Solid Mesh - Manual PropertyManager

Use a solid mesh to analyze thicker parts and view results throughout the part thickness.

To open the Solid Mesh - Manual PropertyManager:

  • In the PlasticsManager tree , double-click Solid and click Manual.

When you select Manual, you create the solid mesh in a step-by-step process. The software transforms the triangular surface mesh to a solid mesh that fills the volume of the cavity. A solid mesh can be composed of tetrahedra, hexahedra, or a combination of elements (hybrid mesh with prisms and tetrahedra).

Select Model Type

Use Shell Mesh Data Transforms existing surface mesh data to a solid mesh (composed of tetrahedra, hybrid, or hexahedra elements).
Continue the Last Editing Step Restores surface mesh data that are previously saved at the last step of editing the surface mesh. Selecting this option saves you time because you don’t have to restart the process of creating a surface mesh.
Available when you select Save Current Mesh in the Edit Mesh PropertyManager.
Solid Mesh Procedure Proceeds with creating a new solid mesh.

Advanced Option

Runner and Cooling System Design Creates a runner layout geometry or cooling system from a sketch you created. You set the design parameters of the runner components in the Runner Design PropertyManager.

You can also integrate the runners, sprues, and gates in the cavity geometry and mesh them all together. If they are represented using a sketch instead, the software meshes them automatically.

Cooling systems can be created using either solid geometry and are meshed independently, or a sketch and are automatically meshed by the program.
Virtual Mold Generation Adds a virtual mold (only for performing a COOL analysis). This defines a virtual mold by a bounding box surrounding the part. The default size of the virtual mold is 1.5 times the size of the boundary box of the model. You specify the settings of the virtual mold bounding box in the Mold Settings PropertyManager.

Click Next to go to the next step.