About Creating Meshes by Conversion
Convert solids, surfaces, and legacy mesh types to mesh objects.
You can use the MESHSMOOTH command to convert certain objects to mesh objects. Convert 3D solids, surface, and legacy mesh objects to the enhanced mesh object in order to take advantage of capabilities such as smoothing, refinement, creasing, and splitting.
Object Types that can be Converted
You obtain the most predictable results when you convert primitive 3D solid objects to mesh objects.
You can also convert other types of objects, although the conversion results may differ from what you expect. These objects include swept surfaces and solids, legacy polygon and polyface mesh objects, regions, closed polylines, and objects created with 3DFACE for these objects, you can often improve results by adjusting the conversion settings.
Adjust Mesh Conversion Settings
Settings can be changed using the Mesh Tessellation Options dialog box (MESHOPTIONS).
For example, if the smooth mesh optimized mesh type (FACETERMESHTYPE system variable) results in incorrect conversions, you can set the tessellation shape to be Triangle or Mostly Quads.
You also can control the adherence to the original shape by setting the maximum distance offset, angles, aspect ratios, and edge lengths for new faces. The following example shows a 3D solid helix that has been converted to a mesh using different tessellation settings. The optimized mesh version has been smoothed, but the other two conversions have no smoothness. Notice, however, that the mostly quads conversion with the lower tessellation values creates a mesh object that adheres most closely to the original version. Smoothing this object improves its appearance even more.
Similarly, if you notice that a converted mesh object has a number of long, slivered faces (which can sometimes cause gaps), try decreasing the maximum edge length for new faces value (FACETERMAXEDGELENGTH system variable). If you are converting primitive solid objects, this dialog box also offers the option of using the same default settings used to create primitive mesh objects.
When you select conversion candidates directly from this dialog box, you can preview the results before you accept them.
Related Articles
About Creating 3D Meshes
A mesh model consists of vertices, edges, and faces that use polygonal representation, including triangles and quadrilaterals, to define a 3D shape. Unlike solid models, mesh has no mass properties. However, as with 3D solids, you can create ...About Constructing Meshes from other Objects
Create meshes by filling the space between other objects such as lines and arcs. You can use a variety of methods to create several types of mesh objects whose edges are defined by other objects. Mesh types include ruled, tabulated, revolved, and ...AutoCAD Keyboard Commands
Learning how to use AutoCAD keyboard commands can help you work faster and improve your efficiency. This article lists the abbreviated commands that can be used in AutoCAD (Toolbox). Toggle General Features Ctrl+G Toggle Grid Ctrl+E Cycle isometric ...About Creating 3D Wireframe Models
A 3D wireframe model is an edge or skeletal representation of a real-world object. 3D wireframe models consist of points, lines, arcs, circles, and other curves that define the edges or centerlines of objects. You can use a 3D wireframe model to: ...About Sheet Sets in AutoCAD
You can manage multiple drawings as sheet sets with the Sheet Set Manager: A sheet is a selected layout from a drawing file. You can import a layout from any drawing into a sheet set as a numbered sheet. A sheet set is an organized and named ...
Recent Articles
The Range Hood - Add-on
About the Library Add-on This is a “Master” Range Hood product capable of being used as is or saved back to the library numerous times in unlimited number of different combinations. This Library Add-on is compatible with the Foundation Library. This ...Toolbox Release Notes | Build 22.1.0406.641
The following Release Notes apply to Toolbox Build 22.1.0406.641 Database Management Resolutions: Resolved an issue that caused template level projects to be deleted when deleting a seemingly “empty” category (this was caused by a mix-up in the ...Microvellum Foundation Library Release Notes | Build 22.0407
The following release notes apply to Microvellum Foundation Library, Build 22.0407 Please make sure you are selecting the correct specification group when drawing products. There may be specification groups for both metric and imperial. Additions: ...Toolbox Release Notes | Build 22.1.0325.641
The following Release Notes apply to Toolbox Build 22.1.0325.641 Toolfile Resolutions: Resolved an issue in certain post names where the pecking number was not working. Resolved an issue in certain post names where some face 6 machining was falling ...Toolbox Release Notes | Build 22.1.0317.641
The following Release Notes apply to Toolbox Build 22.1.0317.641 Database Resolutions: Resolved an issue where the user experience took longer than necessary to start. Materials Resolutions: Resolved an issue where with formulated materials the ...