As with all FEA packages, creating a quality finite element mesh is crucial because it directly impacts the accuracy of your analysis. This is especially true in Robot Structural Analysis. Every shell element in your model needs to be meshed, and depending on the geometry, generating a good mesh can be challenging.

Meshes are not generated automatically unless you run the analysis without creating a mesh first. However, it’s always best to generate and inspect the mesh before running the analysis. Failing to do so could lead to wasted time, especially with complex or large models.

To generate a mesh, start by clicking on the Options of FE Mesh Generation button, followed by the Generation of Calculation Model button.

Initially, Robot will create a fairly coarse mesh, which isn’t ideal for accuracy.

Now, we need to refine the mesh. While you can refine it manually, there’s a quicker way to achieve better results. Click on the Tools button, then go to Job Preferences. In the Job Preferences dialog, make sure the Meshing options are selected. Here, you can adjust the default meshing parameters to suit your needs.

Once you’ve made the necessary changes, click the Generation of Calculation Model button again to generate a refined mesh. Review the updated mesh to ensure it meets your requirements before proceeding with the analysis.