About Analyzing Surfaces

Curve and surface analysis is used for surface modeling. A surface analysis is performed after curve analysis to check the quality of the surface. Along with the connections that it shares with its adjacent surfaces, a surface needs to be of high quality. This analysis also checks if the surface can be offset by the specified thickness value.

Surface analysis is an iterative process. After modifying or finalizing a shape, you can determine the suitability of the surface model for thickening and production. You can analyze surface properties in both Part and Assembly mode.

Use one of the following options on the Analysis tab to perform a surface analysis:

• Dihedral Angle—Displays the angle between the normals of two surfaces that share an edge. This is an useful check for continuity during the evaluation of neighboring surfaces.

• Point—Evaluates a normal curvature vector at a datum point or a specified point on the surface. Analyzes and reports the curvature, normal, tangent, dihedral edge point, and radius at the selected point on the curve or edge. You can also specify a coordinate system.

• Radius—Displays the minimum radii for a surface. The radius is equal to 1/curvature.

• Curvature—Evaluates and displays the curvature of surface. Mathematically, the curvature is equal to 1/radius.

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Deviation—Displays the deviation from a surface or datum plane to a datum point, curve, or datum point array to which you want to measure the deviation.

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Sections—Evaluates surface continuity, especially across shared boundaries.

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Shaded Curvature—Evaluates and displays the smallest and largest normal curvature for every point on a surface. Color values are assigned in ranges to show curvature. Values towards the red and blue ends of the spectrum indicate maximum and minimum curvatures, respectively.

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Draft—Analyzes a part design to determine if a draft is necessary for the part to be used in a mold. Displays a color plot of the draft.

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Slope—Displays, in color, the slope of a surface relative to a reference plane, coordinate system, curve, edge, or datum axis on a part.

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Reflection—Displays curves that represent the reflection due to linear sources of light on a surface when viewed from the specified direction. The reflection analysis is a shaded analysis. To view changes in the reflection, spin the model and observe the dynamic changes in the display.

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Shadow—Displays a color plot of the shadow area cast by a surface or model on another surface with reference to a datum plane, coordinate system, curve, edge, or axis.