Creating a Relation Layer

You can create a relation layer to bind two other layers, the one directly above and the one directly below.

See Also
About Objects in Layered Product Design
  1. If required, switch to optimized mode.
  2. From the Model section of the action bar, click Relation Layer and select a layer group.
  3. Alternatively, double-click a relation layer in the tree.
    Edition mode is started. Operation mode is the same as for the creation, except that the dialog box is filled with the values of the current layer.
  4. Optional: Replace the default name RelationLayer.n with a more significant one.
  5. Position the relation layer:
    1. Select a layer.
    2. Select either Above the layer or Below the layer.
  6. Choose how to apply the Density.
    • Surfacic. Given per m2.
    • Linear. Given per m.
      Note: For Linear, the glue pattern geometry is made of not closed wires. Their length is used to compute the weight of the relation layer.
    The unit of Density is automatically updated.
  7. From the color editor, pick the color to display the layer.
  8. Click to select a material.
  9. Optional: Select the Hide all except this layer check box.
  10. Define as many Density Groups as required. For each:
    1. Enter a Name.
    2. Enter a Density (kg_m2)
    3. Create an Area as a sketch, a pattern, or a symmetry.
    4. Create a Glue Pattern as a sketch, a pattern, or a symmetry.
    5. Click to add another density group.

    • If you only define an area, this area is extruded between the impacted layers.
    • If you define an area and a glue pattern, the glue pattern contained in the area is extruded between the impacted layers.

    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.

  11. Validate.
    A RelationLayer node (named after your input) is added to the tree at the last position of the stacking. It contains
    • A Material Properties set
    • A Parameters set, to be populated with your parameters, those of the sketch or of the rectangular pattern (if any).
    • A Relations set
    • A Layer Geometry Set
    • A Layer Domains Set
      Note: Order of layer domains is not guaranteed, but this does not impact the design.

    A relation layer is exposed to EKL, with extra methods to get the impacted layers. This information can be reused in downstream process.