_instructions.txt:

plot
label 0 0 &
pz 0 ex 1000
ex 500
basis 0 1 0 -33 0 26 &
ex 1000
px 1 ex 1000
end
end

How to use

1. Define the plot instructions

Prepare the plot_instructions.txt file. Every line represents a plot unless the last character is & which represents a continuation line. It is recommended to inlcude the label 0 0 to avoid the display of cell and surface numbers in the MCNP plotter.

2. Run the MCNP plotter job

Generate a RUNTPE file if no one is yet available by doing a NPS=1 MCNP simulation or similar. Then run a NOTEK plot job with a command similar to:

mcnp5.mpi z r=runtpe_file notek com=plot_instructions.txt n=plot. eol > plot.dump

This job will produce a file named plotm.ps. Convert it to PDF and save it with the name plotm.pdf in the same folder as these scripts.

3. Produce the CAD plots

Open in SpaceClaim the CAD file. Drag the slice_plot.py script into the screen and run it. Make sure that the same plot_instructions.txt file used in the MCNP plots is present in the same folder as the CAD file.

This will generate a set of JPG files, one for each plot. Place those files in the same folder as these scripts.

4. Combine the plots into a report

Place in the same folder:

1. The combine_plots.py script.
2. The plotm.pdf file.
3. All the JPG files generated by SpaceClaim.
4. The TEMPLATE.docx file.

Run combine_plots.py. This will generate the result.docx file.

Known issues

If the plot instructions includes plots with a slicing plane that is not parallel to the coordinate axis by means of the basis vec1 vec2 command, the SpaceClaim plot will be correct but it may be rotated. This can be easily fixed by manually rotating the SpaceClaim plot image in the final result.docx file.