ELEMENT FILLET
The ELEMENT FILLET function is used to generate fillet elements at the sharp corners of a part. This function requires a relatively clean mesh without overlap elements or interior gaps. The element normal must be consistent in the mesh. The ELEMENT FILLET dialog window, Figure 6.1.16, provides options to find and fillet shape corners.
Figure 6.1.16 Element Fillet dialog window
The following two steps are required to generate the fillet mesh.
FEATURE ANGLE
1. Enter the angle criteria (the default is 45 degrees).
2. Click the FIND FEATURE LINES button to find the feature lines where the angle is larger than or equal to the angle criteria. The program will highlight all features lines that meet the criteria.
FILLET ELEMENT
FILLET RADIUS defines the fillet radius for all feature edges.
MERGE TOLERANCE defines the gap tolerance between nodes on the fillet radius. Nearby nodes will be merged if the distance is less than the defined Merge Tolerance.
If SELECT FEATURE LINE is clicked, the program will display the SELECT NODE window for the user to select two or three nodes on the feature line. If two nodes are selected on the two-face feature line, the program will display a dialog window as shown in Figure 6.1.19. If three nodes on the three-face feature line are selected, the program will display a dialog window as shown in Figure 6.1.20a.
Figure 6.1.17 Find Feature Lines
ALL FEATURE LINES
When ALL FEATURE LINES is clicked, all feature lines will be
filleted with the global radius. Press OK on the PARAMETERS
window to generate the fillet mesh. The Fillet function supports
different radii and automatically smooths the elements.
Figure 6.1.18 Fillet with All Feature Lines