# an empty contact node list

**URL:** <https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/an-empty-contact-node-list/100581>\
**Category:** Project Support\
**Created:** [December 10, 2025, 11:16am UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/an-empty-contact-node-list/100581 "2025-12-10T11:16:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pach5a](https://www.simscale.com/forum/letter_avatar/pach5a/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@pach5a](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/pach5a)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 11:16am UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/an-empty-contact-node-list/100581/1 "2025-12-10T11:16:43Z")

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I’m analyzing the load applied to a chair. I’m placing a Fixed Support on the floor and applying a force of -20N to the chair cushion. However, when I run the simulation, I get an “empty contact node list” error. I’m told I need to do an imprint, but I don’t know how to do it. Please help.

 ![image](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/3X/2/4/24a6fcec01c9e43d061337c06cf5e3dc219f7e6a.png)

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**Author:** ![nelta](https://www.simscale.com/forum/letter_avatar/nelta/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@nelta](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/nelta)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/an-empty-contact-node-list/100581/2 "2025-12-13T02:34:14Z")

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Perhaps, the following documentation on [how to perform an imprint operation](https://www.simscale.com/knowledge-base/what-does-imprint-do/) will be useful.

Also, this [short documentation page](https://www.simscale.com/docs/simulation-setup/contacts/) on how to assign contacts may be helpful.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RicardoParis](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/ricardoparis/32/30222_2.png) [@RicardoParis](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/RicardoParis)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/an-empty-contact-node-list/100581/3 "2025-12-18T21:51:46Z")

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Hi,

For additional context, this error shows up when there are no mesh nodes within the defined “Tolerance” for a contact (in your case the contact between the chair and the ground).

Some options:

- Increasing the contact tolerance (Contacts \> \<select contact 1\> \> “Tolerance)
- Having a better contact configuration on the CAD level between the wheels of the chair and the ground. You probably have a ‘cylinder versus plane’ type of contact so the mesh nodes will probably be apart
- Also note that the scale of the CAD model is wrong, because the chair seems to be 100m tall from the image that you posted