INNER FILL

 

The INNER FILL function is used to fill holes and missing geometry on outer boundary of the products such as windows, wheel houses, tail light lamps, access holes, bolt holes, etc.  There are four functions available in INNER FILL dialog box as illustrated in Figure 6.1.21. These functions are:

1.        Auto Fill

2.        Hole Fill

3.        Curve Fill

4.        Polygon Fill

Figure 6.1.21 Inner Fill dialog box

Create Surface

This option allows user to decide if surfaces are generated upon completion of the inner fill operation.

 

Use Reference Line

It is an advanced option. For filling complicated surface, the user can create some reference curves to fill the holes.

 

Keep Tangent

This option enables the user to keep tangency between the existed surfaces and surfaces generated by fill operation. Figure 6.1.22 illustrates the surface generated with and without tangency option.

 

Figure 6.1.22 Toggle on/off Keep Tangent option

 

ADVANCED

The advanced option includes some auxiliary functions such generation and removal of curves, removal of surfaces and elements.

 

Figure 6.1.23 Advanced Option

 This function is used to create lines.

  This function is used to create spline.

  This function generates a bridge line connecting two selected lines.

  This function is used to edit the curve.

 

After clicking the Select button, eta/DYNAFORM will display the Create Line dialog box as illustrated in Figure 6.1.24.

Figure 6.1.24 Create Line dialog box

 

          NODE: Create line through selecting the nodes on display area.

          POINT: Create line through selecting the nodes on display area.

          CURSOR: Create line through the picking location on display area.

 

DELETE

This option enables the user to remove the selected entities from the database.

 

 

6.1.8.1  AUTO FILL

 

This function is used to locate and fill all holes in the part with elements and surfaces. The user may choose whether or not to display the surfaces.  This option is controlled in the configuration file: DYNAFORMDEFAULT, located in the installation directory of eta/DYNAFORM.

 

NOTE: Click UNDO on the OPTION dialog box as illustrated in Figure 6.1.21. The filled mesh and surface will be removed.

 

6.1.8.2  HOLE FILL

 

This function enables user to automatically fill all the holes in the displayed part. After clicking the APPLY button, eta/DYNAFORM highlights all the inner boundary as illustrated in Figure 6.1.25.

 

Figure 6.1.25 Boundary Lines of Inner Holes

 

The user can click on the middle mouse button to fill all the highlight holes. Else, click on the right mouse button to abort the operation. Figure 6.1.26 illustrates an example of inner holes filling operation.

Figure 6.1.26 Filled Mesh within a Closed Curve

 

If the user wants to exclude some from the operation, he/she can move the mouse cursor around the highlighted holes and click the left mouse button to deselect the holes.

 

6.1.8.3  CURVE FILL

 

This function allows the user to fill an open or cut-out area. Figure 6.1.27 illustrates an example of Curve Fill operation using a spline curve to close the cut-out area.

Figure 6.1.27 Filled Mesh with Open Curve

 

1.        If the OPEN CURVE option is selected, eta/DYNAFORM will request the user to select elements neighboring to the cut-out area.

 

2.        Select OK to accept the selected elements and a dialog box as illustrated in Figure 6.1.28 is displayed. The user can select one of the following methods to fill the area:

SELECT NODES

This option allows the user to select a set of nodes to define the outer boundary of the open curve.

 

SELECT LINE

This option allows the user to select and define an existing line as the outer boundary of the open curve. After a line is selected, the SELECT NODES dialog box is displayed. The following message is printed in the message prompt window:

 

SELECT TWO NODES TO SPLIT THE LINE, OR PICK OK TO USE THE ENTIRE LINE

 

After selecting two nodes, the line segment between the selected nodes will be used as the boundary to close the open curve.

 

CREATE LINE

This option allows the user to create a line as the outer boundary to close the open curve for filling.  After a line is created, the SELECT NODES dialog box is displayed. The following message is printed in the message prompt window:

 

SELECT TWO NODES TO SPLIT THE LINE, OR PICK OK TO USE THE ENTIRE LINE

 

After selecting two nodes, the line segment between the selected nodes will be used to close the open curve.

 

CREATE SPLINE

Allow the user to create a spline curve as the outer boundary for fill mesh.  After a sline is created, the SELECT NODES dialog box is displayed. The following message is printed in the message prompt window:

 

SELECT TWO NODES TO SPLIT THE LINE, OR PICK OK TO USE THE ENTIRE LINE

 

After selecting two nodes, the spline segment between the two points will be used.

3.       After the curve is defined using any of the above methods, eta/DYNAFORM will fill a set of elements within the region.

 

6.1.8.4  POLYGON FILL

 

This function allows the user to select a set of nodes as the boundary edge to create a mesh to fill the boundary. After function is selected, the SELECT NODES dialog box is displayed. The following message is printed in the message prompt window:

 

SELECT A SET OF NODES CONSECUTIVELY AS BOUNDARY EDGE

 

After a set of nodes is selected, eta/DYNAFORM will generate a set of elements to fill the inner boundary.