Geometry model
01Overview
Build a fully parametric blade from NACA or custom airfoils. No CAD software needed.
A blade's shape is a set of airfoil sections and the way they sit along the span. The Geometry model asks for exactly that, and builds the 3D blade from it.
02What it does
Standard and custom airfoils.
The full NACA 4-digit family is built in and called by number. Custom profiles are accepted as input, and airfoils are interchangeable on the same blade.
Sections along the span.
Set the root radius, the start and end positions and the number of sections. econblades generates the cross-sections in between.
3D shape from curves.
Twist, chord, sweep and dihedral are each controlled by a curve, edited in Bézier or cubic spline mode with visible control points.
Section-level control.
Every generated profile can be fine-tuned on its own, or overwritten from a CSV file.
Neutral CAD output.
From the finished design, econblades creates a solid-body STEP file in under a minute.
03Classical way vs. econblades
Classically, profiles travel from Python to Excel to CSV to a CAD script, or are entered by hand and lofted with guide curves. That takes a CAD engineer and an aerodynamicist: 1 to 2 hours with in-house scripts, around 2 days by hand. In econblades, a designer builds the same geometry in about 10 minutes, with no external CAD software and no predefined geometry.
Because the model is fully parametric, a shape change means editing parameters and regenerating. Nothing is rebuilt in CAD, which makes the module suited to manual aerodynamic optimisation.
04Inputs and outputs
The geometry is the base for the Layup builder. For an aero-only calculation, the geometry alone is enough. The STEP file can serve as input for detailed CAD design, for FEA or CFD in the detailed design phase, and for manufacturing tool design.
05Scope
The Geometry model is built for preliminary blade design, not as a replacement for a full CAD system. Shape optimisation is manual.
06FAQ
Do I need CAD experience?
No. The module is built for engineers responsible for blade performance. You define sections and curves, and econblades builds the solid.
Which airfoils can I use?
The full NACA 4-digit family is built in. You can also bring your own custom profiles.
Can I take the geometry into my own tools?
Yes. econblades exports a solid-body STEP file that opens in any CAD, FEA or CFD tool.