Setting Up the Mesh

Follow these steps to define the mesh of an electronics cooling simulation.

Before you set up the mesh, check your model for intersecting QuickParts:
  1. Right-click the QuickParts node and select Check Interference.
  2. If the Output window lists any intersecting QuickParts, correct the QuickParts:
    1. Right-click the respective QuickPart node and select Edit.
    2. In the Edit dialog, modify the geometry and placement properties as required.
    3. Click Apply and Close.
To set up the mesh:
  1. Right-click the Mesh node and select Edit Mesh Settings.
    The warning triangle on the Mesh icon indicates that you must still generate the mesh (after defining the settings and any custom controls).
  2. In the Edit tab, define the global mesh and boundary layer settings to suit your electronics cooling simulation. See Mesh Reference. If you are uncertain of any settings, maintain the default settings. They are suitable in many cases.
  3. To commit changes to the default mesh settings, click Apply.
  4. Click Close.
  5. If you want to customize the mesh on specific faces of a QuickPart Surface, separate those faces into their own QuickPart Surface. See Splitting a QuickPart Surface.
  6. To set customized mesh settings on a QuickPart Surface:
    1. Right-click the Mesh > Custom Controls node and select New > Surface Control.
    2. In the Edit dialog, set Surfaces to the respective QuickPart Surface and change the mesh settings as required. See Mesh Reference—Surface Control.
    3. Click Apply and Close.
  7. If you want to customize the mesh within a specific volumetric zone, define a geometry that encloses the zone of interest and set up a Volume Control:
    1. Create an arbitrary three-dimensional volume shape. See Creating Construction Geometries.
    2. Right-click the Mesh > Custom Controls node and select New > Volume Control.
    3. In the Edit dialog, set Parts to the created Construction Geometry and change the mesh settings as required. See Mesh Reference—Volume Control.
    4. Click Apply and Close.
To generate the mesh:
  1. In the Mesh Generation toolbar (see Toolbar Reference), click (Generate Volume Mesh)
    The progress of the mesh generation is displayed in the Output window. Once the progress is complete, the warning triangle on the Mesh icon disappears.
    NoteWhen you change mesh settings after the meshing progress is complete, the warning triangle indicates that the mesh is no longer up to date and requires re-execution.