Panel Mesh

Use the Panel Mesh tool to generate and edit mapped panel mesh.

Create 2D Surface Mesh

Use the 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.
    By default, the Create tool should be selected.


    Figure 1.
  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 from the guide bar drop-down menu.
  4. On the guide bar, click Mesh
    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 General 2D Mesh surface mesh tools tools, you can always go back to the Create tool to add and/or remove surfaces from the meshing area.
  • On the guide bar, click to open the Advanced Selection dialog, from which you can filter geometry further by selecting a subset of entities based on additional selection methods, such as By Component or By Assembly.

Edit Edge Density and Element Size

Use the Density tool to edit element density and size along surface edges.

Before you begin, use the Create tool to define a meshing area by selecting surfaces, and create an initial mesh.
The local edge element size approximation is based on edge density value and length. Hence, it can vary slightly for two edges with the same density value.
  1. From the Mesh ribbon, 2D Mesh tools, click Panel Mesh > Density.


    Figure 2.
  2. Optional: On the guide bar, click to define surface mesh options.
  3. Left-click to select the edge(s) to modify.
  4. In the microdialog, click the icon to switch the value being defined to either element density or element size.
  5. Edit element density or size.
    • Increase individual edge values by holding Ctrl while left-clicking on an edge; decrease individual edge values by holding Ctrl while right-clicking on an edge.
    • Scroll edge values by holding Ctrl while scrolling the mouse wheel up and down. Hovering directly over an edge will only modify that edge; hovering over empty space will modify all selected edges.
    • Specify an edge value in the microdialog and press Enter. If multiple edges are selected, a common value will be applied. If multiple edges with different edge values are selected, use the arrows in the microdialog to modify individual edge values simultaneously, without applying a common value.
  6. On the guide bar, click Update
Tip: Clear your selection by left-clicking in empty space.

Edit Mesh Biasing and Element Size Distribution

Use the Biasing tool to apply linear, exponential, or bellcurve biasing to individual edges of a surface, and edit the elements size distribution.

Before you begin, use the Create tool to define a meshing area by selecting surfaces, and create an initial mesh.

Element biasing can be used to improve element quality when transitioning from smaller to larger element sizes, and enables you to moderate the changes in aspect ratio from the start to the end.

After you have created an initial mesh, bias the placement of nodes so that their intervals are not uniform in size. For example, you can designate that the smaller intervals go near the start of the edge, near the end of the edge, near both ends with larger intervals in the middle, or near the middle of the edge.

  1. From the Mesh ribbon, 2D Mesh tools, click Panel Mesh > Biasing.


    Figure 3.
  2. Optional: On the guide bar, click to define surface mesh options.
  3. Left-click to select the edge(s) to modify.
  4. In the microdialog, click the icon to select an element biasing type.
  5. Edit magnitude.
    • Increase individual edge values by holding Ctrl while left-clicking on an edge; decrease individual edge values by holding Ctrl while right-clicking on an edge.
    • Scroll edge values by holding Ctrl while scrolling the mouse wheel up and down. Hovering directly over an edge will only modify that edge; hovering over empty space will modify all selected edges.
    • Specify an edge value in the microdialog and press Enter. If multiple edges are selected, a common value will be applied. If multiple edges with different edge values are selected, use the arrows in the microdialog to modify individual edge values simultaneously, without applying a common value.
  6. On the guide bar, click Update
Tip: Clear your selection by left-clicking in empty space.

Edit Mapping Method and Define Free Surfaces

Use the Face Edit tool to edit the mapping method of individual surfaces and define free or unmapped surfaces by selecting points.

Before you begin, use the Create tool to define a meshing area by selecting surfaces, and create an initial mesh.
  1. From the Mesh ribbon, 2D Mesh tools, click Panel Mesh > Face Edit.


    Figure 4.
  2. Optional: On the guide bar, click to define surface mesh options.
  3. Select the surface(s) to edit.
  4. In the microdialog, select a mapping method to apply to the selected edge(s).
  5. Define free or unmapped surfaces.
    1. On the guide bar, click Surfaces and change the input to Points from the drop-down menu.
    2. Left-click on the four points corner points that make up a surface identified as Free (unmapped).
  6. On the guide bar, click Update


Figure 5.
Tip: Clear your selection by left-clicking in empty space.

Panel Mesh Options

Create

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.

Density

Auto update
Select auto/manually remesh option.
Element size
Change the average element size.

Biasing

Auto update
Select auto/manually remesh option.
Biasing intensity
Change the element intensity.

Face Edit

Auto update
Select auto/manually remesh option.

Keyboard Shortcuts & Mouse Controls

To do this Press
Append selection Ctrl + Left Mouse Click
Deselect Shift + Left Mouse Click
Increase edge value Ctrl + Left Mouse Click
Decrease edge value Ctrl + Right Mouse Click
Scroll edge value Ctrl + Middle Mouse Scroll
Edit value in microdialog Middle Mouse Scroll
Exit tool Esc