Creating Meshes Using Extrusions

You can create a 2D from an existing 1D mesh or a 3D mesh from an existing 2D mesh by using extrusion and basic transformations (translation, rotation, symmetry, and offset).

Before you begin: A finite element model representation that contains an updated mesh must exist.
See Also
Inserting Finite Element Model Representations
Meshing Geometries
  1. From the Mesh section of the action bar, click one of the following:
    • Extrusion Mesh with Translation to create a mesh from an existing one using an extrusion by translation.
    • Extrusion Mesh with Rotation to create a mesh from an existing one using an extrusion by rotation.
    • Extrusion Mesh with Symmetry to create a mesh from an existing one using an extrusion by symmetry.
    • Extrusion Mesh along Spine to create a mesh from an existing one using an extrusion along a spine.
    • Extrusion Mesh with Offset to create a mesh from an existing one using an extrusion and an offset operation.
    The corresponding dialog box appears.
  2. Optional: Enter a Name for the mesh.
  3. Select the meshes or element groups to extrude.

    Element groups can be selected only for extrusion with translation or extrusion with rotation.

    Once a support is selected, you can use Edit Selection to modify your selection.
  4. Define the length of the extrusion.
    1. By default, the extrusion starts from the mesh to extrude. To modify the starting position, enter a value in the Start box.
    2. Enter a value in the End box to define the end of the extrusion.

    Note: The Start and End values are not available if you selected Extrusion Mesh with Symmetry. The length of the extrusion is automatically computed in relation to the symmetry plane.

  5. Define the global parameters of the extrusion.
    • Translation: Specify a direction for the translation. You can also define translation by entering vector coordinates or by moving the Robot origin (enter coordinates or drag the Robot).
    • Rotation: Specify a rotation axis and angle, or manipulate the Robot to define the rotation.
    • Symmetry: Specify the symmetry plane.
    • Along spine: Specify the spine that guides the extrusion. You can also specify a reference point on the spine for the extrusion by selecting Anchor point and picking a point. By default, the anchor point is the projection onto the spine of the center of gravity of the mesh being extruded.
    • Offset: Specify an offset value.
  6. In the Type list, select one of the following distribution methods:
    • Uniform to distribute nodes with the same distance between nodes.
    • Arithmetic to distribute nodes with a distance between nodes defined by a common difference computed with parameters.
    • Geometric to distribute nodes with a distance between nodes defined by a common ratio computed with parameters.
  7. Define the distribution parameters.
    1. Enter the number of layers you want to create in the Number of edges box.

      This value combined with the extrusion length determines the mesh size.

    2. If you selected Arithmetic or Geometric, enter a value in Size ratio to impose a ratio between the size of the last and first edges in the distribution.
    3. If you selected Arithmetic or Geometric, select Symmetric to distribute nodes symmetrically.
  8. To condense nodes of the source mesh and the extruded mesh, select the Automatic mesh capture check box.
    1. In the Tolerance box, enter a tolerance value.
    2. To initialize automatically the tolerance value, click Initialize.
  9. Click one of the following:
    • Cancel to cancel the modifications and close the dialog box.
    • Apply to save the parameters you defined and to create, update, and generate the mesh.

      The PLM Update progress bar appears. You can interrupt the update. See Updating Meshes.

      The Octree Tetrahedron Mesh dialog box remains open to continue modifying parameters.

    • OK to save the parameters you defined, to create the mesh, and to close the dialog box. To generate and visualize the mesh, you have to update it. See Updating Meshes.
    If you click Apply or OK, the extruded mesh is created in the tree.