Move Elements

Use the Edit: Move tool to move nodes, drag tria elements, modify holes and washers, and automatically optimize nodes and elements.

The Edit tools work for tessellated geometry. If the input is b-spline geometry, first convert to discrete geometry using the Convert tool.
  1. From the Geometry ribbon, click the Edit > Move tool.


    Figure 1.
    Elements are colored according to how well they adhere to the pre-set quality requirements defined in the criteria file.
  2. Optional: On the guide bar, click to to define the options used to edit elements.
  3. Select an element issue type from the guide bar.
    Quality
    Checks for quality as defined in quality criteria.
    Intersections
    Checks for intersecting elements.
    Face angles
    Checks for folded or sharp angle elements.
  4. Optional: Find all elements at or below a certain quality level.
    1. Click Find on the guide bar.
    2. Increase or decrease the number of layers around patches of failed elements by clicking or on the guide bar.
    3. Review the next or previous patch of failed elements by clicking or on the guide bar.
  5. Edit elements in the following ways:
    • Place nodes by clicking-and-dragging nodes to a new location. The quality of the elements that depend on the node being moved dynamically adjust as you drag.
    • Move nodes along edges.
    • Move tria elements by clicking-and-dragging trias to a new location in the model, or out of the model completely.
    • Modify the radius of holes and washers by clicking-and-dragging nodes to a new location. Hole and washer operations display a graphical preview
    • Optimize nodes/elements by double-clicking. Nodes and elements are automatically moved to optimize the overall quality of surrounding elements.


Figure 2.

Edit: Move Tool

An overview of the Edit: Move tool.



Figure 3.

Use the Edit: Move tool to move nodes, drag tria elements, modify holes and washers, and automatically optimize nodes and elements.

Access
Go to Geometry > Edit > Move.

Options

Allow to move fixed and shared nodes
Allow moving fixed and shared nodes for element operations.
Intersections >
Set intersection tolerance to find out penetration level of two intersecting elements.
Face angles <
Set dihedral angle to find out sharp angle elements.
Drag node
Select a direction to move nodes.
Along surface
Move nodes along the plane or curvature of a surface.
Normal to surface
Move nodes directly away from a surface in a normal direction.
Optimize node
Select a direction to automatically move selected nodes and optimize the overall quality of its surrounded elements.
Along surface
Move nodes along the plane or curvature of a surface.
Normal to surface
Move nodes directly away from a surface in a normal direction.
Stop at boundary
Stop nodes from moving past the edges of a mesh boundary
Move mininodes automatically
Move the mininodes associated with the nodes being moved.
Allow merging trias
When dragging tria elements, enable two trias to be merged into one quad element.
Modify hole direction
Select a direction to move the nodes around the edges of a hole.
Radial
Modifies the radius of a hole while keeping element orientation consistent.
Angular
Modifies the nodes around the edges of a hole without changing its diameter or spacing between nodes.
Circumferential
Rotates the nodes along the circumference of a slot without altering a hole's size, shape, or orientation.
Move washers automatically
Automatically move, scale, change the radial or angular position of washer nodes, along with the hole being modified.
Retain washer width
Modify the radius of the hole and washer simultaneously.
Remesh layers around hole
Automatically remesh layers around a hole after modifying it.
Number of layers
Change the number of layers to remesh around a hole.

Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls

To do this Press
Drag nodes along surfaces or edges. Drag holes for circumferential movement. Drag trias. Left Mouse Click
Drag nodes across edges, and out of boundary. Drag holes for radial movement. Alt + Left Mouse Click
Drag nodes normal to surfaces. Drag holes for angular movement. Shift + Left Mouse Click
Drag holes for radial and angular movement. Shift + Alt + Left Mouse Click
Optimize elements and nodes along surfaces or edges. Double-Click
Optimize elements and nodes across edges. Alt + Double-Click
Optimize nodes normal to surfaces. Shift + Double-Click
Optimize nodes along and normal to surfaces. Shift + Alt + Double-Click