MAGNET Modeler for Autodesk: Meshes

How to manage mesh element parameters in MAGNET Modeler for Autodesk

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MAGNET Modeler for Autodesk: Meshes

Meshes can be used to create any arbitrary 3D object in the virtual model.

The meshes object reads AutoCAD BLOCKs or MINSERT blocks, which have 3D face elements inside of them, or solids. With meshes, you can import your own 3D objects and geometries into virtual models. 3D faces have to be combined into AutoCAD blocks before MAGNET Modeler recognizes them and separates them from the surface model. The material of the mesh is defined as material areas for 3D faces.

All elements inside the mesh block get their material from the material area list based on their layer inside the block. If a material is not defined to their layer, the mesh object default material is used.

Mesh objects can also contain solid objects inside blocks. 3D-rotated blocks also are supported so that a user can rotate 3D objects on any axis. This is useful, for example, when modeling drillings and underground support systems.

Parameters

•  layer 

Layer where mesh blocks are inserted.

•  materials 

Default material for mesh. It is used only if the materials are not defined in material areas. If several materials are selected, meshes use them randomly.

•  description 

A descriptive text for the entry. If defined, this will be shown instead of the long description.

•  info text 

Information text attached to items.

•  info URL 

URL link attached to items. MAGNET Explorer can launch a web browser with the URL.

•  object data tables 

These are Autodesk Map object data tables that will be used for the source of object information for the elements in the virtual model. The table list also matches wildcards.

•  rotation 

Mesh rotation angle if rotating is set to no.

•  scale 

Scale of meshes.

•  interpolate 

If set to yes, the block is moved so that the insertion point is on the surface model. If set to no, the block is not moved.

•  interpolate_to_materials 

Select those material areas as layers that will be used to elevate your component (similar to interpolate_to_layers).

•  interpolate_to_layers 

Select those layers that will be used to raise your component. For example, if you use LandXML as a reference or Civil 3D surface as a reference, you generate layers for those references and then select that layer into this box.

•  alignment 

  • default = Objects are aligned vertically as usual.
  • surface = Objects are aligned so that they follow surface shape. Texture elements are aligned perpendicular against a surface triangle. 3D objects are aligned to a surface using object dimensions (bounding box) and lowest points.

•  texturing mode

  • box = Texture is placed on 6 walls of the "box" surrounding the mesh and then projected to the mesh. Each triangle gets the texture of the wall where its normal points.
  • normals = Each triangle is texturized according to its own coordinate system. Texture-origo is the first point of a triangle, and texture is direct according to the horizon.
  • xy-flat = Texture is dropped from above.
  • spherical = Texture is wrapped around a sphere surrounding the mesh and then projected on the mesh.
  • cylindrical = Texture is wrapped around a cylinder surrounding the mesh and then projected on the mesh.

•  group 

The name of the group of these items.

•  cad_symbol 

Used when drawing this object to AutoCAD.

  • If not defined, a POINT will be drawn.
  • If defined, defines the AutoCAD BLOCK that is inserted. The block must be defined in the drawing. The symbol scale and rotation will be set to default (scale = 1, angle = 0).

•  solid_tessellation_angle

When processing mesh objects, solid tessellation parameters define how smooth 3D meshes look. "Angle" defines the angle between two points on produced mesh. Note: Both parameters, angle and distance, affect generated model (.VM) file size and generation performance. (Default is 20 - measured in degrees, lower value means more accurate)

•  solid_tessellation_distance 

In a 2D mesh, this is the same as the distance in world coordinates from a point on the true surface to the closest point on any of its approximating 2D elements. The proper value to set is dependent on the size of the model. Distance tolerance, in conjunction with angle tolerance, affects curvature based node spacing. If argument is not supplied or is set to zero, the default behavior is to set it to 0.05 units of the maximum extent of the bounding box. (Default is 0.05, meaning 0.05 units, lower value means more accurate)