Need advice with 3D Magnetostatic problem

[TheDude]

Hello,
I am new to FEM and Elmer.

My problem is this: a number of cylindrical permanent magnets, all of the same size and material, sitting upright, arranged in a near-circular ring, sandwiched between two metal plates (of a different magnetic material). I know the coordinates of their centers. They are arranged such that the distance between them is less than the radius of the cylinder.

I want the magnetic field in a plane parallel to the bottom plate.

What is the best strategy to tackle this problem?

I think generating the mesh is the hardest part. It should be easy to mesh each cylinder and the top and bottom plates (but see below). But how to generate the mesh *between* them?

Also, the plates have a curved outline. How to generate that mesh?

I can import the geometries from CAD.

Thanks in advance.

[kevinarden]

salome is my top choice for meshing. It also has its own tutorial.