More about Wall Thicknesses

Analysis Method

You can choose between two analysis methods:

• Sphere: defines the thickness of the body at a given point as the diameter of the largest sphere that can be included inside the part at this point (default option).
  
  
• Ray: defines the thickness of the body at a given point of a ray that starts at the considered point, that is oriented along the normal to the solid boundary and that points inside the material.
  
  

The part under study determines the method you need to chose.

Tolerance

Tolerance: lets you specify how precise the analysis result will be. For example, if you set the tolerance value to 0.1mm, and the capability calculates 8mm at a given point, the exact thickness is comprised between 7.9 mm and 8.1mm. However, because a tessellated model is used for computation in certain known scenarios the error might be observed to be more than tolerance. This can happen at sharp edges when using Ray.

Sag: is the maximum distance between the geometry and the triangles. Increasing or decreasing the sag value changes the distance of the triangle to the surface. If the sag value is low, the triangles are generated closer to the surface, the tessellation error reduces, but the number of triangles increases on curved surfaces. This results in higher accuracy of thickness values but the computation time will be higher.

Step: controls the length of the triangle. Increasing or decreasing the step value changes the size of the triangles. A low step results in smaller triangles. Consequently, the number of triangles and vertices increases, making the thickness analysis more accurate but slower.

Thread/Tap Analysis

The Thread/Tap Analysis option lets you integrate the threads or taps in the analysis. If the analyzed body contains threaded/tapped holes, their specifications such as type or dimension will be taken into account.

Thin Areas

Clicking this button restricts the display to the minimum threshold value and shares it out among the first ranges of the color scale, clears the display boxes for the upper ranges. Consequently, we only visualize the thinnest thicknesses through a few colors.

Thick Areas

Clicking this button restricts the display to the maximum threshold value and shares it out among the last ranges of the color scale, clears the display boxes for the lower ranges. Consequently, we only visualize the thickest thicknesses through a few colors.

You can edit the thresholds after selecting the check boxes. If these are cleared, the system computes the thresholds.

On the fly

This option lets you dynamically display thickness values as you move your cursor on the part.

Display sphere

This option is available when On the fly is selected. It shows the sphere under the cursor. The sphere diameter is equal to the analysis value on the point.

By default, Display sphere is cleared.

Display ray

This option is available when On the fly is selected. It shows an arrow representing the ray under the cursor.

Discrete

This option is available when On the fly is selected. It shows calculated values only, which ensures accurate results.

Smooth

This option is available when On the fly is selected. It shows all values whatever your cursor position. The displayed thicknesses are interpolated values, which may lead to some inaccurate results.

Transparency

If selected, this option makes all range colors transparent and lets you see the sphere if you chose the Sphere as Thickness display.

No Sharp Edge

This option is only available if you have selected the Sphere mode in the Thickness display. This option is unchecked by default. All thicknesses close to an edge that are under the value indicated will be ignored in the Analysis process and will be displayed in grey.

Reset visual properties

This option restores the default values of all of the parameters of the Options and Colors tabs.

Autoscale

Provides dynamic range scaling for the different values. When the option is selected, you therefore cannot define the different values yourself. By default, Autoscale is selected.

If you prefer to define the different thickness values, just clear the option. This makes the value fields available.

Number

Sets the number of values you want to define the number of ranges. For n values, there are n+1 ranges.

Section Cut

Clicking the Section Cut displays a section plane parallel to absolute coordinates XY. The center of the plane is located at the center of the bounding sphere around the geometry in the selection you defined. A plane has limits and its own local axis system. The letters U, V and W represent the axes. The W axis is the normal vector of the plane.

You can manipulate the plane in a variety of way: re-dimension, move, and rotate it.

By default, Section cut is cleared.

Specified Location

If the On the fly option is selected in the Options tab, the specified location is the location of the displayed indicator. Otherwise, the point will be under the cursor. In both cases, the Specified Location option stores the section position as well as the the computed thickness at the specified location and the analysis mode (sphere or ray).

Add Section

You can create a section through the Add Section option. This section then appears in the panel. This option is only available if the Section Cut functionality is activated. If you add a section through this option, the section will not have any specific related thickness.

Remove Section

Clicking Remove Section deletes any section selected in the panel.

Reframe on Section

You can use Reframe on Section if you find it difficult to locate a displayed section and you want a 3D view to be reframed on it.

Show the Pickable Sections

This option is only visible when the Section Cut is activated. It allows you to see all the sections you have created. You can also see the created sections when the Section Cut option is deactivated by simply hovering the mouse over the pad.