Performing a Leveling Analysis

This task describes how to calculate a Leveling analysis.
Contents: 

In addition to the Gap Analysis, it is possible to check adjacent filleted surface clusters for their level differences resp. gap width. Different methods of extending the selected objects the are available for computing the deviation between source and target:

 

 
Open the Leveling Analysis.CATPart document.

  1. Click the Leveling Analysis icon .

    The 'Leveling Analysis' dialog box is displayed.

 

Creating a Leveling Analysis with extended surface

 

  1. Select the option None as Source Extension and the option Tangential as Target Extension.
    Specify the value 1 for Scale and change the Envelope color to blue.
 

  1. Select surface Source.1 as Source and surface Target.1 as Target (selection field Tangential).
 

  1. Click Apply to create the Leveling Analysis with extended surface.
 

Creating a Leveling Analysis with extended edge

 

  1. Select the option Edge as Source Extension and the option None as Target Extension.
 

  1. Select the edges of the surfaces Source.2 to 5 as Source (selection field Edge),
    the surfaces Source.2 to 5 as Support, and
    the edges of the surfaces Target.2 to 5 as Target.
 

  1. Click Apply to create a Leveling Analysis with extended edge.
 

Creating a Leveling Analysis with extended edge and extended surface

 

  1. Select the option Tangential as Target Extension.

  2. Select via the selection field Tangential the surface Target.1.

  3. Click Apply to create a Leveling Analysis with extended edge and extended surface.
 

The Dialog box Leveling Analysis

You can define the following options:
  • Source/Target: Selection of the original elements for the leveling measurement with Source and Target Extension None.
  • Edge: For the leveling measurement with the Source and Target extension Edge and Edge max. can be selected curves and edges.
    • Support: The curves or edges selected via Edge need the additional selection of a support surface.
  • Tangential: Selection of Target surfaces for the Target Extension Tangential.
  • Source and Target Extension: For determining their level difference or gap width, source and target can be extended by the following methods:
    • None: No extension of the Source/Target: Source and/or Target will not be extended. The deviation is computed directly in relation to the selected geometry object.
    • Extension of a Source or Target Edge: The surfaces selected as support are extended by moving forward the curves or edges selected as Source and/or Target in a way that a theoretical edge is resulting. Afterwards, this theoretical edge is used for calculating the deviation.
      You can choose between two methods for determining the theoretical edge:
      • Edge max.: The edge will be moved maximally. For each point on the selected edge, the point on the opposite surface edge is searched along the iso-curve. The tangents in both points are created and their intersection point is computed. The connection of all intersection points results in the theoretical edge.
      • Edge: The edge is moved forward in way that the tangents form an angle of 90°. For each point on the selected edge, that point is searched along the iso-curve where the tangent raised in this point is perpendicular to the tangent of the edge point. If an angle of 90° cannot be found, the same result as with Edge max. will be obtained.
    • Extension of a Target Surface:
      • Tangential: The edges of surfaces selected as Target will be extended tangentially. If possible, the points distributed on the source are projected perpendicularly onto the target. If this is not possible, the projection is done onto the tangential extension of the target.

Finding the theoretical edge

Leveling Analysis with extended surface

Leveling Analysis with extended edge

Leveling Analysis with extended edge and extende surface
 
  • Parameters:
    • Range: Start/End: Specification of a value range for an optimum deviation. Only those deviation values that are lying outside of the defined range are taken into consideration. The numerical display indicates the minimum and/or maximum deviation value that is independent from the defined range.
  • System: Here you can define, which component of the minimum and/or maximum deviation shall be computed and displayed numerically, and which coordinate system shall be used for this.

    System Direction: X, Y, Z Direction: 3D
    Model
    (model coordinate system)    		 specified coordinate system is valid for calculating the X, Y, or Z/Depth coordinate of the deviation 3D deviation is calculated in space (no projection)
    Plane
    (coordinate system of the selected plane)    		 3D deviation is projected into the specified plane
    User-Defined
    (user-defined coordinate system which can be additionally modified by the 3D manipulator in the graphics area)
    View
    (view plane)
    Compass
    (compass plane)

    Note: The 3D manipulator is independent from the view and compass position, i. e. in case of view and compass manipulations the manipulator will not be moved accordingly.
  • Display
    • Density: The number of points specified here are regularly distributed on the Source (on patches and faces in U and V direction) and projected onto the Target.
    • Scale: Scaling factor for the display of the deviation values.
 
  • Options:
    • Min, Max: The minimum and/or maximum deviation will be displayed numerically.
    • Comb: Selection of a color for the analysis result as bar information. The displayed lines correlate with the individual 3D deviation values. With the color button, you can choose the line color.
      • Envelope: The output of the analysis result as bar information with the option 'Comb' can also be displayed with an envelope. You can choose the envelope color using the color button.
    • Shaded: Output of the analysis result as color information. For this, colors are distributed on the 3D bars framework. Deviations in normal direction of the reference are displayed red, deviations in opposite direction are displayed green.
Comb Envelope
Shaded
 
  • Results:
    • Dynamic, Static, None: See Apply Modes.
    • Min./Max. Distance: Displays the minimum and maximum deviation of the calculated result.