In SA version 2024.1 the old Extended Parameter Mesh settings have been replaced with an updated file based meshing solution. This new solution expands the existing General Mesh configuration to offer 3 levels of control:
Semi-Automatic using the General Mesh Settings (described in the prior section)
Manual Controls- where additional parameters are exposed
Fully Automatic - using a JSON file configuration for the meshing process.
At the bottom of the Generate General Mesh dialog is now an option to enable Extended Parameter Meshing.
This meshing process proceeds as follows:
Preprocessing: This step consist in processing the cloud for the meshing: could be reduction, noise filtering, explode by distance to keep the main part.
Initial Meshing: This step will generate the first mesh that will be then improved in the next step. For that, a 3d mesh is created, then hole filling is applied and finally border extension is called to better fit the cloud border.
Post Processing: During this step, a global refine is done to add details in curved area, free borders are smoothed and subdivided, general smoothing can be done. Mesh reduction, to avoid having many triangles in flat areas, is also part of this Post Process Mesh step.
Using the Extended Parameter Settings expands on the initial two parameters used in the general mesh by added 4 additional controls.
Max Triangle Edge. Provides a control over the largest triangle size that will be produced.
Min Refine Edge. Offers a control over the smallest edge length that will be produced
First Pass Deviation. Controls the resolution of the Initial meshing step
Second Pass Deviation. Controls the final resolution of the mesh.
There are 3 presets (Detailed, Normal, and Fast). If you select one of these presets the JSON configuration file can be exported and then edited.
The Import button will not populate these manual control fields but will simply initiate the meshing process using the saved settings in the file.