Mesh Edit Panel

Use the Mesh Edit panel to extend a mesh to meet another mesh and form a good connection between them, or to imprint overlapping meshes so that they match one another.

Location: 2D page or Connectors Module
Note: When you access this panel from within the connectors module, the default settings for its entry criteria are different. Please refer to that section for help specific to performing connector imprints.

The Mesh Edit panel consists of two subpanels, one for extending mesh and another for imprinting mesh. The functions you perform in one panel will not be carried over to the other panel. If you switch between the Imprint and Extend panels while working, you will not lose any of your work.

Imprint Subpanel

Use the Imprint subpanel to sync or line up meshes from different, overlapping components to facilitate a better modeling connection between them.

For example, mesh imprinting may be used to match up brackets that hold parts together, or to match up two different parts (components) that must be fastened to one another. By lining up the meshes of separate components on a node-by-node basis, connections such as welds, adhesives, or even bolts can be accurately modeled.

Mesh imprinting can also be used to resolve connector issues in which quad-based transition meshes of close-set connectors interfere with each other.


Figure 1. . The underlying tube is remeshed to match the plate, while retaining the mesh of both components.
Option Action
source Choose between selecting elements, components, or nodes. In either case, this mesh will be considered the "source" for all further considerations, such as the projection path or which mesh remains after the imprint.
destination Choose between selecting elements or components. In either case, this mesh will be considered the "destination" for the source mesh.
projection Select the direction that the source mesh is projected.
normal to destination (default)
Extend the mesh from the source in a direction that is normal to the destination mesh.
along vector
Enable the standard plane and vector selector, which can be used to define the direction.
remain Select which of the original meshes to retain.
In Figure 2, Figure 3, and Figure 4 the blue plate is the source, while the orange tube is the destination.


Figure 2. Using remain: source


Figure 3. Using remain: destination


Figure 4. Using remain: both. Notice there are two layers of blue mesh now. The original component mesh and the destination imprint.
max distance Fail imprints if the distance between any portion of the source and destination exceeds the value that specify in the distance field.
elems to destination comp Absorb the imprint source elements into the destination component, discarding the original component's mesh.
It is similar to the remain: destination option, except that the end result is the modified mesh within the destination component only.


Figure 5. . The source mesh (blue, top) becomes part of the destination mesh (yellow).
create patch between imprints Create a new patch between the imprints. If nodes are selected in the source selector, the new patch will be organized in the current component by default. You can elect to have elements organized in the destination component.
Note: Available when remain is set to both.
remesh
Choose how smoothly the imprint is made.
stitch only
Connect elements without remeshing. This option is not generally recommended.


Figure 6.
layers
Specify a maximum number of layers of surrounding elements, that can be part of the remesh (much like washer layers).


Figure 7.
all
Potentially remesh the entire source and destination components in an effort to produce the best imprint mesh.


Figure 8.
feature angle When the destination mesh contains an angle greater than this number of degrees, the imprint will not overlap that line in the destination.
settings: auto detect Clear this checkbox to specify an element type (quad, tria, mixed, R-trias, or quads only) and element size to use during remesh.
Note: Only available when remesh is set to layers or all.
anchor node Select the nodes to be inserted or fixed in the final destination mesh during mesh imprinting when remeshing is performed.


Figure 9.

Extend Subpanel

Use the Extend subpanel to create smoothly-meshed connections between different components that do not quite touch, but are meant to. Meshes can be imprinted so that both components are remeshed to match, or so that the source component is remeshed to match the destination component, and vice-versa. You can also merge the elements of the source component into the destination component.

For example, mesh extension can be used to cleanly join discontinuous meshes. The angle at which they join is not a limitation.


Figure 10. . One component (pink) is extended to join two others (blue and tan).
Option Action
source: nodes Select the nodes along the edge of the component to extend. Only the selected nodes will be extended, therefore be certain to select all of the nodes on the edge.
Tip: From the extended entity selection menu, select by path to quickly select all of the nodes along the edge of the component.
destination: comps / elems Choose between selecting elements or components. In either case, this mesh will be considered the "destination" for the source mesh to extend to.
projection: along tangent / normal to destination / along vector Select the direction to project the extension.
along tangent
Project the extension along the tangent of the source.
normal to destination
Project the extension normal to the destination.
Not recommended for curved destination surfaces.
along vector
Enable the standard plane and vector selector, which can be used to define the direction.


Figure 11. Projection: along tangent


Figure 12. Projection: normal to destination
feature angle: When the destination mesh contains an angle greater than this number of degrees, the imprint will not overlap that line in the destination.

This can lead to tapered extensions if the feature angles enclose a destination area that is narrower than the extension area.
remesh extension Remesh the extended mesh for better quality. Clear this checkbox to move the nodes and not create new nodes or elements, which often results in elongated elements.


Figure 13. Remesh Extension Enabled


Figure 14. Remesh Extension Disabled
remesh destination: stitch only / layers / all Define how to remesh the target/destination mesh to accommodate the extended nodes' positions.
stitch only
Do not remesh.
layers
Specify the maximum number of layers of elements surrounding the extension that can be part of the remesh (much like washer layers).
all
Potentially remesh the entire destination component in an effort to produce the best mesh that matches the extended nodes' positions.


Figure 15. Stitch Only used on Destination


Figure 16. Stitch Only with Remesh Extension used on Destination


Figure 17. With Layers set to 5 Layers, but no Remesh used on Extension
settings: auto detect Clear this checkbox to specify an element type (quad, tria, mixed, R-trias, or quads only) and element size to use during remesh.
Note: Only available when remesh destination is set to layers or all.
anchor node Select the nodes to be inserted or fixed in the final destination mesh during mesh extension when remeshing is performed.


Figure 18.
create Perform the extension using the specified settings.
reject Reverse the last extend action.
Note: The extension is finalized if you leave the panel, so you cannot reject it if you leave the panel and then return again.
return Exit the panel. The current state of the extension is saved, but the individual settings are not.

Command Buttons

Button Action
create Perform the imprint or extension using the specified settings.
reject Reverse the last imprint or extension action.
Note: The action is finalized if you leave the panel, so you cannot reject it if you leave the panel and then return again.
return Exit the panel. The current state of the imprint or extension is saved, but the individual settings are not.