Performing Draft Analysis

You can use the Draft Analysis tool to calculate the angle between faces of an object, evaluating where molded parts face resistance separating from molds.


Before you begin: You need to create a new object or open an existing object to perform a draft analysis on it.
  1. From the Tools section of the action bar, click Draft Analysis to open the draft analysis tool.

    You can click Edit Draft Analysis to open the Draft Analysis dialog box and edit the parameters.

  2. In the work area, select a plane on an object to define a direction of pulling.
  3. To reverse the pull direction, click . Alternatively, you can click the arrow in the work area.
    Selected plane defining pulling direction Reverse pulling direction




  4. Optional: Click Parting line analysis to specify 0 degrees of angle.
    The Angle field is hidden.
  5. Optional: In the Angle field, specify a pull angle 0–90 degrees .

    The Angle field is only available when Parting line analysis selection is cleared.

    Angle value at to 0 degrees

    Angle value at to 10 degrees

    The draft results are illustrated by the following default colors in the work area.

    Positive Draft - Green Displays where the angle of the face is less than 90 degrees with respect to the pull direction, minus the angle.
    Negative Draft - Red Displays where the angle of the face is greater than 90 degrees with respect to the pull direction, plus angle.
    Needs Draft - Yellow Displays where the angle of the face is 90 degrees with respect to the pull direction, plus or minus the angle.

  6. To change the colors that are displayed in the draft analysis result:
    1. In the Draft Analysis dialog box, click a draft color.
    2. Drag the slider to select a color.
    3. Drag the circular handle to choose the shade for the selected color.

    Alternatively, enter the decimal or hexadecimal value of a color.

    Tip: If you have a specific color to use, enter the color value in the field.

    Note: Any colors that you assigned continue to be used next time Draft Analysis is opened.

  7. Click .

    Note: To close the draft analysis tool, from the Tools section of the action bar, click Draft Analysis .