connector imprint

Use of the mesh edit - connector imprint panel is generally only required when sets of connectors with quad transitions are located too close to each other for the specified mesh size.

The Problem: Conflicting Transitions Prevent Connector Realization

In the picture below, the regular quad mesh can be easily performed. There is enough space available and the quad transition areas don’t conflict each other.

connector_imprint_notneeded

However, when the components are brought closer together, the realization fails because the transition areas conflict with each other:

connector_imprint_transition_interference

Smaller conflicts can be resolved automatically by the resolve conflicting imprints option when realizing the connectors. This releases the overlapping elements and performs a normal remesh in that area. This is permitted as long as the overlapping area is smaller than half the regular quad transition element size:

connector_imprint_resolve_conflicts

However, if a conflict is too great it cannot be resolved in this fashion. For such cases, the mesh edit - imprint functionality can be used to solve the problem.

The Solution: Manual Mesh Imprint

Ideally all connectors expected to conflict with each other are realized with the skip imprint option in a first step. This creates the weld elements and the mesh pattern for each connector. The pattern elements are organized into a component named ^conn_imprint.

connector_imprint_conflicting

In the second step, the conflicting elements can be manually modified with all of the functions that Engineering Solutions provides.

Note:

To ensure that the seam elements are completely attached to the underlying mesh after performing the mesh imprint, each element edge at the foot needs to be attached to at least one imprint element. The nodes at the seam foot have to stay untouched; otherwise the connector becomes unrealized.

connector_imprint_transtions_isolated

In a third step the manual mesh imprint is performed. The elements from the ^conn_imprint component are selected as the source and the elements from the affected components are selected as destination mesh.

Note:

The mesh edit – imprint functionality can be used in various situations, but when using it together with connectors certain rules should be taken into account. The imprint mesh (source) should not cross the borders of the destination mesh or component, whether at a free edge or at a changeover to another component. Furthermore, the imprint mesh should not exceed a certain distance from the destination mesh. You can limit this by activating the check max distance checkbox. Only when these requirements are met can reliable results can be expected.

connector_imprint_finished1

By activating the checkbox elems to destination comp the elements from the ^conn_imprint components are automatically organized into the appropriate destination components:

connector_imprint_finished_with_organize

Panel Usage

The panel includes collectors for specifying the imprint mesh (source) and the destination mesh, as well as an option to determine which components the imprint will be organized into. There are additional settings to be made; for further details see the mesh edit panel.

This screenshot displays the recommended panel settings for mesh imprint in combination with connectors:

connector_imprint_panel

Panel Input

Input

Description

Source

The elements selected in this field will be imprinted into the destination mesh when the imprint is performed.

Destination

The elements which are intended to assimilate the imprint mesh are selected in this field.

Elems to destination comp

This checkbox determines whether the imprint elements should remain in their origin component or be organized into the appropriate components of the destination mesh.

connector_imprint_finished_organize_comparison

In the top image, the organize checkbox is left blank; in the bottom image, it is
activated so the imprint elements become part of the destination mesh.

Create

Applies the imprint based on the provided input.

Reject

Reverses the last imprint action.

Note:

The imprint is finalized if you leave the panel, so you cannot reject it if you leave the panel and then return again.

Return

exits the connector imprint panel. The current state of the imprint is saved, but the entry option settings are not.