Creating Swept Volumes

You can create swept volumes that collectively plot the position of the selected part at each step of the simulation.

Swept volumes are created on three-dimensional products or parts. After the sweep plots the position of the selected part at each step in the simulation, it connects the discrete position plots with continuous geometry based on the specified interpolation options. The result is a smooth three-dimensional body.

Before you begin:
  • Generate the scenario results of a kinematics simulation to have them appear under the Result node.
  • Make sure the scenario result that you want to trace is the current one. To set the scenario result as the current one, right-click it and select Set as Current.
See Also
Computing and Generating Results
About Traces
  1. From the Result section of the action bar, click Swept Volume .
  2. In the tree, select a scenario result.
  3. To select the elements to sweep, do one of the following:
    • To select individual elements from the scenario result, select the elements in the tree.
    • To select individual elements from the scenario result, click the icon next to the Element(s) to sweep field, and select the elements.
    • To select all moving elements from the scenario result, in the Sweep All area of the dialog box, select Sweep all moving products.
    The selected elements are highlighted in the tree and the total number selected is displayed in the dialog box in Element(s) to sweep.
    Note: It is possible to generate the swept volume of non-moving elements around moving elements. To do so, remove every moving element from the Element(s) to sweep field and select, in the product structure view, the non-moving elements to sweep.
  4. Optional: Select the Reference product. By default, the main product is selected in Reference product. The motion of the sweep will be relative to the motion of the reference product. For more information, see Volume Computation User's Guide: About Swept Volumes.

    Note: To generate the swept volume of non-moving elements, select a moving element as Reference product.

  5. Optional: To interpolate the mechanism positions, select Filter Positions, and enter the maximum distance between positions in Filtering precision.

    Although the kinematics animation includes mechanism positions for only discrete time increments, the volume sweep can interpolate the positions of the mechanism between these increments to generate a smoother shape.

  6. Optional: To prevent interpolation of the mechanism positions, clear Filter Positions.
  7. To create an envelope around the selected parts, select Enable Wrapping, and enter a grain value in Wrapping grain .
  8. To simplify the representation of the selected parts, select Enable simplification, and enter an accuracy value.

    Important: The simplification is available only if Enable Wrapping is selected.

  9. Click OK.
    The swept volume opens in a new tab. In the kinematics simulation tab, Swept Volume is created under the current scenario result.
    Important: The swept volume is associated with the simulation result. If the latter is modified, you can update the swept volume (the Update mask appears on the icon) by right-clicking it in the tree and selecting Update. The swept volume opens in a new tab and is updated in the original tab.

    In the following example, the Swept Volume appears under the Result of Scenario. The Swept Volume, identified by the 3D Shape , is the link to the geometric representation of the sweep.



  10. To display an existing swept volume, right-click the swept volume representation in the tree, and select Display Representation.
    The swept volume opens in a new tab.
  11. To update a swept volume, right-click the swept volume in the tree and do either of the following:
    • Select Update to update not only the scenario and its results, but also the products and assemblies. It may be time consuming, especially for large models.
    • Select Local Update to only update the scenario and the selected post-processing (swept volumes).

    Note: Alternatively, use the Computation and Generate Results commands (local or global update) to update swept volumes.

    The swept volume opens in a new tab. In the Mechanical Systems Experience tab, Swept Volume is updated.