diff --git a/applications/utilities/mesh/generation/snappyHexMesh/snappyHexMeshDict b/applications/utilities/mesh/generation/snappyHexMesh/snappyHexMeshDict
index cc975eb970..205c767600 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/mesh/generation/snappyHexMesh/snappyHexMeshDict
+++ b/applications/utilities/mesh/generation/snappyHexMesh/snappyHexMeshDict
@@ -274,6 +274,14 @@ addLayersControls
 
     // Create buffer region for new layer terminations
     nBufferCellsNoExtrude 0;
+
+
+    // Overall max number of layer addition iterations
+    nLayerIter 50;
+
+    // Max number of iterations after which relaxed meshQuality controls
+    // get used.
+    nRelaxedIter 20;
 }
 
 
@@ -335,6 +343,16 @@ meshQualityControls
     nSmoothScale 4;
     //- amount to scale back displacement at error points
     errorReduction 0.75;
+
+
+
+    // Optional : some meshing phases allow usage of relaxed rules.
+    // See e.g. addLayersControls::nRelaxedIter.
+    relaxed
+    {
+        //- Maximum non-orthogonality allowed. Set to 180 to disable.
+        maxNonOrtho 75;
+    }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/autoLayerDriver.C b/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/autoLayerDriver.C
index 8d3c0e1e76..c19e0163d4 100644
--- a/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/autoLayerDriver.C
+++ b/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/autoLayerDriver.C
@@ -2292,7 +2292,7 @@ bool Foam::autoLayerDriver::cellsUseFace
 Foam::label Foam::autoLayerDriver::checkAndUnmark
 (
     const addPatchCellLayer& addLayer,
-    const dictionary& motionDict,
+    const dictionary& meshQualityDict,
     const indirectPrimitivePatch& pp,
     const fvMesh& newMesh,
 
@@ -2304,7 +2304,7 @@ Foam::label Foam::autoLayerDriver::checkAndUnmark
     // Check the resulting mesh for errors
     Info<< nl << "Checking mesh with layer ..." << endl;
     faceSet wrongFaces(newMesh, "wrongFaces", newMesh.nFaces()/1000);
-    motionSmoother::checkMesh(false, newMesh, motionDict, wrongFaces);
+    motionSmoother::checkMesh(false, newMesh, meshQualityDict, wrongFaces);
     Info<< "Detected " << returnReduce(wrongFaces.size(), sumOp<label>())
         << " illegal faces"
         << " (concave, zero area or negative cell pyramid volume)"
@@ -2709,7 +2709,7 @@ void Foam::autoLayerDriver::addLayers
     boolList flaggedCells;
     boolList flaggedFaces;
 
-    while (true)
+    for (label iter = 0; iter < layerParams.nLayerIter(); iter++)
     {
         // Make sure displacement is equal on both sides of coupled patches.
         syncPatchDisplacement
@@ -2951,10 +2951,17 @@ void Foam::autoLayerDriver::addLayers
         }
 
         // Unset the extrusion at the pp.
+        const dictionary& meshQualityDict =
+        (
+            iter < layerParams.nRelaxedIter()
+          ? motionDict
+          : motionDict.subDict("relaxed")
+        );
+
         label nTotChanged = checkAndUnmark
         (
             addLayer,
-            motionDict,
+            meshQualityDict,
             pp,
             newMesh,
 
diff --git a/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/layerParameters/layerParameters.C b/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/layerParameters/layerParameters.C
index ddf162dd0f..dfdc16e919 100644
--- a/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/layerParameters/layerParameters.C
+++ b/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/layerParameters/layerParameters.C
@@ -211,8 +211,24 @@ Foam::layerParameters::layerParameters
     (
         readLabel(dict.lookup("nBufferCellsNoExtrude"))
     ),
-    nSnap_(readLabel(dict.lookup("nSnap")))
-{}
+    nSnap_(readLabel(dict.lookup("nSnap"))),
+    nLayerIter_(readLabel(dict.lookup("nLayerIter"))),
+    nRelaxedIter_(labelMax)
+{
+    if (dict.found("nRelaxedIter"))
+    {
+        dict.lookup("nRelaxedIter") >> nRelaxedIter_;
+    }
+
+    if (nLayerIter_ < 0 || nRelaxedIter_ < 0)
+    {
+        FatalErrorIn("layerParameters::layerParameters(..)")
+            << "Layer iterations should be >= 0." << endl
+            << "nLayerIter:" << nLayerIter_
+            << " nRelaxedIter:" << nRelaxedIter_
+            << exit(FatalError);
+    }
+}
 
 
 // Construct from dictionary
@@ -276,8 +292,24 @@ Foam::layerParameters::layerParameters
     (
         readLabel(dict.lookup("nBufferCellsNoExtrude"))
     ),
-    nSnap_(readLabel(dict.lookup("nRelaxIter")))
+    nSnap_(readLabel(dict.lookup("nRelaxIter"))),
+    nLayerIter_(readLabel(dict.lookup("nLayerIter"))),
+    nRelaxedIter_(labelMax)
 {
+    if (dict.found("nRelaxedIter"))
+    {
+        dict.lookup("nRelaxedIter") >> nRelaxedIter_;
+    }
+    if (nLayerIter_ < 0 || nRelaxedIter_ < 0)
+    {
+        FatalErrorIn("layerParameters::layerParameters(..)")
+            << "Layer iterations should be >= 0." << endl
+            << "nLayerIter:" << nLayerIter_
+            << " nRelaxedIter:" << nRelaxedIter_
+            << exit(FatalError);
+    }
+
+
     const dictionary& layersDict = dict.subDict("layers");
 
     forAll(boundaryMesh, patchI)
diff --git a/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/layerParameters/layerParameters.H b/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/layerParameters/layerParameters.H
index d96ce97cbd..e3d3702bfd 100644
--- a/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/layerParameters/layerParameters.H
+++ b/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/layerParameters/layerParameters.H
@@ -105,6 +105,10 @@ class layerParameters
 
         label nSnap_;
 
+        label nLayerIter_;
+
+        label nRelaxedIter_;
+
 
     // Private Member Functions
 
@@ -196,26 +200,20 @@ public:
                 return nGrow_;
             }
 
-            // Number of smoothing iterations of surface normals 
+            //- Number of smoothing iterations of surface normals 
             label nSmoothSurfaceNormals() const
             {
                 return nSmoothSurfaceNormals_;
             }
 
-            // Number of smoothing iterations of interior mesh movement
-            // direction  
+            //- Number of smoothing iterations of interior mesh movement
+            //  direction  
             label nSmoothNormals() const
             {
                 return nSmoothNormals_;
             }
 
-            // Smooth layer thickness over surface patches
-            label nSmoothThickness() const
-            {
-                return nSmoothThickness_;
-            }
-
-            // Stop layer growth on highly warped cells 
+            //- Stop layer growth on highly warped cells 
             scalar maxFaceThicknessRatio() const
             {
                 return maxFaceThicknessRatio_;
@@ -226,20 +224,26 @@ public:
                 return layerTerminationCos_;
             }
 
-            // Reduce layer growth where ratio thickness to medial 
-            // distance is large 
+            //- Smooth layer thickness over surface patches
+            label nSmoothThickness() const
+            {
+                return nSmoothThickness_;
+            }
+
+            //- Reduce layer growth where ratio thickness to medial 
+            //  distance is large 
             scalar maxThicknessToMedialRatio() const
             {
                 return maxThicknessToMedialRatio_;
             }
 
-            // Angle used to pick up medial axis points
+            //- Angle used to pick up medial axis points
             scalar minMedianAxisAngleCos() const
             {
                 return minMedianAxisAngleCos_;
             }
 
-            // Create buffer region for new layer terminations
+            //- Create buffer region for new layer terminations
             label nBufferCellsNoExtrude() const
             {
                 return nBufferCellsNoExtrude_;
@@ -249,6 +253,24 @@ public:
             {
                 return nSnap_;
             }
+
+            // Overall
+
+                //- Number of overall layer addition iterations
+                label nLayerIter() const
+                {
+                    return nLayerIter_;
+                }
+
+                //- Number of iterations after which relaxed motion rules
+                //  are to be used.
+                label nRelaxedIter() const
+                {
+                    return nRelaxedIter_;
+                }
+
+
+
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/dynamicMesh/motionSmoother/motionSmoother.C b/src/dynamicMesh/motionSmoother/motionSmoother.C
index 18f5c85478..4f40827f4b 100644
--- a/src/dynamicMesh/motionSmoother/motionSmoother.C
+++ b/src/dynamicMesh/motionSmoother/motionSmoother.C
@@ -825,6 +825,28 @@ bool Foam::motionSmoother::scaleMesh
     const bool smoothMesh,
     const label nAllowableErrors
 )
+{
+    return scaleMesh
+    (
+        checkFaces,
+        baffles,
+        paramDict_,
+        paramDict_,
+        smoothMesh,
+        nAllowableErrors
+    );
+}
+
+
+bool Foam::motionSmoother::scaleMesh
+(
+    labelList& checkFaces,
+    const List<labelPair>& baffles,
+    const dictionary& paramDict,
+    const dictionary& meshQualityDict,
+    const bool smoothMesh,
+    const label nAllowableErrors
+)
 {
     if (!smoothMesh && adaptPatchIDs_.empty())
     {
@@ -859,9 +881,9 @@ bool Foam::motionSmoother::scaleMesh
     }
 
     const scalar errorReduction =
-        readScalar(paramDict_.lookup("errorReduction"));
+        readScalar(paramDict.lookup("errorReduction"));
     const label nSmoothScale =
-        readLabel(paramDict_.lookup("nSmoothScale"));
+        readLabel(paramDict.lookup("nSmoothScale"));
 
 
     // Note: displacement_ should already be synced already from setDisplacement
@@ -921,7 +943,7 @@ bool Foam::motionSmoother::scaleMesh
 
     // Check. Returns parallel number of incorrect faces.
     faceSet wrongFaces(mesh_, "wrongFaces", mesh_.nFaces()/100+100);
-    checkMesh(false, mesh_, paramDict_, checkFaces, baffles, wrongFaces);
+    checkMesh(false, mesh_, meshQualityDict, checkFaces, baffles, wrongFaces);
 
     if (returnReduce(wrongFaces.size(), sumOp<label>()) <= nAllowableErrors)
     {
diff --git a/src/dynamicMesh/motionSmoother/motionSmoother.H b/src/dynamicMesh/motionSmoother/motionSmoother.H
index e5777a3664..e4aeac6f50 100644
--- a/src/dynamicMesh/motionSmoother/motionSmoother.H
+++ b/src/dynamicMesh/motionSmoother/motionSmoother.H
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ Description
     @endverbatim
 
 Note
-    Shared points (parallel): a processor can have points which are part of
+    - Shared points (parallel): a processor can have points which are part of
     pp on another processor but have no pp itself (i.e. it has points
     and/or edges but no faces of pp). Hence we have to be careful when e.g.
     synchronising displacements that the value from the processor which has
@@ -61,10 +61,13 @@ Note
     else. The combine operator used will give preference to non-zero
     values.
 
-    Various routines take baffles. These are sets of boundary faces that
+    - Various routines take baffles. These are sets of boundary faces that
     are treated as a single internal face. This is a hack used to apply
     movement to internal faces.
 
+    - Mesh constraints are looked up from the supplied dictionary. (uses
+    recursive lookup)
+
 SourceFiles
     motionSmoother.C
     motionSmootherTemplates.C
@@ -395,6 +398,17 @@ public:
                 const label nAllow = 0
             );
 
+            //- Move mesh with externally provided mesh constraints
+            bool scaleMesh
+            (
+                labelList& checkFaces,
+                const List<labelPair>& baffles,
+                const dictionary& paramDict,
+                const dictionary& meshQualityDict,
+                const bool smoothMesh = true,
+                const label nAllow = 0
+            );
+
             //- Update topology
             void updateMesh();
 
diff --git a/src/dynamicMesh/motionSmoother/motionSmootherCheck.C b/src/dynamicMesh/motionSmoother/motionSmootherCheck.C
index 06996c541f..7fcb9f1e7a 100644
--- a/src/dynamicMesh/motionSmoother/motionSmootherCheck.C
+++ b/src/dynamicMesh/motionSmoother/motionSmootherCheck.C
@@ -28,19 +28,6 @@ License
 #include "polyMeshGeometry.H"
 #include "IOmanip.H"
 
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * Private Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Destructor  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 bool Foam::motionSmoother::checkMesh
@@ -74,17 +61,50 @@ bool Foam::motionSmoother::checkMesh
     labelHashSet& wrongFaces
 )
 {
-    const scalar maxNonOrtho(readScalar(dict.lookup("maxNonOrtho")));
-    const scalar minVol(readScalar(dict.lookup("minVol")));
-    const scalar maxConcave(readScalar(dict.lookup("maxConcave")));
-    const scalar minArea(readScalar(dict.lookup("minArea")));
-    const scalar maxIntSkew(readScalar(dict.lookup("maxInternalSkewness")));
-    const scalar maxBounSkew(readScalar(dict.lookup("maxBoundarySkewness")));
-    const scalar minWeight(readScalar(dict.lookup("minFaceWeight")));
-    const scalar minVolRatio(readScalar(dict.lookup("minVolRatio")));
-    const scalar minTwist(readScalar(dict.lookup("minTwist")));
-    const scalar minTriangleTwist(readScalar(dict.lookup("minTriangleTwist")));
-    const scalar minDet(readScalar(dict.lookup("minDeterminant")));
+    const scalar maxNonOrtho
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("maxNonOrtho", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minVol
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minVol", true))
+    );
+    const scalar maxConcave
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("maxConcave", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minArea
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minArea", true))
+    );
+    const scalar maxIntSkew
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("maxInternalSkewness", true))
+    );
+    const scalar maxBounSkew
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("maxBoundarySkewness", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minWeight
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minFaceWeight", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minVolRatio
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minVolRatio", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minTwist
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minTwist", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minTriangleTwist
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minTriangleTwist", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minDet
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minDeterminant", true))
+    );
 
     label nWrongFaces = 0;
 
@@ -389,17 +409,50 @@ bool Foam::motionSmoother::checkMesh
     labelHashSet& wrongFaces
 )
 {
-    const scalar maxNonOrtho(readScalar(dict.lookup("maxNonOrtho")));
-    const scalar minVol(readScalar(dict.lookup("minVol")));
-    const scalar maxConcave(readScalar(dict.lookup("maxConcave")));
-    const scalar minArea(readScalar(dict.lookup("minArea")));
-    const scalar maxIntSkew(readScalar(dict.lookup("maxInternalSkewness")));
-    const scalar maxBounSkew(readScalar(dict.lookup("maxBoundarySkewness")));
-    const scalar minWeight(readScalar(dict.lookup("minFaceWeight")));
-    const scalar minVolRatio(readScalar(dict.lookup("minVolRatio")));
-    const scalar minTwist(readScalar(dict.lookup("minTwist")));
-    const scalar minTriangleTwist(readScalar(dict.lookup("minTriangleTwist")));
-    const scalar minDet(readScalar(dict.lookup("minDeterminant")));
+    const scalar maxNonOrtho
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("maxNonOrtho", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minVol
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minVol", true))
+    );
+    const scalar maxConcave
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("maxConcave", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minArea
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minArea", true))
+    );
+    const scalar maxIntSkew
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("maxInternalSkewness", true))
+    );
+    const scalar maxBounSkew
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("maxBoundarySkewness", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minWeight
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minFaceWeight", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minVolRatio
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minVolRatio", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minTwist
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minTwist", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minTriangleTwist
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minTriangleTwist", true))
+    );
+    const scalar minDet
+    (
+        readScalar(dict.lookup("minDeterminant", true))
+    );
 
     label nWrongFaces = 0;