Software to improve the geometry of STL or STEP meshes?

[LCform]

Hi All

I have to export my solidworks model as STEP or STL models, to use in FEM analysis in another software, since I want to do 2D axissymetric analysis, it has to cut the geoemtries, and .... as a result, you know how the triangular mesh of the CAD model would be cut by a plane?? just arbitrarily? it might give very poor results, for that I should mesh geometry before importing in FEM analysis, so Solidworks gives me option to make a more dense mesh on STL model , BUT this mesh is for example for a cylinder, is very dense in the perimeter and very large in the height, I mean very long triangles that are set beside each other very tight

I wish it's clear in this photo

but I need it more dense that if you cut it with a plane it doesn't give a bad result

the FEM software has a poor feature for geometry mesh , before doing the FEM mesh , but I need a better one, any one has experience ?

 

[LCform]

Let me complete the question , is engrid or openFOAM a software that could help me ?

 

[LCform]

just to mention , I need a open source software for this, I wish it exists

 

[TheTick]

Why not just take the complete model into the FEA software and mesh there? The mesh control is certainly better in the FEA software.

 

[LCform]

the mesh I am mentioning is not the FEA mesh, it's the geometry mesh , that is produced in STL or STEP files to define the geometry

 

[TheTick]

I know that. Stop doing that. It's a poor way to do the job. Conversation over.

 

[LCform]

ok , but , you can't immagine how bad is the quality of surface mesh in the FEM software, when I appliy 2D axissymetric , big parts of the model disapear, due to bad intersection with the symmetry plane , thank you for your attention

but I wait for others to see what they say, I also would appreciate to hear your reason that why it is a poor way, if you wished to say that

 

[GRF]

Create drawing of the part/assembly. Create a section view of the area you want to import. Create a sketch that copies all the lines. Then export that out as a DXF. Since you are only running a 2D simulation a DXF should work for you.