Metric of solid
When calculating the dimensions of solid parts (Solid 3d), my plugins calculate and preserve the so-called metric of solid. The metric allows you to distinguish the details from each other and find the parts mirror to each other. If all the data in the metric is the same - then the program will assume that it is the same part. Although in fact there may be a mistake, because the accuracy of the calculations is limited.
Use the Lay, Saw, AVCNum or SolSize commands to measure solids. All these commands will record the results in xData of solids and you will see them in the Metric section if you install the A>V>C> Properties Palette. The metric consists of three sections, each of which can be collapsed in the panel if it is not needed: Calculations, Covers, Edge Bandings.
Calculations
Length - maximum of the three overall dimensions.
Width - third of the three overall dimensions
Thickness - minimum of the three overall dimensions
Volume - real volume of solid (not product dimensions). In the millimeter drawing, the area will be converted into cubic meters.
Area - the area of the greatest flat face of the part. You can use it to calculate the quantity of materials. In the millimeter drawing, the area will be converted into square meters.
Perimeter - perimeter of the outer contour of the largest flat face of the part. You can use it to count the number of edges. In the millimeter drawing, perimeter will be recounted into meters.
Faces - number of faces of the solid.
Asymmetry - Indicator asymmetrical: the distance from the boxing center to the center of mass. It allows you to identify the offset holes, and others.
AsymVector - The direction of the center of the box to the center of mass in three dimensions XYZ. It differs from the mirrored parts
Technology - Method of manufacturing parts. At the moment, the algorithm is as follows:
Sweep - if done, marked as Sweep (unfolded).
Box - parallelogram without holes.
Saw - all the faces of the part are flat and there are no more than six of them.
Milling - all faces are flat or cylindrical.
Double-sided - the same as milling, but it is required to process the part not only from front, but also from rear.
3D milling - detected 3d faces more complex than the cylinder.
Unrecognized - the program could not decide on the choice of processing technology.
Thus, in most cases, you can easily select the parts that can be made on a sliding table saw using tilt of saw blade. Or you can easily select details those that can be made on a 2D+ CNC-milling cutter. Of course, this simple algorithm does not cover 100% of the cases. Therefore, the results of this algorithm should be treated critically, the responsibility always remains on the engineer and technologist.
Weight - is the product of solid volume by the density of a given material. It is important to correctly set the density of the material in its properties. For millimeter drawings, the volume is converted to cubic meters, so the density must be recorded in kilograms per cubic meter. In inch and other drawings, there is no conversion and the density is set in your local weight units divided by the cubic unit of the drawing. For example, pounds per cubic inch. Do not forget to set the InsUnits variable correctly in the template of your drawings.
Price - the cost of the material of the part plus the cost of all covers plus the cost of all edges. It is calculated with the reserves specified in the Common Options. It is important to correctly set the cost of materials: for sheets and covers - the price per square meter or square inch, for moldings, rods and bandings - you need the price per linear meter/inch. For all other materials (when the purpose is not specified), the price is calculated according to the volume of the part (cubic meters or cubic inches)
All these properties - read only. And they will all be zero, until the solid measurement is made. Call one of the commands: Lay, Saw, AvcNum or SolSize. Then the solid will be measured and the dimensions will be retained within the solid (in xData). Now program can show the metric. Any change in solid, as well as in moving and copying, metrics will be reset to zero. And again you will have to call the measurement command. Automatic measurement is not implemented because it strong loads AutoCAD and takes a long time. After you change the properties of the SWEEP as required manually call one of the measurement commands too.
Covers
The section contains a list of covered faces. The list always contains the front and rear of the part. The remaining surfaces are listed only if you have already assigned them a cover material. There are three columns in the list:
surface name/number,
surface area (square meters or square inches)
material. You can assign material to these surfaces directly from the properties panel. To assign covers to other surfaces, select them in the drawing and use the Face tab. The list of materials contains only covers and bandings. You can introduce new material right here. You can replace the material at once on all surfaces - use the line "All". When assigning a material, the program A>V>C> Properties Palette can replace the face color too to see cover in all visual styles. This is customizable in the palette options.
The program can highlight the surface in the drawing that the mouse pointer is hovering over in the table. However, this resets the highlighting of the selected solids. If this bothers you, you can turn off the highlight.
Edge bandings
The section contains a table of the edges of the part. When measuring solid, the program bypasses the outer perimeter of the front plane and compiles a list of faces adjacent to it. These faces are excluded from the list of covers.The edges are always listed in traversal order, starting from the bottom left point of the contour. That is, the left side of the rectangle is edge number 1. This means the left side of the part laid out by the Layout program (LAY). The position of the edges in the initial assembly does not matter; the LAY usually turns the parts over (depending on the settings and order of the surfaces in the internal structure of the solid). The rotation of parts with texture = “across” and the mark “mirror” are also taken into account. The number of edges is not limited, it will not necessarily be 4. The program is not designed to work with complex parts, in which the front surface is cut into parts by dadoes, etc. Only faces adjacent to one main front face will be included in the list, even if this is the edge of the dado. In Common Options, you can enable and configure the letter names of the ends (L-left, T-top, and so on). Then the ends at the edges of the contour, directed strictly along X and Y, will receive a letter instead of an index. If you select more than one part in a drawing, the program usually shows only these 4 main edges. Since the part in the assembly is unfolded differently than on the layout, it is better not to rely on these names, but to look at the highlighting of the surface in the drawing when moving the mouse over the table.
There are 4 columns in the table:
the number of the edge in the bypass order. You cannot change this order in any way.
the edge length. More precisely, this is the length of the edge of the front plane. Millimeters or inches.
the edge material. The drop-down list only covers and bandings. You can introduce new material right here. You can replace all materials on all edges at once - use the line "All".
the angle of inclination of the saws. If the end face is flat and not perpendicular to the front plane, then a column with an angle of inclination will appear. It is measured as on a sawing (format) machine - from the vertical in degrees. A positive number means that the slope is visible, turned in the same direction as the front plane. Negative - that the slope from the bottom is turned away to the other side of the front plane. Please note that the LAY program can lay a part face down. Then the NC-prepare program will make a mark "from below" at the edge with a positive angle of inclination.
Edge numbers are used to index substitutions. If you need to write the material of the longest edge to the table, then use index 1 - %edgemat1% substitution. Read more here.
Metric measurement rules
The measurement program is made for use in the design of sheet material parts. These parts always have a main plane, on which it is determined how to lay out the part. This algorithm does not work for spheres, tors, shafts and sculptural details. The program can measure the simplest sweep of bent parts, but they must be specially marked. To do this, you need the Names plugin.
The program is looking at each solid front (main) surface. This surface should be in the XY plane on the LAY command. When choosing a front side, surfaces are given an advantage in the following order of priorities:
Flat faces. If suddenly the program ignores the face, check that during the explosion it turns into a Region, and not in the Surface.
Faces having an oppositely directed pair. Thus, any inclined ends are discarded.
A surface marked with color (even if it is small). Thus, you can force the program to select the face you want.
Maximum in area. Thus, faces with blind holes and dadoes are sifted out.
The coating material is assigned. You can assign material to laminated or painted surfaces and they will be considered front side. But this will work when choosing one of two identical large surfaces. Thus, you can easily assign materials to the edges - the part will not stand on the end when laying out.
Initially turned up (top-side priority). This will help to lay out the details of the catwalks and floors. Also works only for the same largest surfaces.
Color marking and top-side priority can be turned off in Common Options.
In addition, the part rotate around Z so that the longest edge of the solid extends along the X axis (or Y if the Texture property is = Across). When searching for the longest edge, the priority of the right angles is taken into account. Those a rectangular triangle will not be laid along the hypotenuse. Only after laying and rotating the program measures the smallest box, which will fit solid. Dimensions of this box along the axes XYZ are considered the dimensions of the part. The largest dimension is length, medium - wide and least - thickness. The volume is also calculated only after the layout. AutoCAD can give different volumes when you rotate the same solid. The distance from the center of the box to the real center of mass of the part is considered an indicator of asymmetry. For simple boxes, this distance is zero. If the parts have identical metrics, but different directions of asymmetry - then it is considered that the parts are mirror to each other.
Note that the area and perimeter are not calculated for the entire solid, at the same time for one largest flat surface, which the program considers the base. Usually this is the area of the facade of the part.