Imprint Geometry

Use the Imprint tool to imprint geometry or mesh onto target surface/lines or elements creating new edges/fixed points or a mesh patch respectively.

Imprinting points on lines or surfaces creates geometry vertices similar to using the Split: Interactive tool. Imprinting surfaces onto surfaces imprints all of the source surfaces' edges onto the target surfaces.

Imprinting node list obeys post imprint options of FE tab in .
Note:
  • Uncheck node list to change the source entities.
  • Node list/elements imprint to CAD surface is not possible.

Imprinting elements / FE geometry to elements / FE geometry obeys post imprint options of FE tab in .

  1. From the 2D ribbon, click the Imprint tool.


    Figure 1.
  2. Select source to imprint.
    1. On the guide bar, activate the Source selector and choose whether to imprint lines, nodes, node list, points, surfaces, or elements using the drop-down menu.
    2. Make your selection in the modeling window.
  3. Select imprint targets.
    1. On the guide bar, activate the Target selector.
    2. Depending on the source, complete one of the following options:
      • If the source is points, select whether to imprint onto lines or surfaces using the drop-down menu.
      • If the source is nodes, select whether to imprint onto elements, lines, or surfaces using the drop-down menu.
        • Imprinting a node on a free line splits the line at the node location.
        • Imprinting a node on a feature edge adds a fix point at the node location.
        • Imprinting a node on elements, obeys post imprint options of FE tab in hamburger menu.
      • If the source is node list / elements, select whether to imprint onto elements, components, parts, or surfaces using the drop-down menu.
    3. Make your selection in the modeling window.
  4. Optional: On the guide bar, click to define imprint options.
    1. Click Preferences to define CAD/FE topology revision options.
    2. Select the FE tab to expose additional options related to FE geometry.
    3. From the FE tab, select Topology color mode to change the face color mode to topology
  5. Optional: Use the microdialog to define the direction on imprint.
    Restriction: This is only available for mesh imprinting to target FE geometry or elements.
  6. On the guide bar, select the Use anchors check box to select the nodes to be fixed in the destination mesh during mesh imprint.
    Restriction: This is only available for mesh imprinting to target FE geometry or elements.
  7. Click Imprint.
The selected geometry is split. Lines are projected along the normal direction of the selected surfaces.
Tip:
  • Split multiple surfaces with multiple lines at once.
  • Use the Split: Interactive tool to untrim previously imprinted surfaces.
  • Use the Stitch tool to suppress imprinted edges.

CAD Options

Maximum imprint distance
Use maximum imprint distance between source and target geometry.
Maximum distance
Enter an imprint distance.
Line extension method
Select a line extension option.
Keep line endpoints
Keep line endpoints when extending lines.
Surface imprint method
Select which lines to imprint.
Do not imprint internal edges
Skip internal edges and common edges of selected surfaces.
Do not imprint near existing edges
Skip edges too close to pre-existing features.

FE Geometry Options

Maximum imprint distance
Use maximum imprint distance between source and target geometry.
Maximum distance
Enter an imprint distance.
Post imprint options
None
Simple method to imprint source on target surface.


Figure 2.
Create patch between imprinted edges


Figure 3.
Move target imprint edges to source


Figure 4.
Move source to target


Figure 5.
Create elements in
Select to create imprint or patch elements in the following:
  • Source component
  • Current component
  • Destination component
Do not remesh/rebuild extension
Use to avoid remesh or rebuild of the patch elements.


Figure 6.
Closed loop for node list selection
Use to close the loop of selected node list.


Figure 7.
Do not add fixed points/edges on nodes imprint
Use to imprint nodes on FE geometry without fixed points or edges.


Figure 8.