Hard Points (FEM mode)
Click Home and then click the arrow next to 
Control. Click 
Hard Point. The Hard Point Control dialog box opens. Use this control to define a datum point as a hard point. If you define a point this way, the mesh generator treats it as part of the mesh, creating nodes and defining elements accordingly.
Control. Click Hard Point. The Hard Point Control dialog box opens. Use this control to define a datum point as a hard point. If you define a point this way, the mesh generator treats it as part of the mesh, creating nodes and defining elements accordingly.Specify the following information in the dialog box:
• Name—Specify a name for the control or use the default name.
• References—Select one or more points, a feature of points, or a pattern of points so that the mesh generator can use it to place an element node or nodes. You can select the valid geometry before or after opening the Hard Point Control dialog box. The References collector displays your selections.
• Node ID—Specify the node ID. This option is available only when you select a single point. When the mesh is complete, the number replaces the node ID for the selected hard point. You can define a hard point without specifying a node ID.
For hierarchical meshes, make sure your model includes part-level hard points wherever you want to create connections for pre-meshed assembly components.
The mesh generator only respects the hard point mesh controls if you apply them to unmeshed components. If a component has a mesh, the mesh generator silently ignores these mesh controls.
You can create notes associated with specific hard points. The notes you create transfer to the NASTRAN or ANSYS output deck as comments.
Return to Controlling a FEM Mesh.