ITEM Tutorial

Step 5: Build a Meshable Topology

The next step in the mesh generation process can be one of the most challenging. Building a meshable topology involves decomposing an assembly into meshable parts. For sweeping, this means decomposing it into volumes composed of many-to-one and one-to-one sweepable parts. Each decomposed volume is further constrained because it needs to be able to share boundary meshes on merged surfaces. Since the number of possible decomposition strategies are numerous, it is not yet possible to automatically decompose most models. Instead, the ITEM framework seeks to provide possible decomposition options to the user, which they can be easily executed (and if necessary, quickly undone).

• Click Build meshable topology
• Click Decompose volume
• Click Check Meshability
• Examine Volume 3. There is 1 source and 1 target surface and it is sweepable.
• Examine Volume 1. There are two source surfaces and two target surfaces. It needs to be webcut cylindrically through middle

• Click on Volume 1
• Choose cylindrical webcut and execute making sure the imprint and merge after webcut is checked

• Examine Volume 2. The tall portion should be swept around in the direction of the holes. The bottom portion should be swept from top to bottom. It is many to one sweepable if webcut cylindrically around inner cylinder.
• Choose cylindrical webcut that cuts off thicker part at bottom of Volume 4.

• Click Done.
• Click Done after running checked diagnostics again to verify.
• Click Done.