Analyzing Using Highlight Lines

You can create curves on surfaces to analyze the surface shape and curvature.

Before you begin: Open a 3D shape.
  1. From the Analysis section of the action bar, click Highlight Lines Analysis .
  2. Select one or more surfaces to analyze.
  3. Select the highlight type.
    • Tangent: The system draws a series of curves on the surface. At all points along a given curve, the angle between the local principal tangent to the surface and the Robot Z or W axis is constant. The angular spacing between each curve is given by the Angle Pitch value. The origins of the curves are the points on the surface at which the Robot Z or W axis is normal.



    • Normal: The system draws a series of curves on the surface. At all points along a given curve, the angle between the local normal to the surface and the Robot Z or W axis is constant. The spacing between each curve represents a change in the angle of the local normal given by the Angle Pitch value. The origins of the curves are the points on the surface at which the Robot Z or W axis is normal.



    Right-click a line to convert it into a curve. The curves appear in the tree as datum elements.

  4. Click OK. The analysis is added to the tree and will be updated automatically whenever you modify any of the input elements.