What hardware and software do I need?

Computer: All CRTech software runs in the Windows operating system on a computer meeting the minimum system requirements.

CRTech Software: Thermal Desktop® is a geometric thermal modeler that operates in a powerful CAD environment. The underlying solution engine for Thermal Desktop is SINDA/FLUINT. RadCAD® is a Thermal Desktop module for radiation heat transfer within the thermal model or between the model and the environment. FloCAD® is a Thermal Desktop module for fluid modeling. TD Direct® is a powerful finite element mesher that operates within SpaceClaim and creates an interface with Thermal Desktop. RadCAD, FloCAD, and TD Direct are all installed with Thermal Desktop and activated with a license file.

Please see the Product Selection Guide for more information, or contact our sales department.

Third Party Software: SINDA/FLUINT requires Visual Studio Build Tools and Intel Fortran compiler, both of which are available free of charge. Thermal Desktop operates within AutoCAD, and TD Direct operates within SpaceClaim. CRTech is a reseller of AutoCAD, so you can purchase Thermal Desktop and AutoCAD together. Your Thermal Desktop license includes access to SpaceClaim; when Thermal Desktop is launched from within SpaceClaim, a single license is shared between SpaceClaim and Thermal Desktop.

License: SINDA/FLUINT, FloCAD, RadCAD, and TD Direct are installed with every instance of Thermal Desktop. You will need a license to enable the software. Contact CRTech to purchase a license.

How do I install the software?

2023 R2 & 2024 R1 

  • Install Guide (Ansys ID / login required)     
    Includes installation instructions for Prerequisite Software, AutoCAD, SINDA/FLUINT, Thermal Desktop, and Licensing

Version 6.3

What learning resources are available to me?

User Manuals: Manuals are installed as part of Thermal Desktop installation. They can be accessed through the start menu: Start > All Programs > Thermal Desktop User Manuals. The Thermal Desktop Suite manual contains user manuals for Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, and TD Direct.

Tutorials: Tutorials are an excellent way to get acquainted with the software by starting with the basic operations of our software and gradually increase in complexity. Our tutorials are all located on our community forum. To access these you will need to log into our website.

Sample Models: CRTech offers a Samples and Applications Forum providing sample problems available to registered customers and evaluators. These sample problems are examples of how to use CRTech software for specific applications. Our Tips and Samples webpage provides a convenient filtering system help you find specific content withing this forum.

Training Classes: We offer training classes on all of our products. It is recommended that all new users attend one of our training classes. Although based on training notes available for download, these training classes provide a significant amount of information and instruction that can't be captured in training notes. We offer standard training classes where anyone can attend, or we can also provide specific training for a single organization. For more information, see our Training page. Some of these training classes have been recorded and are available on our recorded videos page.

Topic Classes: CRTech offers a variety of free short, online, topic-based classes. These classes are slightly more advanced because they cover a single topic in more detail. These classes are announced on our website and through newsletters. Recordings for some of these classes are available on our recorded videos page and associated handouts are available upon request.

Recorded Videos: We have recorded several videos to help explain how to use our software.

How do I get Support?

Technical Support: If you need help, please start with the product user manuals. The Thermal Desktop section of the Suite manual provides information on the graphical user interface, compared to the SINDA/FLIUNT section which provides in-depth information on the modeling details and methods.

If you cannot find the information you need in the manuals, visit our community forum; your question may have already been asked and answered by another user.

If your question is still unanswered, please contact CRTech Support. Support tickets may be conveniently created and transmitted from within Thermal Desktop through the Help menu.