To build a cooling channel along a center line curve

After extracting center lines curves from an imported CAD body, the next step in creating a cooling channel is to build beam elements along those curves.

1. Open the model.
2. Hide all layers that do not contain cooling channel center line curves.
3. Click (Mesh tab > Mesh panel > Generate mesh).
4. Check mesh parameters and click Apply.

   A break in a channel is very difficult to locate unless each channel is individually checked.

5. Select the end node of a channel
6. Click (Mesh tab > Mesh Diagnostic > Connectivity) and then Show.
7. Visually verify that the channel is complete.
8. Click (Mesh tab > Mesh Edit panel > Merge Nodes) to merge the end nodes of any broken channels.

Tip: As an alternative to using the Mesh Connectivity tool, assign an end element to a new layer and use the Expand option to display an excessive number of elements. The expand option will stop at either a break or the end of the channel. This option has the following advantages:

• Channels are assigned to separate layers and can be given a meaningful name.
• The workspace will become less cluttered as channels are moved to individual layers.