Draft Analysis PropertyManager

Set analysis parameters and color settings to identify and visualize areas with insufficient draft on molded parts.

To perform an analysis:

Click Draft Analysis (Mold Tools toolbar) or View > Display > Draft Analysis. Set analysis parameters and color settings, and then click .

After you close the PropertyManager, the analysis results remain visible in the graphics area, and they update in real time when you change the geometry of the part. You can move the pointer over the model to display the value of the draft angle in that area.

To edit the analysis parameters and settings:

Click View > Modify > Draft Analysis.

To turn off the analysis:

Click Draft Analysis (View toolbar) or View > Display > Draft Analysis.

Analysis Parameters

  Direction of Pull Select a planar face, a linear edge, or an axis to define the draw direction. Click Reverse Direction or click the handle in the graphics area to reverse the direction of pull, which reverses how faces are reported (as positive or negative) in the results.
Draft Angle Enter a reference draft angle for comparison to existing angles in the model.
  Adjustment triad Manipulates the direction of pull to help you visualize ways to avoid or minimize problems with the draft angle. When you drag the rings of the triad in the graphics area, the direction of pull changes, face colors update dynamically, and the following read-only values appear in the PropertyManager:
  • Angle with X axis
  • Angle with Y axis
  • Angle with Z axis
  Face classification Classifies each face into one of the categories under Color Settings, applies the corresponding color to each face, and provides a count of each type of face. With this option cleared, the analysis generates a contour map of the face angles. For example, on a lofted face, different regions of the face have different colors as the angle of the face changes.
  Find steep faces (Available only when Face classification is selected.) Analyzes draft applied to curved faces to identify steep faces. Steep faces occur when some points on the curved face meet the draft angle criteria and other points do not. See Positive steep faces and Negative steep faces under Color Settings.
  Calculate Calculates the draft analysis.

Color Settings

Faces with different classifications are displayed in different colors in the graphics area. The results update in real time when you change the direction of pull or draft angle.

  Gradual transition (Available only when Face classification is not selected.) Displays the range of angles (positive draft through negative draft) in a spectrum of colors. Gradual transition is especially useful with complex models with numerous variations in the draft angle.
  Surface faces with draft (Available only when analyzing surfaces and Face classification is selected.) Displays surfaces that meet the draft criteria. Because draft that is positive on one side of a surface is negative on the other side, surfaces are not added to the numerical part of the classification (Positive draft and Negative draft).
  Positive draft Displays faces where the angle of the face, with respect to the direction of pull, is greater than the reference angle.
  Requires draft Displays faces where the angle of the face is less than the positive reference angle or greater than the negative reference angle.
  Negative draft Displays faces where the angle of the face, with respect to the direction of pull, is less than the negative reference angle.
  Straddle faces Displays faces that contain both positive and negative draft. Typically, you can eliminate a straddle face by creating a split line.
  Positive steep faces Displays steep faces with a positive draft.
  Negative steep faces Displays steep faces with a negative draft.
Hide/Show (Available only when Face classification is selected.) Click to hide or show all faces in a category.
  Edit Color (Available only when Face classification is selected.) Click to change the color associated with a category.