Tutorial 01

L-Clip

+
FX
Tutorial 01. L-Clip

<Figure 1> L-Clip Example Model

The L-Clip model illustrated in <Figure 1> will be constructed using the 2D Drawing feature, Automatic
Unstructured Mesh Generation feature and Structured Mesh Generation (Mapped Mesh Generation) feature provided
by FX+.

The dimensions of this model are shown in <Figure 2>.

<Figure 2> Dimensions

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Modeling Procedure

1. Draw an L-Clip shape.

Toolbar> View Point> Top ( )

[Geometry]-[Curve]-[Create on WP]-[Profile (Wire)…]

Using the Profile menu, you can draw Polyline (the Left button), Tangential Arc (the Middle
button) and 3 Point Arc (the Right button) within one dialog box.

① Polyline ( )
ABS x, y> (0, 0)> [Enter] ;
REL dx, dy> (0, 100)> [Enter] ; (20, 0)> [Enter]
② Tangential Arc ( ) (Draw an arc tangent to the last drawn line.)
Radius, Angle> (10, -90)> [Enter]
③ Polyline ( )
REL dx, dy> (0, -50)> [Enter]
④ Tangential Arc ( )
Radius, Angle> (10, 90)> [Enter]
⑤ Polyline ( )
REL dx, dy> (60, 0)> [Enter]
⑥ Tangential Arc ( )
Radius, Angle> (15, -180)> [Enter]
⑦ Polyline ( )
REL dx, dy> (-100, 0)> [Enter]

When the last drawn point coincides with the starting point, drawing a Profile will be completed.

When drawing a Curve, ABS X, Y is set as the default method of specifying coordinates, which allows the
user to assign the (x,y) coordinates directly. REL dX, dY and Length, Angle are also available. When REL
dX, dY is selected, you are required to enter the distance relative to the last entered point with respect to
the x and y directions of the Work Plane. When Length, Angle is selected, you are required to enter the
distance from the last entered point and the angle (counterclockwise) formed from the +x-direction of the
Work Plane.
Although you may assign the position by directly entering the coordinates or a relative distance, it is
sometimes more convenient to use the Snap function to assign the position. The Snap function allows the
mouse pointer to be fixed in the working window according to the specified Snap function type.
In case of a simple 2-dimensional model as in this example, positions in the Work Plane can be easily
assigned by using the Grid Snap ( ). Grid spacing is automatically set to 20 [mm]. In this example, Grid
spacing of 10 is considered to be more convenient, as such you should change the Grid set accordingly.
Right click the mouse in the working window and invoke the Grid Setting… menu. Remove the existing
Grid setting by pressing the Reset button ( ) in the <Grid Setting> dialog box, and then enter -200,
40@10 in the Grid entry field under Grid Input. This will “generate 40 Grids at intervals of 10 from –
200.” , and buttons of the Add to add the defined grids to the X-Grid, Y-Grid

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and both, respectively.

<Figure 3> Drawing an L-Clip shape using the Profile

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2. Draw two circles within the L-Clip.

[Geometry]-[Curve]-[Create on WP]-[Circle…]
Select the far left button ( ). (Create a circle by entering a center point and radius.)
Location> 20, 90> [Enter] ; Radius> 5> [Enter]
Location> 100, 20> [Enter] ; Radius> 5> [Enter] ;

Circles can be drawn in four ways.

: Specify a center point and a radius.
: Specify both end points of a diameter.
: Specify three points on a circle.
: Specify two Edges and a radius to draw a circle tangent to those Edges.

<Figure 4> Drawing two holes

3. What we have done thus far will be repeatedly used for the Parts A, B and C of this Tutorial. Save the
project.

[File]-[Save]> L_Clip_0.mfb

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Part A

4. Invoke the [File]-[Save As…] menu and save the project as L_Clip_1.mfb.

[File]-[Save As…]> L_Clip_1.mfb

5. Prior to creating a Mesh, execute the Seeding for a finer Mesh around the two holes.

[Mesh]-[Size Control]-[Along Edge…]

Select two Edge holes.
Seeding Method> Number of Divisions> 16>

The methods of Seeding Edges are classified into four.

Interval Length: Specify the interval length of Nodes on Edge.
Number of Divisions: Specify the number of divisions for Nodes on Edge.
Linear Grading (Length): Specify the Biased-seeding so that lengths are linearly varying.
Linear Grading (Ratio): Specify the Biased-seeding so that length ratios are linearly varying.

<Figure 5> Adjusting the mesh size around the two Edge holes

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6. Now mesh the section.

[Mesh]-[Auto Mesh]-[Planar Area…]

Select the entire Edges by dragging the mouse.
Mesher> Loop Mesher ; Mesh Size> Element Size> 3
Click on the Preview button ( ) to check if the Nodes to be created are properly distributed
along the Edges. ;
The mesh shown in <Figure 6> will be generated.

If the Edges are registered in the Size Control, the assigned Mesh Size will be applied internally. For
unregistered Edges, the program will use the Mesh Size assigned in the <Auto-Mesh Planar Area> dialog
box.

<Figure 6> Complete Mesh of L-Clip

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7. As shown in <Figure 7>, the generated Mesh entities are placed on the Mesh of Works Tree. Clicking on this
Mesh will display detailed information including the numbers of Nodes and Elements in the Properties Window.

Works Tree> Mesh

Check the numbers of Nodes and Elements of the current project in the Properties Window and assign the
Shading Color of Elements.
Shading Color> Property
Check if the assigned Properties are correctly applied.

<Figure 7> Checking the Mesh data of the Property Window

8. Execute the Shading with respect to the Normal directions of 2D Elements.

Shading Color> Front-Back

The Bright color indicates the (+) Normal direction whereas the dark color indicates the (-) Normal
direction.

If the Normal directions of 2D Elements are opposite to your expectation, reverse the Normal directions of
the Elements.
[Mesh]-[Element]-[Reverse…]
Select Element(s)> Selection Filter> Mesh
When the Mesh is chosen in the Selection Filter, the user can select the Elements based on the
Mesh Object. With the selection of Element in Selection Filter, the user can select individual
Elements.
Select the Mesh Object generated in <Step 6> from the work plane or Works Tree.
(Normal directions of the entire Elements will reverse.)

9. Invoke the [File]-[Save] menu to save the project that we have been working with until now as L_Clip_1.mfb.

[File]-[Save]> L_Clip_1.mfb

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Part B

10. Open the common file that was saved in <Step 3>.

[File]-[Open…]> L_Clip_0.mfb
[File]-[Save As…]> L_Clip_2.mfb

11. Create a Face composed of the Edges that were drawn in <Step 1, 2>.

[Geometry]-[Surface]-[Create]-[Plane Patch]
Select the Edges drawn in <Step 1, 2>.
Name> L-Clip ;
A planar Face consisting of the selected Edges will be created.

In order to select an entity, place the mouse over the entity and left-click the mouse when the entity turns
sky blue. Clicking the previously selected entity will cancel the selection. Not only are you able to select
entities from the Working Window, but you can also do so from the Works Tree.
Plane Patch creates a Face from selected Edges. Edges forming the outline of a plane Face should be
simply connected. Edges formed into a Shape do not need to be on the Work Plane, as long as they form a
single plane. Plane Patch cannot contain Edges or Vertices within the inside.

12. Hide the Edges, which were used in creating the L-Clip Face.

Works Tree> Geometry-1D Shape-Curve> Right click the mouse.> Hide All (Hide all Curves.)
Show/Hide is available for individual entities and hidden entities will have a red symbol in their icons.

<Figure 8> Manipulating Show/Hide in Works Tree

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13. Mesh the L-Clip Face.

[Mesh]-[Auto Mesh]-[Face…]
Select Face(s)> Select the Face from the screen.
Mesher> Loop Mesher ; Mesh Size> Element Size> 3 ; Adaptive Seeding (on)
Click on the Preview button ( ) to check if the Nodes to be created are properly distributed
along the Edges. ;
The mesh shown in <Figure 9> will be generated.

If the Adaptive Seeding option is used, the Seeding size (Node interval to generate) can be automatically
adjusted according to the geometric properties (curvature, etc.) of an Edge. This can be very effectively
used when small holes exist inside the section as in this example or when meshing the shape with variable
curvature is required, since it is not necessary for the user to specify the Seeding manually part by part.

<Figure 9> Complete Mesh of L-Clip

14. Invoke [File]-[Save] menu to save the project that we have been working with thus far as L_Clip_2.mfb.

[File]-[Save]> L_Clip_2.mfb

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Part C

15. Open the common file that was saved in <Step 3>.

[File]-[Open…]> L_Clip_0.mfb
[File]-[Save As…]> L_Clip_3.mfb

<Figure 10> Division of Areas to generate Mapped Mesh

16. In Part C, a Mapped Mesh will be generated for the Shape defined by Edges only.
The Mapped Mesh is basically available for a closed area whose boundary is defined by four Edges (refer to
<Figure 12>). First divide the L-Clip drawn in <Steps 1 and 2> into the areas as shown in <Figure 10>.

[Geometry]-[Curve]-[Create on WP]-[Line…]
ABS x, y> 0,80 > [Enter] ; REL dx, dy> 30,0 > [Enter] (Line A will be drawn.)
In the same manner, draw the lines B, C, D and E as shown in <Figure 10>.

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17. Divide all the Edges at the intersections.

[Geometry]-[Curve]-[Intersect…]
Select all the Edges by dragging the mouse. ;
This command divides all the Edges at the intersections.

Although a Wire is not intersecting other Wires or Edges, a Wire will be divided into Edges by the Intersect
menu. In this example, a total of 28 Edges will be generated after applying the Intersect to the Curves.

<Figure 11> Edges after applying the Intersect

18. Remove the unnecessary Edges.

The Edges b and h inside the circles of in <Figure 11> are unnecessary.
Select the Edges b and h.> Right click the mouse.> Press Delete

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19. Execute the Seeding to generate an optimal Mesh.

Prior to meshing, a division interval or the number of divisions for the Edge, Face and Solid can be
predefined. Especially for the Mapped Mesh, the opposite Edges of a square-shaped Master Domain must
have the same number of divisions. Thus the number of divisions should be assigned identically by using
Seeding before generating the Mapped Mesh.

[Mesh] - [Size Control] - [Along Edge…]

Select the Edges c and e.
Seeding Method> Number of Divisions> 8>
Select the Edges g and i.
Number of Divisions> 10>
Select the Edges a, d, j and k.
Number of Divisions> 2>

X
X

z z
Mapping

Real Domain Master Domain

<Figure 12> Concept of Mapped Mesh

20. Some Edges were assigned Number of Divisions in <Step 19>. In this example, for the rest of the Edges, an
interval length of 5 will be used.

[Mesh]-[Size Control]-[Global Size…]

Element Size> 5>
This Global Size is basically applicable to the Edges, Faces and Solids, which were not assigned
separate Seedings.

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21. Divide the entire area into 6 areas and generate a Mapped Mesh for each area.

[Mesh] - [Map Mesh] - [k-Side Area…]

When a Shape is composed of Edges only, this command maps four Edges of the Shape into
four Edges of a square. Since the Shape of this example is too complicated to apply Auto-Map,
use Manual-Map to manually assign the four Edges to be mapped into the four Edges of a
square.

Manual-Map
Select Object Edge(s) 1> Select the Edge 1 depicted in <Figure 13>.
Select Object Edge(s) 2> Select the Edge 2 depicted in <Figure 13>.
Select Object Edge(s) 3> Select the Edge 3 depicted in <Figure 13>.
Select Object Edge(s) 4> Select the Edge 4 depicted in <Figure 13>.

Click to generate the Mapped Mesh.

The generated Mapped Mesh is shown in <Figure 14>.

<Figure 13> Edge Selection Guide for the first Mapped Mesh

<Figure 14> Mapped Mesh of the first area

When generating the Mapped Mesh, you must pay attention to the input order of the Edges. Assign Edges
clockwise or counterclockwise by clicking on the Select Object Edge(s) button. The Normal direction of a
Mesh generated clockwise is opposite to that of a Mesh generated counterclockwise. If you assign the
Edges in the order of 1, 3, 2 and 4 in <Figure 13>, instead of either clockwise or counterclockwise, for the
Select Object Edge(s) 1, 2, 3 and 4, it may result in an error and may not generate a Mesh.

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22. Generate a Mapped Mesh for the second area.

Enter the Edges referring to <Figure 15> to generate the second Mapped Mesh.
The resulting Mapped Mesh of the second area will look like <Figure 16>.

<Figure 15> Edge Selection Guide for the second Mapped Mesh

<Figure 16> Mapped Mesh of the second area

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23. For the remaining areas, refer to <Figure 17> to generate Mapped Meshes, which will look like <Figure 18>.

<Figure 17> Edge Selection Guide for Mapped Meshing in the remaining areas

<Figure 18> Final Mapped Mesh

24. Invoke the [File] - [Save] menu to save the project that we have been working with until now as L_Clip_3.mfb.

[File] - [Save]> L_Clip_3.mfb

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