Create 2D Surface Mesh

Use the Panel Mesh: Create tool to create a surface mesh and remesh elements.

A surface mesh or "shell mesh" represents model parts that are relatively two-dimensional, such as sheet metal or a hollow plastic cowl or case. Surface meshes are placed on the outer faces of solid objects, and are used as a baseline mapping point when creating more complex 3D meshes (the quality of a 3D mesh largely depends on the quality of the 2D mesh from which it is generated).

  1. From the Mesh ribbon, 2D Mesh tools, click the arrow on the right of the selected surface mesh tool to view a drop-down list of available mesh methods. Select Panel Mesh from this list.


    Figure 1.
    By default, the Create tool should be selected from the secondary ribbon
  2. Optional: On the guide bar, click to define surface mesh options.
  3. Select surfaces to mesh.
    You can also select solids by changing the target on the guide bar selector.
    Tip: To select only unmeshed surfaces, right-click on a surface and choose Select Unmeshed Surfaces from the context menu.
  4. Enter an average element size in the microdialog.
  5. Click Mesh on the guide bar or the microdialog.
    A mapped, all quad, mesh is generated. If a surface is determined to not be mappable, that surface is not meshed.

    Any failed surfaces remain selected when returning to the Create tool, or when Mesh mode is set to Automatic.

Tip: When using the other surface mesh tools, you can always go back to the Create tool to add and/or remove surfaces from the meshing area.

Panel Mesh: Create Tool

An overview of the Panel MeshInteractive: Create tool.



Figure 2.

Use the Panel Mesh: Create tool to create a surface mesh and remesh elements.

Access
Go to Mesh > Panel Mesh > Create.

Options

Element size
Set the average element size.
Active mesh mode
Select the meshing mode, with interactive allowing access to the mesh editing tools.
Curvature based refinement
Option to turn on mesh refinement based on geometric curvature.
Method
Select the adaptive meshing method.
Minimum size factor
The minimum element size, as a factor of the average element size. Value must be less than or equal to 1.
Maximum deviation factor
The maximum allowable deviation between an element edge and a geometry edge, as a factor of the average element size.
Feature angle
The maximum allowable break angle between adjacent elements.
Minimum edge density
Enable a minimum number of elements along an edge.
Minimum density
Set the minimum number of elements created along an edge.
Apply if edge length <
Apply a minimum edge density when edge lengths are less than the specified value.