Tutorials
The following are a set of tutorials for you to work on.
Before attempting the tutorials, you should read through the user manual
and view the examples of each button. All tutorials assume some knowledge
of button functionality, but each button pictured in the tutorial steps
is linked to the appropriate page for functionality descriptions.
Things
to Remember While Doing the Tutorials:
-
In most steps little detailed information
is given about the mechanics of picking the required objects. In
most cases, it is best to change to pick type to reflect the type of object
to be picked: when picking parametric curves
set pick limit: PARAMETRIC, when picking vertices set pick limit: POINT,
etc... This will help ensure you pick the required entity.
-
Be very careful when splitting, extracting
curves, ... to be sure only the intended objects are selected.
-
Be very careful not to introduce duplicate
curves. For example, intersecting two surfaces creates parametrics
on both surfaces. If you intersect the two surfaces again without
deleting the previous parametrics, you end up with duplicate curves.
-
If you're having problems trimming a specific
surface, isolate that surface by turning everything on, selecting the problem
surface, turning it off and toggling. Once the surface is isolated
you can track down the problem much faster. Some common trimming
problems are:
-
Curves not glued at endpoints. Set
the pick limit to point, position the pointer over a vertex, and click
the middle mouse button. This selects all curves glued at this point.
If some curves are not selected that you think should be, zoom in on that
point and investigate.
-
Duplicate curves. Select the problem
surface and query. The message window reports the number of child
curves (parametrics) associated with the selected surface. Count
the curves around the trimming loop and see if it matches the number in
the message window. If not, look for duplicate curves.
-
The surface trims but doesn't discretize
properly. Select only the problem surface (by picking off one of
the corner points or curves with the appropriate pick limit set) and delete
the trimmed surface. Select the points on the trimming loop and apply
an appropriate point spacing. Re-trim the surface. If the surface
still doesn't discretize properly, write the IGES file and read it back
in.
-
MOST IMPORTANTLY,
avoid the tendency to skim the steps and proceed. Read each step carefully.
If you are unfamiliar with a function used in a step, try clicking the
button in question for more information. Look in the user's manual
for additional information. Also, each tutorial was written in a single
SolidMesh session, so you will encounter fewer problems (following
each step after step) if you also complete each individual tutorial in
one single session (without saving, exiting, and re-loading). If
you must save and exit in the middle of a tutorial, re-load the igs file
with no gluing (-ng) when restarting, but be aware, there may be
some minor discrepancies between your model and the pictured steps (the
end result will be the same though).
The Tutorials:
NOTE:
The files for download for each tutorial are gzipped. When you right
click and Save As... the .gz extension may be removed. Check the file name
and add the .gz file extension, if necessary, before downloading.
The file should remain gzipped when downloaded but without the .gz file
extension it will not be recognized as such. The .igs files are ascii
text, so if it's really unzipped, it should be readable.
NOTE:
The Introductory Tutorials contain much more instruction on how to get a solid foundation of skills for CAD clean up and volume grid generation.  These skills, along with the comfort with the user interface gained from completing the tutorials, will be assumed in the Advanced Tutorials.
Introductory Tutorials
-
Topology Tutorial
-
Short Grid
Generation Tutorial
-
CAD
Clean-up Tutorial
-
Surface Splitting
for Point Efficiency Tutorial
-
Assigning
Point Spacing Tutorial
-
Volume Generation
Tutorial
Advanced Tutorials
-
Structured
Surface Grid: Assigning Point Spacing/Volume Generation Tutorial
-
Automated Point Spacing Tutorial
-
Discrete Grid Repair: Intersection
-
Periodic Surface Mesh
-
Offset Surface Mesh