Creating Single Lattice Unit Cell for Export from Inspire

Autumn

Hello,

I am attempting to use the 'Fill' feature under 'Polymesh' in Inspire to create a single (1) lattice unit cell so that I can import the geometry into Hypermesh. I know the height, relative density (and strut radius), and lattice type that I'm looking for, but am having issues with the 'Fill' feature.

I started by creating a cube with the dimensions of the desired unit cell, but when I use 'Fill', and input the desired height, it doesn't appear (no preview), whereas if I reduce the size, it does. I assume this has something to do with the specifications causing the unit cell to be too large to fit the cube, so I'm wondering if you have any suggestions for how to create just one lattice unit cell when I know what I want as its overall cell height, strut radius, and lattice type.

Thanks in advance!

Mark McDowell

Hello Mrs. Bernard,

Please always let us know what version you are using.

Once you Filled the geometry using Fill

Use the Convert Tool to "Convert" it to a CAD

Once you have done this you should be able to select and save selected as stmod, parasolid, STL, Step...

Any of these formats can be imported into HM

 

Mark

Mark McDowell

Hello Mrs. Bernard,

Please always let us know what version you are using.

Once you Filled the geometry using Fill

Use the Convert Tool to "Convert" it to a CAD

Once you have done this you should be able to select and save selected as stmod, parasolid, STL, Step...

Any of these formats can be imported into HM

 

Mark

Autumn

Mark McDowell said:

Hello Mrs. Bernard,

Please always let us know what version you are using.

Once you Filled the geometry using Fill

Use the Convert Tool to "Convert" it to a CAD

Once you have done this you should be able to select and save selected as stmod, parasolid, STL, Step...

Any of these formats can be imported into HM

 

Mark

Hello,

I am using Inspire 2020.0.1 and HM 2020.

Thank you, after creating a slightly larger geometry and using the 'Fill' tool in Polymesh to create one unit cell, I was able to convert the lattice to surfaces and export as a .step file for import into HM.

Autumn

Altair Forum User

If this response helped solve your problem, please mark as the Correct Answer! Thanks for using the Altair Community.

Autumn

For anyone coming across this later, I have found the following to also be helpful:

- Create a cube slightly larger than the unit cell you wish to create (Geometry > Rectangles and Geometry > Push/Pull)

- Use PolyMesh > Fill to create the lattice (specify lattice topology, radius, cell dimension). If the cube is the right size, only one cell should appear (if too large, there may be a cluster or if too small, it won't show up)

- Make sure to click 'Create' once you have your unit cell as desired

- Then, use PolyMesh > Convert to convert the lattice to surfaces which can then be exported.

- Then, File > Save As. I have found .step files to work best with import into Hypermesh, but sometimes .iges works okay as well. If, on import to Hypermesh, it appears as though you've only imported a cube, you can try deleting the 6 surfaces and the unit cell should just be hidden beneath.