Since I am always being asked what makes a good mesh, I decided once again to blog about a list I put together a while ago. This was a general list, in no particular order, of things you can do, things you can use, and things you can look for in creating a mesh; knowing you have a good mesh, you can feel better about the results you are getting. This is the final part in this series. Here, I will talk about some final tips in meshing your parts and assemblies.
Geometry Preparation
CAD geometry contains all the features necessary to make a part, but many of those features can be considered insignificant for analysis and should, therefore, be suppressed. With every benchmark I do, or any support case I work on, the first thing I will typically do is create a SOLIDWORKS Configuration and call it “FOR FEA.” In this configuration, I will suppress the features and the parts that I believe will be irrelevant to the analysis and to the results that are being sought. For imported geometry, or parts with “artifacts” (those small sliver faces created when applying our standard SOLIDWORKS features), I will use the Delete Face command (Insert, Face, Delete). With the Delete and Patch option, a lot of times I can remove these small faces/artifacts and quickly simplify the model for meshing.
Mesh Control
If you are meshing an assembly, and one of the parts fails to mesh, open the part in its own window. Once you are able to mesh the part here, apply these mesh settings as Mesh Control in the assembly. Another, simpler method than the one just described is to apply mesh control to the failed component. In the Mesh Control property manager, you will find an option called “Use Per Part Size.” This option will apply an appropriate mesh size as if the part was opened in its own window and meshed.
When All Else Fails
When all else fails, you’ll be happy to know, Fisher Unitech will be here to support you. Contact our support team at (800) 816-8314 option #5, support@fisherunitech.com, or via support chat at https://www.fisherunitech.com/support/.
For more training and tutorials on the many 3D CAD Modeling solutions in the SolidWorks family of products and add-ons, register for an upcoming Event or look into our SOLIDWORKS training.
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SOLIDWORKS Tip: Meshing Tips and Tools for Better Results (Part 8)
