How to look inside a model (slice)?

dculp

The attached model has 2 intersecting slots. I want to refine the mesh at the slot intersections to determine the stresses. When the analysis has finished I want to view the slot stresses. However, it's very awkward to do this by peeking through the slot openings.

I realize that I could construct the model as 6 separate parts -- a bottom base plate that contains the bottom slot intersections but not the slot walls, 4 supporting columns that contain the slot walls, a top plate that that contains the top slot intersections. For viewing I could then hide the undesired parts, as needed. However, this considerably complicates the modeling process. Also, the geometry of this model is fairly simple. However, I don't think that this approach is practical for models with complex geometry.

What I need is some way to slice the model and hide the undesired section.

Thanks,
Don C.

Sergio

Use the Slice tool on Mecway to slice the view.

dculp

What is the menu path to the slice tool (or is it an icon)? (I had searched but couldn't find it.)

Sergio

Is a slide control on the icon bar

dculp

Is there any way to numerically specify the location of the cutting plane?

In my attached model I have to set the XY (top) view, then move the slider to an estimated position. Then I rotate the model to see if the cutting plane is in the correct position. If not then I reset to the XY (top) view and try again. I have to repeat this until the cutting plane is just above the point where the slot radii transition into the slot walls. This takes a lot of fidgeting. This would be an especial problem if the desired location was a small interior hole which wouldn't be visible until the cutting plane was exactly intersecting it.

What I'd like to be able to do is "Position the cutting plane X mm in the Z direction, perpendicular to the XY plane". Alternately, have some numerical display to show where the slider control is at so that I wouldn't have to continually rotate the model back and forth to see what's happening with the cutting plane.

disla

Right click on the slide bar.
You could also hide some previously defined components. Right Clik components in the solution tree.

Sergio

Is not possible in Mecway, use Paraview fot that.

dculp

disla -- Acceptable for the time being. I'll see if it's OK for more complex models.

Sergio -- Yes, Paraview is good for viewing the results but takes more fiddling (export model from Mecway, solve with Calculix, convert Calculix results to Paraview, load into Paraview and adjust view). Also, I need to cut the geometry stp (not the meshed) in order to select surfaces for mesh refinement.

Sergio

Dculp, you can do a mesh refinement based on a node directly, no need to touch the geometry. When you postprocess, select a node with high stress, and then in the contextual menu there is an option to create a mesh refinement in that specific position.

dculp

Sergio -- Yes, that would work for this particular model where the stress is high at a point where the two slots intersect. However, this wouldn't work if I need to refine an entire surface rather than at a point, which is often the case.