Preparing a part for meshing

Estimated time to complete: 5–15 minutes

In this tutorial, you will use the Make Coplanar synchronous modeling command and other Modeling commands to prepare a part for meshing.

1: Setup

  1. On your desktop or the appropriate network drive, create a folder named brick.

  2. Click the link below:

    Download the parts

  3. Extract the files to your brick folder.

  4. Start Simcenter 3D or NX.

  5. Open welded_bracket_assem.prt.

2: Reset dialog box memory

The options you select in dialog boxes are preserved for the next time you open the same dialog box within a given session. Restore the default settings to ensure that the dialog boxes are in the expected initial state for each step of the activity.

File

Preferences→User Interface

  • Options

  •   Reset Dialog Memory

  • OK

     
3: Copy the geometry into the work part

In preparation for meshing, you will use CAD simplification commands to align faces of bodies with neighboring components.

CAD simplification needs to be done at the assembly level. Use the WAVE Geometry Linker to copy the geometry from components in the assembly into the work part.

Assemblies

 WAVE Geometry Linker (General group)

  • Type

    Body

  •   the four solid bodies

  • OK

     
4: Examine the original and linked components

After using the WAVE command, the assembly consists of the four original assembly components, plus four WAVE-linked bodies that are copies of these components.

The assembly components are listed in the Assembly Navigator, and the WAVE-linked bodies are listed in the Part Navigator.

  Assembly Navigator

  •   wb_001

  • Shift

     +   wb_004

    All four assembly components are selected.

    In the graphics window, the WAVE bodies appear to bleed through the display of the selected assembly components. (Your display might vary.)

  •   the graphics window to deselect everything

  Part Navigator

  •    Linked Body (4)

  • Shift

     +   Linked Body (7)

    All four WAVE-linked bodies are selected.

    In the graphics window, the assembly components appear to bleed through the display of the selected WAVE bodies.

  •   the graphics window to deselect everything

5: Display only the WAVE-linked bodies

Turn off the display of the assembly components, so you just work with the WAVE-linked bodies that are copies of the original components.

  Assembly Navigator

  •     wb_001 (hide)

  •     wb_002 (hide)

  •     wb_003 (hide)

  •     wb_004 (hide)

  • Only the WAVE-linked bodies are displayed.

6: Make the solid bodies coplanar

You will use a Synchronous Modeling command to modify the parts.

Synchronous Modeling lets you make modifications regardless of the model's origin, associativity, or feature history. With Synchronous Modeling, you can use parametric features without the limitations of a feature history.

Home

Make Coplanar (Synchronous Modeling group→More list)

Note:

Make Coplanar is visible only when Role is set to Advanced.

  •    

  • Apply

     

  • The first face is moved and is made coplanar with the second face.

  •    

  • Apply

     

  •    

  • Apply

     

  •   Rotate to the back of the assembly.

  •    

  • Apply

     

  • Cancel

     

 Save

For a continuation of this activity, see the Creating surfaces tutorial, which demonstrates the Through Curves, Extend Sheet, and Trim Body commands.

File

  • Close→All Parts