HM-3140: Batch Meshing file:///C:/Program Files/Altair/12.0/help/hm/hm3140.htm?

toc=0&printWindow

HyperMesh and BatchMesher

HM-3140: Batch Meshing

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

• Define a configuration for the batch mesh
• Edit the criteria and parameter files
• Setup a simple user procedure for a post-batch mesh run
Batch Mesher is a tool that can perform geometry cleanup and automeshing (in batch mode) for given
CAD files. Batch Mesher performs a variety of geometry cleanup operations to improve the quality of
the mesh created for the selected element size and type. Cleanup operations include: equivalencing of
"red" free edges, fixing small surfaces (relative to the element size), and detecting features.
Batch Mesher also performs specified surface editing/defeaturing operations such as: removal of
pinholes (less than specified size), removal of edge fillets, and addition of a layer of washer elements
around holes.
All user-defined criteria determine the quality index (QI) of a model. The QI value is used to assess the
potential of each geometry cleanup and meshing tool, and apply them accordingly. QI optimized
meshing and node placement optimization are performed to obtain the best quality meshing. Final
results are stored in a HyperMesh database file.

Tools
To start Batch Mesher on Windows:
• On the Start menu, point to Programs (XP) or All Programs (Vista/7) > Altair HyperWorks
12.0 > BatchMesher.
Or
• Type hw_batchmesh with the full path (~altairhome\hm\batchmesh\hw_batchmesh).

To start Batch Mesher on UNIX:

• Type the hw_batchmesh command to invoke the user interface or hw_batchmesh -nogui… to
perform the batch mesh without a user interface.

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Exercise

Step 1: Open BatchMesher.

1. Start BatchMesher as described above.

2. In the Input Model Directory field, click folder ( ) to browse to the appropriate directory.
(In this exercise, you will use files located in the <installation_directory>\tutorials\hm
directory.)

3. In the Output Directory, click folder ( ) to browse to the appropriate directory if different from
the input model directory. If desired, you may request the .hm files be returned to the input model
directory.

4. Click select files, . A new window opens.

5. For Type of Geometry, select the appropriate CAD data type. For this exercise, you will use
geometry already loaded into HyperMesh, so pick HyperMesh.
A filter will help select applicable models for batch meshing to HyperMesh.
6. Locate and select the following model files, (use the CTRL key to select multiple files): part1.hm,
part2.hm and bm_housing.hm.
7. Click Select.

Step 2: Define a configuration for the batch mesh run.

1. Click the Configurations tab. (Note there are several common configurations already available)

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2. Click Add Entry, .

3. In the Mesh Type field, type a name for the mesh type.

4. Select the Criteria File field, and click Find Criteria Param File, .
5. Select the file bm_housing.criteria. (If necessary, browse to and locate the file in the
<installation_directory>\tutorials\hm directory.)

6. Select the Parameter File field, and click Find Criteria Param File, .
7. Select the file bm_housing.param. (If necessary, browse to and locate the file in the
<installation_directory>\tutorials\hm directory.)
A new mesh type is now available for selection on the Run Setup tab.

Step 3: On the User Procedures tab, set up a simple script to perform a

tetramesh on the housing.

1. Click Add Entry,

2. Select the TCL File field, and click Find TCL File, .
3. Select the file bm_housing.tcl. (If necessary, browse to and locate the file in the
<installation_directory>\tutorials\hm directory.)
4. In the TCL Procedure field, select the procedure tet_all.
5. In the Name field, give the procedure a name (for example, tetmesh).
This new post-batch meshing script is now available for selection on the Run Setup tab.

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Step 4: On the Run Setup tab, begin defining a configuration for the batch
mesh run.
1. In the Mesh Type field, select a predefined mesh type for each of the parts as follows:
• bm_housing.hm: use the mesh type you defined in Step 2.
• part1.hm: use 8mm auto.
• part2.hm: use 8mm auto.
2. From the Post-Mesh drop-down list for bm_housing.hm, select the procedure created in Step 3
(tetmesh).
This will run the tetramesher on all available shell elements after batch meshing.

3. Click Submit to initiate the run.

or
Click Submit At to submit the job at a specified time.
The application automatically switches to the Run Status tab. As the parts run, the status changes
from Working to Pending to Done.
4. Once the part is at the Working state, select the part and select Details.
A detailed summary appears with the status of the model through its Batch Mesher steps, the
overall failed elements, and quality index.\

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5. Once the part is at the Done state, click Load Mesh to load the mesh into HyperMesh for model
interrogation.
6. Once all parts have been meshed, select Run Details to obtain an overall run status.
Any file can be paused or canceled. If the file is paused, it can be resumed immediately or at a
specific time.
Once the Batch Mesher session has been setup with file directories and mesh types, it can be saved
as a config file that can be loaded at a future time.
It is also possible to load an entire set of models that has already been batch meshed in order to
take advantage of the Load Mesh option in the Run Status tab.
If you choose to make modifications to your criteria or parameter files, the run can be submitted
again. The new files will be placed in a separate sub-directory.

Step 5 (Optional): Edit the criteria and parameter files.

1. Go to the Configurations tab.
2. Click an entity in the Mesh Type column.
3. Click Edit File.
The Criteria and Parameter Editor window appears.

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On the Criteria tab, you can set the target element size, element criteria, and the method that is
used to calculate the values. An advanced criteria table option can be enabled to give more
control over the intermediate QI values, but is usually not necessary in order to obtain a good
quality mesh.
An option to Use min length from timestep calculator is also available for explicit solver
models. If this option is selected, the overall minimum element size will be set by this option and
will gray out at the top of the element checks.
The Parameters tab sets all of the meshing control over various geometric features. Parameters
are grouped into sections; you can click the small downward-arrows next to each section to show
and hide that section. The number of parameters is extensive; for details, see the "Parameters
Editor" topic in the BatchMesher help.

Go to HyperMesh Tutorials

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