This panel is used to set local mesh densities, either finer or coarser than the global mesh density, in selected areas of an imported CAD part. To access this panel, click 
().
As you select entities in the CAD model, they are listed in the window on the left side of the panel. You can configure the mesh density for each entry individually by first selecting the entry from the list on the left, and then adjusting the value on the rightof the dialog. Higher level entities are also broken down into components, for example, the individual curves of a region are displayed as subentries of the region. This means that you can set the mesh density for specific sides of a region.
- An imported STL model will appear as a single entity so it is not possible to define local mesh densities directly to the STL model. You can however use the Create Regions mesh tool to create regions from the STL model and then define local mesh densities to the region entities.
- You can click directly on the model to automatically select multiple elements that belong to a face or body, depending on the selection priority you set initially. For example, you can select multiple faces and edges of a body, or multiple edges of a face.
Dialog elements
- Explorer view
- Displays all entity values that are selected on your geometry model. For example, a surface is displayed as +...(S) followed by its surface number.
Click the plus sign to reveal an expanded view of smaller entities such as curves.
- Global mesh density
- Allows you to specify a global mesh density to be applied to the surface of the model as a whole.
- Global edge length on surface
- Enter a target mesh size. This value is then applied globally to the entire model surface, where each node is separated by the specified edge length.
- Mesh density of selected entity
- Allows you to specify target mesh sizes either globally or locally for the selected surface or region listed in the window on the left.
Entities you have selected on your model will appear in the Explorer pane to the left. Select an entity from the Explorer pane, and then choose either Automatic, or Target edge length, enter the required value, and click Apply.
- Automatic
- Allows you to specify a global edge length dependant on the type of element selected. If a surface is selected, the value entered for Global edge length on surface is used. If a curve is selected, the edge length is based on the properties of the curve. This is defined in the CAD tab of the Generate mesh dialog.
- After selecting an surface on your model, then selecting an entity in the Explorer pane, the Automatic option is selected by default. The Global edge length then aims to separate each node by the specified value after clicking Apply. Tip:
- Deselect the Automatic option to use the Target edge length option.
- Target edge length
- Specifies the Target edge length value to be applied to the selected entity.
- The selected model entities will appear in the Explorer pane. Select an entity from the Explorer pane, then enter the required local mesh target edge length value and click Apply.
- Target number of divisions
- Once you have selected a curve, use this option to specify the number of segments you would like to divide the curve into.
- For example, if you have a curve of 120 mm that you want to divide into 10 segments, you will end up with 10 curves of 12 mm each. Note: The Target number of divisions box and the Target edge length box are mutually exclusive, and automatically adjust each other.
- Local mesh density quick change
- Click on the arrows to change the local mesh density quickly. The up arrow doubles the mesh length; the down arrow halves it. Note: The up and down arrows automatically apply the changes you make, so you do not need to use the Apply button.
- 3D meshing attributes
- When setting the local mesh density, allows you to set the minimum number of elements through the thickness of the part.
- Preview interior nodes
- Shows the effect that the local mesh density setting will have when the model is meshed.
The preview shows the predicted position of nodes interior to the selected entity and so will give a good indication of the resultant mesh density.
- Apply
- Click Apply to make the changes selected in the dialog box.
- Close
- Click Close to close the dialog without performing any action.
- Help
- Click Help to access help information relevant to the dialog.