Advanced Import Options dialog

This dialog is used to configure the model import settings used by the Autodesk Moldflow Design Link translator.

To access this dialog, click Import from the Quick Access toolbar, then locate and open the model file you want to import. Select Use Autodesk Moldflow Design Link then click Advanced.

Note: If you do not have the latest version of Autodesk Moldflow Design Link installed, some features may not be available.

Note: This dialog is only available for file formats and file extensions supported by the Autodesk Moldflow Design Link translator.

Dialog elements

Dialog widget	Explanation
Settings	Select a check box to specify whether to generate a mesh, translate the existing surfaces, or both. Note: Translating surfaces is not available for multi-component models.
Edge length	When Generate mesh is selected in the Settings box, you can choose whether to determine a suitable global edge length for the mesh automatically, or to use a manually specified global edge length.
3D Mesh Control	When importing a model as a 3D mesh, the 3D Mesh Control enables you to set the how many layers you want through the thickness. The more layers you choose, the greater the accuracy, but the longer the analysis.
Advanced Mesh Control	Chord Angle The chord angle controls how closely the curve of the CAD model is approximated by straight sections in the mesh. If the chord length is greater than the general edge length, the general edge length is used. Define the chord angle, either by adjusting the slider bar, or by entering a value into the Tolerance text box. Mesh on assembly contact faces In an assembly, nodes on faces that come into contact with each other should align so that results, such as heat transfer across the surface, are as accurate as possible. Precision alignment is attempted by default, but if there are errors in the model, alignment may not be possible and in some instances meshing may fail. If this occurs, you can select Fault tolerant and re-import the model. Use Fault tolerant, to compensate for small variations in the CAD model, and to align the mesh where possible. Check your mesh to ensure a suitable result. If the CAD model is still not suitable for this option, reimport the model using the Ignore contact option. Use Ignore contact when the CAD model has errors that cannot be automatically resolved. In this case, a mesh is generated for the component parts, regardless of any errors in the CAD model. The resultant mesh may have to be modified manually to improve the match on contact surfaces or to remove surface intersections.