Calculate Closest Distance Between Faces Example (VBA)
This example shows how to calculate the closest distance between two
faces.
'-----------------------------------------------
'
' Problem:
' The
SolidWorks user interface has the ability to measure the
' distance
between two selected faces. The corresponding
' API
for this functionality is ModelDoc2::ClosestDistance.
'
'
' If
any of the faces is cylindrical, then the measurement point is
' taken
from the axis of the cylinder. This is by design and the intended
' behaviour.
However, in some circumstances, this measurement may not
' be
appropriate. For example, the minimum amount of material between
' two
holes is normally measured between the cylindrical faces and not
' between
the axes.
'
' This
sample code show how to detect such situations and to calculate
' the
distance between faces.
'
' Preconditions:
' (1)
Part or assembly is open
' (2)
Assembly is fully resolved
' (3)
Two faces are selected
' (4)
Faces do not intersect
'
' Postconditions:
' (1)
3D sketch is inserted with results from user interface Measure dialog
' (2)
3D sketch is inserted showing closest distance between faces
'
'-----------------------------------------------
Option Explicit
Sub CreateLine _
( _
swApp
As SldWorks.SldWorks, _
swModel
As SldWorks.ModelDoc2, _
vPt1
As Variant, _
vPt2
As Variant _
)
Dim
swSketchSeg As
SldWorks.SketchSegment
Dim
bRet As
Boolean
swModel.SetAddToDB True
swModel.Insert3DSketch2 False
Set
swSketchSeg = swModel.CreateLine2(
_
vPt1(0),
vPt1(1), vPt1(2), _
vPt2(0),
vPt2(1), vPt2(2))
swModel.SetAddToDB False
swModel.Insert3DSketch2 True
bRet
= swModel.EditRebuild3
Debug.Assert
bRet
End Sub
Sub main()
Dim
swApp As
SldWorks.SldWorks
Dim
swModel As
SldWorks.ModelDoc2
Dim
swSelMgr As
SldWorks.SelectionMgr
Dim
swFace1 As
SldWorks.face2
Dim
swFace2 As
SldWorks.face2
Dim
swSurf1 As
SldWorks.surface
Dim
swSurf2 As
SldWorks.surface
Dim
vPoint1 As
Variant
Dim
vPoint2 As
Variant
Dim
vClosestPt1 As
Variant
Dim
vClosestPt2 As
Variant
Dim
nDist As
Double
Set
swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")
Set
swModel = swApp.ActiveDoc
Set
swSelMgr = swModel.SelectionManager
Set
swFace1 = swSelMgr.GetSelectedObject5(1)
Set
swFace2 = swSelMgr.GetSelectedObject5(2)
Set
swSurf1 = swFace1.GetSurface
Set
swSurf2 = swFace2.GetSurface
'Get
the result of the measure command - we need the points returned.
nDist
= swModel.ClosestDistance(swFace1,
swFace2, vPoint1, vPoint2)
Debug.Print
" ClosestDistance
= " & nDist * 1000# & " mm"
CreateLine
swApp, swModel, vPoint1, vPoint2
'Use
the points returned by the measure command to get the nearest point actually
on the faces in question.
If
swSurf1.IsCylinder Then
'Measure
has returned the center point, so use the point on the other surface
vClosestPt1
= swFace1.GetClosestPointOn(vPoint2(0),
vPoint2(1), vPoint2(2))
Else
'Probably
on the surface, but just to be sure...
vClosestPt1
= swFace1.GetClosestPointOn(vPoint1(0),
vPoint1(1), vPoint1(2))
End
If
If
swSurf2.IsCylinder Then
'Measure
has returned the center point, so use the point on the other surface
vClosestPt2
= swFace2.GetClosestPointOn(vPoint1(0),
vPoint1(1), vPoint1(2))
Else
'Probably
on the surface, but just to be sure...
vClosestPt2
= swFace2.GetClosestPointOn(vPoint2(0),
vPoint2(1), vPoint2(2))
End
If
nDist
= Sqr( _
(vClosestPt1(0)
- vClosestPt2(0)) ^ 2 + _
(vClosestPt1(1)
- vClosestPt2(1)) ^ 2 + _
(vClosestPt1(2)
- vClosestPt2(2)) ^ 2 _
)
Debug.Print
" Distance
=
" & nDist * 1000# & " mm"
CreateLine
swApp, swModel, vClosestPt1, vClosestPt2
End Sub
'--------------------------------------------------