Using the Reach Envelope

You can evaluate the manikin's hand, finger, or foot reachability.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: It is particularly useful in facilitating Product design and review. A reach envelope is a surface that represents all the possible positions the manikin can reach.
  • Create maximum reach envelopes for the hand or the foot. These calculate based on the length and the ranges of motions of the segments. Start from the shoulder joint (for the upper body segments) or the hip joint (for the lower body segments).
  • Create reach zones for grasping based on requirement (PER), using for delimiting 4 distinct reach zones or working (grasping) areas: Primary - high repetitive access, Secondary - frequent access, Secondary Maximum - occasional access, Tertiary - Seldom Access.
  • This includes the reach envelope in the clash detection algorithm.

Maximum Reach Envelopes

You can represent the maximal reach of the tip of the hand. This includes Auricular, Annular, Middle Finger, Index, Thumb, and Hand (center of grip), or foot segments (Heel, Sole, and Toes).

  1. Click Reach Envelope .
    The command prompt requests Select a Hand, a finger, or a foot
  2. Select:
    • The manikin's right hand.

      The reach envelope, a surface representing the maximum reach limit, creates around the shoulder joint.
    • The manikin's left foot.

      The reach envelope, a surface representing the maximum reach limit, creates around the hip joint.

    Note: The reach envelope computation takes the IK offset of the selected segment into account. (For more information about offset functionality, see Creating, Redefining, Selecting Segment Offsets.) This enables you to create the reachability of the tip of a tool. An example, if the offset of the hand has previously relocated to a point on the tool. The arm's angular limitations and preferred angles influences the reach.

  3. Right-click the reach envelope and select Delete to delete the reach envelope.

Manipulate the Manikin

You can represent the maximal reach and with moving the manikin the reach envelope follows.

Manipulate the manikin's spine using the Posture Editor, the IK Mode, or the Standard Pose command.
The reach envelope follows.