Extract Volume

The extract volume mesh operation finds enclosed volumes within selected parts and generates a part to fill the volume.

If parts are imprinted before extracting the volume, there are no solid parts to merge, so their tessellated surfaces are merged instead. The tessellated surface allows the volume to be extracted, as long as the combination of merged internal tessellated surfaces are closed.

The Extract Volume node represents this operation in the simulation tree.

Extracting the volume in parts follows a similar process to extracting the volume in 3D-CAD. The main difference is that in parts, you must first manually cap all the openings using the fill holes operation before you can extract the volume. See Fill Holes. In 3D-CAD, the holes are automatically capped as part of the operation.

Extract Volume Properties

Use the Extract Volume properties to define the input parts, volume extraction mode, and output part display options. You can also identify one or more output parts from this operation.


Input Parts	Specifies the geometry parts from which the operation extracts an internal volume.
Volume Mode	Automatic	Automatically determines the volume of interest for the volume extraction. In the Volumes sub-node, you can specify if a single volume or all volumes are automatically extracted. Single mode places all closed volumes that are identified into a single output part. Any volume that is already identified as an existing part is ignored. Any volume that spans multiple parts is included in the extracted result. All mode creates a new output part for every volume that is identified, even if they match existing parts. Surfaces internal to the part volume are marked as baffles.
	Manual	Allows you to manually specify the volume of interest for the volume extraction. In the Volumes > Extract Volume node, set Mode to Surface or Point to define the volume of interest using surfaces or points. Define the surfaces and points (referred to as seed points) in the Extract Volume > Surface and Extract Volume > Seed Points nodes respectively. See the Surfaces Properties and Seed Points Properties in the sections below.
Combine By Part Surfaces	When activated, combines any volumes with shared part surfaces.
Output Parts	Displays the name of the output part that the operation generates (read-only).

Surfaces Properties

The Volumes > Extract Volume > Surfaces sub-node Properties allow you to specify the surfaces:


Surfaces	Specifies the part surface that the Surface mode uses to extract an internal volume. For example, you can use the part surfaces from hole filling, where the ends of an inner cylinder are capped off.

Seed Points Properties

The Volumes > Extract Volume > Seed Points node itself has no properties although right-clicking this node allows you to create seed points that are displayed as sub-nodes. The Seed Points sub-nodes Properties allow you to specify the seed point coordinates:


Coordinates	Specifies the Cartesian coordinates of a seed point that the Point mode uses to extract an internal volume.
Coordinate System	Specifies the coordinate system used for the seed point that the Point mode uses to extract an internal volume. The seed point follows the coordinate system that you specify.