Creating a Profile Layer by Zones

You can create a profile layer defined by zones of material repartition, and transitions zones.

This task shows you how to:

Define the Profile Layer

You can select or draw geometries to define the global contour of the profile layer, and the channels corresponding to specific no material zones.

  1. From the Model section of the action bar, click Profile Layer.
  2. Select the layer group where the profile layer is created.
  3. Optional: Replace the default name Profile Layer.n with a more significant one.
  4. Specify a material.
    • Either click to select a material.
    • Or select a material from the list of material already loader in the session.
  5. Define the contours.
    • Select existing contours.
    • Or create and edit sketches.

    For more information on working with the Sketcher, see 3D Modeling Core: Sketcher.

    Note: Click Parameters in the tree to create parameters from the context toolbar.

  6. Define the channels: Create a sketch positioned on the defined plane, with the origin and u,v direction retrieved from the stacking definition. It represents the layer boundary.
    • Either select existing geometries.
    • Or create and edit sketches.
    • Or create and edit symmetries.

    For more information on working with the Sketcher, see 3D Modeling Core: Sketcher.

  7. If the layer does not share the same machine direction as the stacking,
    • Press Rotate: +90deg.
    • Or select Invert machine direction.
  8. From the color editor, pick the color to display the layer.
  9. Optional: Hide all elements except the profile layer.

Define Zones

You can define zones by one or several geometries, delimited by the contours, and that respect the channels.

  1. For each listed zone, expand the section and specify the data as follows.
  2. Select the Transition check box to specify a zone as a transition zone. Clear the check box to specify the zone as default.

    The material is evenly distributed on default zones. On transition zones, the material is distributed to link default zones.

  3. Select the Deactivate check box to deactivate the zone. Clear the check box to activate the zone.
  4. Optional: Replace the default name Profile Zone.n with a more significant one.
  5. Define the contour.
    • Either create a sketch positioned on the defined plane, with the origin and u,v direction retrieved from the stacking definition. It represents the layer boundary.

      For more information on working with the Sketcher, see 3D Modeling Core: Sketcher.

    • Or create a pattern from a predefined empty sketch. You can add geometry. The geometry is aggregated under the layer, inside a dedicated node.

      For more information on creating patterns, see Patterning.

    • Or create a symmetry.
  6. Select Driving to make the zone a driving zone. Otherwise the zone is driven.
    • The mention (driving) is added in the section title.
    • The design parameter (Mass, Percentage, or Area density) is fixed and not affected when you click Distribute.
    • On a driven zone, the design parameter is variable, and adjusted when you click Distribute.
  7. From the list, select the type of the driving parameter, and key in the corresponding value.
    • Mass: Mass of material evenly distributed on the surface of the zone.
    • Percentage: Ratio of the mass of the zone with respect to the mass of the layer.
    • Area density: Surfacic mass distribution of the zone.

Manage Zones

You can organize zones and distribute the remaining mass.

  1. Manage the zones.
    • Adds a zone.
    • Removes a zone.
    • Moves a zone up.
    • Moves a zone down.
  2. Specify a view mode.
    • Grid enables selection of zones in the 3D area.
    • Solid corresponds to the final result of the profile layer.
  3. Specify the density of the profile layer.
  4. Click Distribute.
    The mass not yet distributed by driving zones is distributed on every driven zone.

Work from the 3D area

You can perform some of the above actions from the 3D area.

  1. Specify the view mode as Grid.
  2. From the 3D area
    1. Select a zone to locate and modify it.
    2. Specify the selected zone as transition or normal.
      Transition zones are identified in the 3D area.
    3. Specify a zone as driving or driven by its parameter.
    4. Specify the type of the parameter and its value.

    For more information, see Define Zones.