2D meshing on the instrumental Panel

AIM:

• To extract the Mid-surface for the component and to mesh the component using suitable method.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT:

• To convert the model into 2D model for analysis.
• To extract the Mid-surface of the model for making it 2D model.
• To understand the Mid-surface extracting methods.
• To mesh the components using the given quality criteria.
• To eliminate the off elements.
• To assign thickness to the component after Meshing is completed.

PROCEDURE:

• First step is to import the CAD geometry into the ANSA software.
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• Then go to FACES > TOPO to stitch all the faces together.
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• Then go to FACES > ORIENT to make the orientation of all the faces same.
• Go to UTILITIES > MESH PARAMETERS and enter the following values :

Target/Average Length = 4mm.

• Go to UTILITIES > QUALITY CRITERIA and enter the following values :

Minimum Length: 2

Maximum Length: 6

Maximum Aspect: 3

Warpage: 15

Skewness: 45

Jacobian: 0.7

Minimum quad angle: 45

Maximum quad angle: 135

Minimum tria angle: 30

Maximum tria angle: 120

Tria Percentage: 15

• Go to MESH MODULE > LENGTH > PRRIMETERS > 1MM > MACRO 1MM > OK so that all the length of the mesh perimeters is converted to 1mm.
• After the length is converted to 1mm the model is refined and now checks for disturbed faces.
• Go to TOOLS > CHECKS > GEOMETRY > EXECUTE >OK to check the CAD for geometrical errors.
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• Eliminate the errors with auto fix option.
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• Go to UTILITIES > MEASURE and measure the thickness of the component.
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• Go to TOPO > FACES > OFFSET to manually offset the faces.
• Start working with smaller regions to offset the faces and offset the total component.
• This will convert the model into 2D.
• Go to FACES > MIDDLE > MULTI and create middle faces for the features and the ribs.
• Now for the dog houses create parametric cuts and convert them into curves.
• To convert them into curves go to CURVES > CONS2CURVE to convert the lines to curves.
• Go to FACES > NEW to create a face between the curve and the base face. Dog houses should be created into cross pattern.
• 
• A second Method to create an auto-mid is using MIDSURFACE > SKIN.
• After Mid-surface is created go to MESH MODULE.
• As the component is complicated and large, Manual Meshing may consume time and hence we go for Batch Meshing.
• For this go to LISTS > MODEL BROWSER > SET PART > NEW > MIDSURFACE > OK.
• 
• This will assign the extracted mid-surface as a new part.
• Then go to TOOLS > BATCH MESHING > NEW > MESHING SCENARIO > MIDSURFACE > GREEN ARROW > OK > CHECK MESHING PARAMETERS AND QUALITY CRITERIA > RUN.
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• Using batch meshing option ANSA will auto-mesh the whole component within few minutes of time.
• This will reduce a lot of time on meshing instead of manual mesh.
• Now as ANSA has generated an auto-mesh on the component go to DRAWING STYLES > HIDDEN to check for the OFF ELEMENTS.
• The quality of the mesh should be increased manually.
• Use RECONSTURCT and SMOOTH option to improve the quality of the mesh.
• Try to keep the off elements as low as possible.
• 
• After all the meshing is completed go to TOPO > FACES > SET PID and select the mid-surface to set property ID.
• Then go to properties and set thickness for the component. The thickness should be as measured earlier.
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• Go to UTILITIES > QUALITY CRITERIA > PRESENTATION PARAMETERS > DRAW SHELL AS SOLID > OK.
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• Go to FILE > SAVE.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• The dog houses can be created into cross pattern for better mesh quality.
• To use batch meshing option to reduce time on meshing.

CONCLUSION:

• This way we can conclude that we have successfully extracted the mid-surface for the component and also meshing is completed for analysis.

LINK FOR MODEL:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m30ZXnqQFRGptIHLwhY5JpPiR0AK4TvJ/view?usp=sharing