Release Notes for Coreform Cubit 2025.1

Coreform Cubit 2025.1 contains new features and updates in the areas of meshing and geometry, along with several file format improvements. (Download Coreform Cubit here.)

Released: 15 January 2025

Improved robustness while meshing with background Exodus sizing

The accuracy of sizes in resulting meshes is now improved by correcting an issue with associating sizing information from a background Exodus mesh to the resulting mesh.

For more information, see:  Exodus II-based Field Function

Lower bound interval setting now respected when triangle meshing

When triangle meshing it is now possible to use the lower bound interval setting to ensure a minimum number of elements along a curve. Previously, this setting was only effective when doing quadrilateral meshing.

For more information, see: Interval Constraints

New sizing option for tetmesh respect

When adding a node to be respected for tet meshing, it is now possible to specify a size with that node. When given a size, the resulting tets surrounding that node will have a size matching the user supplied size. This may be useful when wanting refinement at certain locations within a tet mesh.

For more information, see: Tetmesh

New command to create a frustum fit to a volume

[Create] Frustum Volume [axis]

The above command creates a frustum that tightly fits the input volume. The axis of the frustum is automatically computed. In most cases it will be correct but in complicated cases that are not correct, users can guide the creation by supplying the optional axis parameter.

Bounding frustum created for a volume

For more information, see: Creating Frustums

Enhanced command to create a cylinder fit to a volume

[Create] Cylinder Volume [axis]

The previous version of the command required the input volume to contain cylindrical or circular features to guide the cylinder creation. This is no longer required. Additionally, an optional axis parameter has been added to guide the cylinder creation in the even an incorrect axis is computed.

For more information see: Creating Cylinders

New options to specify an axis

Now curves can be specified to define an axis. An axis can be defined from curves of type arc or helix. Additionally, curves of type spline with a constant curvature can define an axis.

An ‘axis’ can now be selected via an arc, helix, or spline curve with constant radius

For more information see: Specifying an Axis

Additional use cases supported with surface slot reductions

The reduce surface slot capability has been improved to handle more use cases. This includes a more robust way to determine surface splitting locations, the ability to split across surfaces thicker than the specified radius, and the ability to split non-planar surfaces, such as conical surfaces. A method to find split locations based on constant width regions of a surface has been deprecated and removed.

For more information see: Reduce Slot Surface

Export Patch Data command

The Export Patch Data command is introduced to assist users in saving or previewing data from the reduce bolt patch process, commonly utilized in structural dynamics (SD) for specifying contact instead of fasteners in modal simulations. This command supports the generation of data for Morph input decks or simulation purposes, including the creation of a .csv file.

Export Patch Data [{csv|morph|BOTH}] [surface ] [lower name ] [upper name ] [sideset_naming_convention ] [full] [overwrite]

This command allows for the specification of output format. By default, both CSV and Morph input data are written to a file. Selecting csv generates only a CSV file, including a header with named patch surfaces listed as pairs, the distance between these pairs, and the x-y-z coordinates of the contact pairs’ center. Choosing morph outputs only the Morph input data, containing essential information for the Morph tet meshing tool.

For more information see: Reduce Bolt Patch

Error detection when writing large .cub files

Coreform Cubit (.cub) files have a 4GB addressing limitation and Coreform Cubit will now detect on attempt to write out files exceeding this limit. When this limit is detected, an error is printed out. This will help users know that their file is unreadable.

For more information, see: Saving Coreform Cubit Sessions

Corrections in Abaqus file export for mixed meshes

Coreform Cubit now exports a corrected Abaqus file when writing mixed meshes. When writing both hexes and tets to a file, the id numbering for elements could be reset to 1 part way through the file. Coreform Cubit now gives the correct ID to elements in a mixed mesh.

For more information, see: Exporting Abaqus Files

Tab indented Python scripts now supported

When a Python script contains tab indentation as opposed to indenting with spaces, Cubit® can now process the script correctly. This means Cubit® can now handle those files the same as if the Python interpreter was used to process those files.

New CubitInterface function

get_nearby_entities

This new function, available through the Coreform Cubit Python interface, allows a user to get the list of nearby entities of type curve, surface or volume. For example, given a volume, find all the volumes that are closer than a specified distance.

For more information, see: Coreform Cubit Python API

OpenMC Lost Particle Visualization in Coreform Cubit

Integration update with OpenMC allows you to use a Python script to visualize lost particles in Coreform Cubit.

Access the tutorial here

Viewing neutron sources and particle information for OpenMC

• Fixed: Quad aspect ratio is wrong for convex quads
• Fixed: Right-click ‘select chamfer chains’ taking too long
• Fixed: Webcut with general plane case not working
• Fixed: Diagnose Geometry tab doesn’t consider sheet bodies
• Fixed: gui gives incorrect command for sweep surface with target plane
• Fixed: Holes not completely identified
• Fixed: Python loop issue, cut & paste script works, but running it doesn’t
• Fixed: Make Coreform Cubit/Python in GUI put focus back in command tab
• Fixed: Transform mesh input translate with negative direction doesn’t work
• Fixed: Unexpected behavior in cubit.set_element_variable in Cubit Beta
• Fixed: Paving break-out every time
• Fixed: Logging and CubitMessage::print_debug
• Fixed: Not saving graphics tolerance between sessions
• Fixed: Element variables not correct
• Fixed: Fix finding missing curve overlap of nearly linear spline curves
• Fixed: Edge case abaqus export problem
• Fixed: Exodus sizing function not working with pave scheme
• Fixed: Cubit unable to process a python file
• Fixed: Lower bound intervals not respected on trimesh
• Fixed: Sweeping having trouble with reversals
• Fixed: Coreform Cubit and VTK/Conda environment issue
• Fixed: Remove mesh intersection crashes with a free mesh
• Fixed: Odd Behavior with fillets and selecting surfaces
• Fixed: Aprepro bug
• Fixed: Reduce bolt not finding bottom volume correctly
• Fixed: Add check to prevent cub files going over 4GB and becoming corrupted
• Fixed: Edge swapping not working on higher order elements (tri6/7s)
• Fixed: Use hardcopy command in a python script to find bad mesh or geometry
• Fixed: Graph linew regression
• Fixed: Standalone aprepro from seacas installation gives an error about FileExist.

The Coreform Cubit online documentation may be found here. The Coreform Cubit GUI installation also includes the full user documentation included with the program. The user’s manual may be accessed from the Help menu.