Creating a mesh from a cloud of points

Use the new Mesh From Point Cloud command to create a 1D or 2D mesh from a cloud of points. You can use this command, for example, to create a mesh from points produced by a 3D scan of a solid model or from test data results to later use in a vibro-acoustic response analysis.

With the Mesh From Point Cloud command, the software:

• Generates a 2D mesh of triangular elements that fills the spaces between the points.

• Extracts the edges of the 2D elements to generate a 1D (wireframe) mesh.

Set of nodes with no associated geometry.	The resulting 2D mesh that the Mesh From Point Cloud command generates from the set of nodes.

For example, you can use this command to generate a 2D mesh whose faces you can use as coupling faces for a vibro-acoustic propagation analysis in Simcenter Nastran.

Creating a point cloud mesh

The Mesh From Point Cloud command creates a mesh using either a set of points or nodes that you select. If you select a set of points, the software first generates nodes at those point locations and then creates the mesh. The software then creates the 2D mesh based on the options that you specify.

• Use the Maximum Element Edge Length option to specify the maximum length of a 2D element edge. If the distance between two nodes is greater than this value, then the software does not create an element between those nodes.

• Use the Feature Angle option to specify the maximum angle (dihedral angle) between two elements. If the angle between the normal vector of two adjacent elements exceeds this angle, then the software does not create the element.

In some cases, the Mesh From Point Cloud command may not be able to create elements between all the nodes or points that you select. In that case, the resulting 2D mesh may contain some holes. To fill those holes, you can either use the Mesh From Point Cloud again with some modified parameters on the remaining nodes, or you can use manual element creation commands such as Element Create to manually create elements in those locations.

Working with a point cloud mesh

The software stores the 1D and 2D meshes that you create the Mesh From Point Cloud command in separate nodes in the Simulation Navigator.

Meshes that you create with the Mesh From Point Cloud command are FE-based and are not associated to any geometry. The software does not update FE-based meshes. When you create a mesh with the Mesh From Point Cloud command, the software stores the options and settings you used to create the mesh. If you edit the mesh and change a setting, such as the element type or offset distance, the software recreates the mesh with the new settings.

Note:

If necessary, you can use manual node and element commands, such as Node Create or Element Translate to modify the1D and 2D meshes that you create the Mesh From Point Cloud command..

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	A FEM file as the work part and displayed part
Command Finder	Mesh From Point Cloud

How do I

Reset node and element IDs

Learn more

Manually creating elements

Extruding elements

Projecting elements

Reflecting elements

Revolving elements

Rotating elements

Translating elements

Splitting shell elements

Swapping the diagonals between triangular elements

Splitting 1D elements

Detaching elements from a mesh

Attaching elements into a mesh

Rib detection and removal within a mesh

Thickening a 2D mesh

Convex meshes for FEM acoustics analyses

Acoustic chamber meshes for panel transmission loss analyses

Open duct end meshing for acoustics

Combining triangular elements

Modifying element order

Modifying the type of elements

Moving nodes in 2D elements

Modifying element labels

Modifying element connectivity

Deleting elements

Extracting elements from a mesh

Locking and unlocking a mesh

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

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Creating a mesh from a cloud of points, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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