Mesh: Difference between revisions

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== Introduction ==
== Introduction == <!--T:1-->


<!--T:2-->
In FreeCAD the word "[[Mesh|Mesh]]" is normally used to refer to a [[Mesh_MeshObject|Mesh MeshObject]] ({{incode|Mesh::MeshObject}} class), a type of object that defines 3D data but is not a solid "[[Shape|Shape]]".
In FreeCAD the word "[[Mesh|Mesh]]" is normally used to refer to a [[Mesh_MeshObject|Mesh MeshObject]] ({{incode|Mesh::MeshObject}} class), a type of object that defines 3D data but is not a solid "[[Shape|Shape]]".


<!--T:3-->
Meshes are very simple objects, containing only vertices (points), edges and triangular faces. In general, they are easy to create, modify, subdivide, and stretch, and can be passed from one application to another without any loss of detail. In addition, since meshes contain very simple data, 3D applications like animation software and video games can manage very large quantities of them without using a lot of computing resources.
Meshes are very simple objects, containing only vertices (points), edges and triangular faces. In general, they are easy to create, modify, subdivide, and stretch, and can be passed from one application to another without any loss of detail. In addition, since meshes contain very simple data, 3D applications like animation software and video games can manage very large quantities of them without using a lot of computing resources.


<!--T:4-->
However, in the field of engineering meshes present one big limitation: they are only made of surfaces, and have no "mass" information, so they don't behave like "solids". This means that solid-based operations, like boolean addition or subtraction, are difficult to perform on meshes. Also, since they are defined by individual points, they are hard to describe in a parametric fashion.
However, in the field of engineering meshes present one big limitation: they are only made of surfaces, and have no "mass" information, so they don't behave like "solids". This means that solid-based operations, like boolean addition or subtraction, are difficult to perform on meshes. Also, since they are defined by individual points, they are hard to describe in a parametric fashion.


<!--T:5-->
See [[Mesh_MeshObject|Mesh MeshObject]] for more information about this type of object, and see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygon_mesh Polygon mesh] for generic information in computer systems.
See [[Mesh_MeshObject|Mesh MeshObject]] for more information about this type of object, and see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygon_mesh Polygon mesh] for generic information in computer systems.


== How to use ==
== How to use == <!--T:6-->


<!--T:7-->
Meshes are normally created by internal functions of the [[Mesh_Workbench|Mesh Workbench]], or by importing mesh format files, like STL and OBJ.
Meshes are normally created by internal functions of the [[Mesh_Workbench|Mesh Workbench]], or by importing mesh format files, like STL and OBJ.


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Essentially, every object derived from a [[Mesh_Feature|Mesh Feature]] ({{incode|Mesh::Feature}} class) is expected to hold and manipulate a Mesh.
Essentially, every object derived from a [[Mesh_Feature|Mesh Feature]] ({{incode|Mesh::Feature}} class) is expected to hold and manipulate a Mesh.


<!--T:9-->
Since FreeCAD is designed to be a solid modeller primarily, it is better suited to deal with solid [[Shape|Shapes]]. It can import and display Meshes in the [[3D_view|3D view]], but to transform them or create new geometry, the Mesh first needs to be converted to a [[Shape|Shape]] (see [[Part_ShapeFromMesh|Part ShapeFromMesh]]). In many cases, this conversion is not automatic, and requires re-creating the geometry using solid modelling techniques, making use of [[Part_Workbench|Part]] and [[PartDesign_Workbench|PartDesign]] tools.
Since FreeCAD is designed to be a solid modeller primarily, it is better suited to deal with solid [[Shape|Shapes]]. It can import and display Meshes in the [[3D_view|3D view]], but to transform them or create new geometry, the Mesh first needs to be converted to a [[Shape|Shape]] (see [[Part_ShapeFromMesh|Part ShapeFromMesh]]). In many cases, this conversion is not automatic, and requires re-creating the geometry using solid modelling techniques, making use of [[Part_Workbench|Part]] and [[PartDesign_Workbench|PartDesign]] tools.


== Finite element meshes ==
== Finite element meshes == <!--T:10-->


<!--T:11-->
In FreeCAD the word "[[Mesh|Mesh]]" may also refer to a specific object that will be used in finite element analysis (FEA).
In FreeCAD the word "[[Mesh|Mesh]]" may also refer to a specific object that will be used in finite element analysis (FEA).


<!--T:12-->
When an object with a solid [[Shape|Shape]] is used in the [[FEM_Workbench|FEM Workbench]] it will be discretized into a triangular mesh. In this case, the resulting object is a [[Fem_FemMeshObject|Fem FemMeshObject]] ({{incode|Fem::FemMeshObject}} class), and is not derived from a [[Mesh_Feature|Mesh Feature]] ({{incode|Mesh::Feature}} class).
When an object with a solid [[Shape|Shape]] is used in the [[FEM_Workbench|FEM Workbench]] it will be discretized into a triangular mesh. In this case, the resulting object is a [[Fem_FemMeshObject|Fem FemMeshObject]] ({{incode|Fem::FemMeshObject}} class), and is not derived from a [[Mesh_Feature|Mesh Feature]] ({{incode|Mesh::Feature}} class).


<!--T:13-->
For more information see [[FEM_Workbench|FEM Workbench]] and [[FEM_Mesh|FEM Mesh]].
For more information see [[FEM_Workbench|FEM Workbench]] and [[FEM_Mesh|FEM Mesh]].


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{{Mesh Tools navi}}
{{Mesh Tools navi}}
{{FEM Tools navi}}
{{FEM Tools navi}}

Revision as of 20:52, 20 January 2020

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Introduction

In FreeCAD the word "Mesh" is normally used to refer to a Mesh MeshObject (Mesh::MeshObject class), a type of object that defines 3D data but is not a solid "Shape".

Meshes are very simple objects, containing only vertices (points), edges and triangular faces. In general, they are easy to create, modify, subdivide, and stretch, and can be passed from one application to another without any loss of detail. In addition, since meshes contain very simple data, 3D applications like animation software and video games can manage very large quantities of them without using a lot of computing resources.

However, in the field of engineering meshes present one big limitation: they are only made of surfaces, and have no "mass" information, so they don't behave like "solids". This means that solid-based operations, like boolean addition or subtraction, are difficult to perform on meshes. Also, since they are defined by individual points, they are hard to describe in a parametric fashion.

See Mesh MeshObject for more information about this type of object, and see Polygon mesh for generic information in computer systems.

How to use

Meshes are normally created by internal functions of the Mesh Workbench, or by importing mesh format files, like STL and OBJ.

Essentially, every object derived from a Mesh Feature (Mesh::Feature class) is expected to hold and manipulate a Mesh.

Since FreeCAD is designed to be a solid modeller primarily, it is better suited to deal with solid Shapes. It can import and display Meshes in the 3D view, but to transform them or create new geometry, the Mesh first needs to be converted to a Shape (see Part ShapeFromMesh). In many cases, this conversion is not automatic, and requires re-creating the geometry using solid modelling techniques, making use of Part and PartDesign tools.

Finite element meshes

In FreeCAD the word "Mesh" may also refer to a specific object that will be used in finite element analysis (FEA).

When an object with a solid Shape is used in the FEM Workbench it will be discretized into a triangular mesh. In this case, the resulting object is a Fem FemMeshObject (Fem::FemMeshObject class), and is not derived from a Mesh Feature (Mesh::Feature class).

For more information see FEM Workbench and FEM Mesh.

Mesh
FEM

Constraints

Document objects
User documentation
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