Create Zone Mesh

Use the Zones tool to define mesh refinement settings by shape. These controls provide the capability to get mesh refinement on surfaces enclosed in defined boxes, spheres, and cylinders.

Create a Sphere Mesh Zone

  1. From the Mesh ribbon, Zones tool group, click the Sphere tool.


    Figure 1.
  2. Draw the sphere.
    A preview of the sphere displays at your cursor's position in the modeling window.
    1. Move your mouse and left-click to position the sphere's center.
    2. Move your mouse to uniformly resize and draw the sphere.
    3. Left-click to create the sphere preview.
  3. Enter a mesh size value in the microdialog.
  4. Modify the size and location of the sphere in the following ways:
    • Reposition the sphere with the Move tool. To enable the Move tool, click in the microdialog.
    • Resize the sphere by editing the radius in the microdialog and pressing Enter, or by clicking the face of the sphere and dragging the arrow.
    • Fit the sphere around a selected object by clicking in the microdialog.
  5. Press Esc or middle mouse click to create the sphere.
Tip:
  • After editing the sphere with an arrow manipulator, left-click to re-invoke the microdialog.
  • Show/hide the sphere's dimensions by clicking in the microdialog.
  • While placing or editing the sphere, use snap points to snap to predefined points on your model, such as surface boundary fixed points or mid points of surfaces.

Create a Box Mesh Zone

  1. From the Mesh ribbon, Zones tool group, click the Box tool.


    Figure 2.
  2. Select surfaces around which to draw an initial box.
  3. Click Box on the guide bar.
  4. Modify the size and location of the box in the following ways:
    • Click to reposition the box with the Move tool.
    • Click on a dimension and enter a new value.

      Click to show/hide dimensions.

    • Click and drag a face.
    • Click then manipulate the edges of the box to create an arbitrary shape.
    • Toggle to align the box to the global axis or fit and align the box to selection.
    • Click to position the box such that the center of the box and the selected surfaces match.
  5. Enter a mesh size value in the microdialog.
  6. From the guide bar, execute the command in the following ways:
    • Click to confirm your selection and remain in the tool.

      This allows you to continue creating instances and helps you visualize and edit instances with the legend.

    • Click to confirm your selection and exit the tool.
Tip: While placing or editing the box, use snap points to snap to predefined points on your model, such as surface end points, mid-points, or surf center points.

Create a Cylinder Mesh Zone

  1. From the Mesh ribbon, Zones tool group, click the Cylinder tool.


    Figure 3.
  2. Draw the cylinder.
    A preview of the cylinder displays at your cursor's position in the modeling window.
    1. Move your mouse and left-click to position the cylinder's center point.
    2. Move your mouse to uniformly resize and draw the cylinder.
    3. Left-click to create the cylinder preview.
  3. Enter a mesh size value in the microdialog.
  4. Modify the size and location of the cylinder in the following ways:
    • Reposition the cylinder with the Move tool. To enable the Move tool, click in the microdialog.
    • Resize the cylinder by editing the radius and height in the microdialog and pressing Enter, or by clicking one of the cylinder's faces and dragging the arrow.
    • Fit the cylinder around a selected object by clicking in the microdialog.
  5. Press Esc or middle mouse click to create the cylinder.
Tip:
  • After editing the cylinder with an arrow manipulator, left-click to re-invoke the microdialog.
  • Show/hide the cylinder's dimensions by clicking in the microdialog.
  • While placing or editing the cylinder, use snap points to snap to predefined points on your model, such as surface end points, mid-points, or surf center points.