Hypermesh Menus Intro

HyperMesh Introduction: Starting HyperMesh

On PC: Start > Programs > Altair HyperWorks > Altair HyperMesh Shortcut icons Go to \hm\bin\ Right-click hmopengl.exe > create shortcut New shortcut can be renamed, drag and dropped, etc. Windows 2000, XP, etc. can create shortcuts from the Start menu icons

On UNIX: At the prompt, type /scripts/hm Can set up an alias

Copyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.

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HyperMesh Introduction: Starting Directory

By default, HyperMesh uses the start directory for files Reads configuration files (hm.mac, hmmenu.set, etc.) Writes history (command.cmf) Open/save HyperMesh model, FE data, and geometry data files

Start directory determined by: On PC, specified by the programs icon Right click the icon Go to Properties Go to the Shortcut tab A path is specified for Start In: On UNIX: Start directory is the directory where you typed the command to run HyperMesh If configuration files are not found in the start directory, HyperMesh will then look in the users home directory


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HyperMesh Introduction: The User Interface

Graphics area displays the model Toolbar holds a number of tools that are used often, such as collectors, display controls, and the card editor (for analysis setup) Header Bar displays prompts, error messages, etc. Pull Down Menu places functionality into groups, accessible via pull downs Menu Pages divides the main menu into groups based on function Main Menu contains panels grouped in columns Panels menu items / functions for interacting with HyperMesh Sub-panels divide a panel into similar tasks relating to the panels main function Command Window lets the user type in and execute tcl commands

Available through the View drop down menu (turned off by default)

Tab Area contains the following tabs: Solver, Model, Utility, IncludeCopyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.

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HyperMesh Introduction: The User Interface

Pull Down Menus Tab Area:Utility Menu Model Browser Solver Browser Etc.

Graphics Area

Toolbar Header Bar Main Menu

panel

Menu Pages


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HyperMesh Introduction: Online Help

From the help pull down click HyperMesh, OptiStructand Batch Mesher

If accessed while on main menu, help will open the contents If accessed while in a panel, help will open directly to the helpfor that panel

Types of information: How to use individual functions Notes on interfacing HyperMeshwith external data types Tutorials Programming guides Organized by product


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File Operations: The File Pull-down Menu

Open : Loads a HyperMesh file into the current session. Replaces the model in the current HyperMesh session Save : Saves the model in the current HyperMesh session File browser will prompt for a location and file name if one doesnt exist Save As : Opens a file browser to specify a location and name to save the current session Import : Merges / combines files with the model in the current HyperMesh session Various types of files: HyperMesh, geometry (IGES, Step, etc.), finite element data (OptiStruct, Radioss, Nastran, Abaqus, Ansys, LS-Dyna, etc.) Opens a file browser Export : Writes data in the current HyperMesh session to files of types other than HyperMesh IGES, OptiStruct, Radioss, etc. Opens a file browser to specify a location and name Recent Files : A listing of HyperMesh files that have been worked on previously Loads the file and replaces the model in the current session Recent Imports : A listing of files that have been loaded into HyperMesh previously via ImportCopyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.

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File Operations: Panels

Many panels in HyperMesh use file operations Files panelon the toolbar is a prime example hm file : Opens and saves HyperMesh files import : Merges files with the current HyperMesh session export : Writes out data types other than HyperMesh files

Buttons in panels for file operations Buttons with in the name open a file browser Most default to the start directory A field showing the path is in most Can use Ctrl + C, Crtl + X, and Ctrl + V to copy, cut, and paste into the fields

General terminology: Retrieve : Loads a file into HyperMesh replacing the current session Save : Saves the current session contents to the file name specified Import : Loads a file into HyperMesh, merging with the current contents Export : Saves data to the file name specified Generally refers to file types other than a HyperMesh binary fileCopyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Panels: General Layout

Panels often have sub-panels Accessed by radio buttons on the left side of the panel

Panels generally work from left to right Example: Project / to plane sub-panel1) What to do: Pick a sub-panel for the function to be used 2) What to do it to: Select entities that will be affected 3) How to do it: Give parameters that define how the function will be executed 4) Do the action: Execute the function


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Panels: General Layout

Some sub-panels are organized in columns Each column is a different method Work from top to bottom in the relevant column Example: surface edit : trim with surfs/plane sub-panel2) Method to use: Work in the appropriate column 3) What to do it to: Select entities that will be affected 4) How to do it: Give parameters that define how the function will be executed 5) Do the action: Execute the function

1) What to do: Pick a sub-panel for the function to be used


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Panels: Overview

Panels organize and control functionality Each panel focuses on a specific type of function May have sub-panels which are related to the panels focus Contain the controls needed to operate the function

Shortcuts Commonly used panels can be access via the keyboard function keys (F1 F12) Act in an interrupt mode if you are in a panel Can return to the panel you were in Selections made in that panel are remembered

Help for Panels While in a panel, accessing help provides the help for that panel


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Panels: Basic Controls

Switches Allows a choice of several options vis a pop-up menu

Toggles Allows a choice between 2 options No pop-up; button label simply changes

Text input fields Operate like text fields in most programs Can use Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V to copy and paste between fields Double clicking on a text field that requires numbers accesses the calculator Uses reverse notation Example: 1 + 1 = 2 1 1 + instead of 1 + 1 =


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Panels: Selection

Entity selectors Control what and how entities are selected for a functionEntity Type Button Shows the type of entity currently being selected Entity Type Switch Changes what type of entity is being selected Cyan border Indicates the selector is active (there can only be 1 active selector) Clicking the entity type button when it is active accesses the extended selection menuCopyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reset Deselects all entities for the selector

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Panels: Overview

Select entities with a window using Shift + mouse Left mouse drag select entities Right mouse drag unselect entities Left click change window shape

Rectangle Inside Rectangle Outside Polygon Inside Polygon Outside

Entities are selected whenmouse button is released


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Panels: Extended Selection Menu

Click an active selector to access the extended menu selection

The extended menu selection offers Methods for selecting many entities at once Tools for modifying an existing selection Save an existing selection and retrieve it in any panel

Multiple extended selection methods can be used on a selection Allows you to easily select exactly what you wantCopyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Panels: Direction Selection

Used for input of directions or planes for a given function Planes can be selected from a vector (normal to the vector) Directions can be selected from a plane (normal to the plane)Current Direction / Plane Direction Switch Options for what direction is selected Shows a selected axis or inputs for selecting entities to define a direction / plane Reset Deselects the selected nodes Base Select a node to position a selected plane Edit Double click to access and enter coordinates for N1, N2, N3 and Base.15


Panels: Direction Selection: N1, N2, N3

N1, N2, N3 direction option allows nodes to be selected to define either adirection or a plane

Select 2 nodes to define a direction (only N1 and N2) Select 3 nodes to define a plane (N1, N2, and N3)

Plane defined by N1, N2, N3

N3 N2 N1

Direction is normal to plane Positive direction is by right hand rule

N1

N2


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Panels: Execution

Action buttons Green button on right hand side of the panel Execute the (sub-)panels functionality

Rapid menus Middle mouse click to execute an action button bordered in black Always the action button at the top of the list Reduces mouse travel needed to perform functions

Reject Local undo Resets the model to the state before the action was exectuted Not available after returning out of a panel

Return Exits the panel to the menu from which the panel was accessed


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Hypermesh Menus Intro

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