Import Shapes

Import saved shapes from a file.

1. From the Mesh ribbon, click the Shapes tool.

   
   
   Figure 1.

   The Edit Shapes dialog opens.
2. Click .
   The Import Options dialog opens.
3. Browse for and select a shape file.
4. Select a shape format option.
   • Choose as grids to open shapes in OptiStruct/ Radioss/ Nastran format.
   • Choose as shapes to open shapes in HyperMorph format.
5. Select an import option.
   Note: Only available when loading shapes, not grids.
   • Choose direct to add only the shape to the model, and determine the new shape as if the original one had been positioned at the same x,y,z coordinates where it was originally saved.
   • Choose via elements to add the shape and its corresponding elements to the model.
6. Select either of the check boxes.

   Apply on import

   Apply the shapes automatically upon loading.

   Auto-envelope

   The envelope is the range of influence that a translated, positioned, or reflected shape will have on the new mesh. Since the original mesh (where the shape currently exists) and target mesh may not match exactly, the envelope must be large enough to include nodes that may lie outside the bounds of the original mesh were it to be translated, re-positioned, or reflected on to the target mesh. Nodes inside the envelope will be perturbed proportionally to how close they are to the bounds of the original mesh. If you are using auto-envelope and the copied shape is not affecting all of the nodes that you want, try switching to a manually determined envelope and typing in a value. The default envelope is equal to the average length of the sides of the elements in the shape. Type in a larger value to capture more nodes within the envelope. Similarly, if too many nodes are being affected, try using a smaller envelope. You may also use a very large envelope (a million times the size of an average element) to make sure that the shape is applied to nearby nodes at full value.

   Note: Only available when loading shapes, not grids.

7. Click OK.