Thickness Analysis (New Custom Feature!)

MichaelPascoe

    Thickness Analysis (New Custom Feature!)  

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/thicknessAnalysis                      

With this custom feature, you can easily analyze the thickness of multiple faces. Special thanks to @Jacob_Corder for some performance tips.

This feature is sponsored by CADSharp.com. If your daily modeling is repetitive, consider automating your process with CADSharp to save time. CADSharp specializes in automation by utilizing custom features and API. 

           

Set limits and report errors if they are exceeded:

Tips:
  - Relevant values are stored as variables in the Variable table on the right side of your screen.
  - For large selections, uncheck "Analyze thickness" until you have created your selections.

Import functions to use with your own custom features:

Use these functions in your own custom features by placing the following import at the top of you code.

  - thicknessAnalysisPascoe()   //Analyzes the thickness between two or more surfaces.
  - faceGridPascoe()                  //Splits the selected face into a grid.
  - colorGradientPascoe()        //Returns a color based on a fractional input.

import(path : "55e98155dca4ba4e8049a18d/264916e1790d6b19b353dda6/c1fcec00ad4e3a44bd7f5a8c", version : "364ad9f0f694974f4028c05c");

How to add a custom feature to your toolbar:

Click this link then follow the steps in the gif below: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/thicknessAnalysis     

ilya_baran

Very cool!

bryan_lagrange

Nice

steve_shubin

@MichaelPascoe

The color spectrum from the analysis shows a taper or slope, in-line with the serpentine path. Exactly what was modeled

Nice tool.   I like it

MichaelPascoe

Thanks @ilya_baran and @bryan_lagrange!

Thanks @steve_shubin, glad its working! Though I can't take credit for the math behind the colors. The original three color gradient function is derived from luiscla27 at stackoverflow.com/questions/30143082. 

EvanReese

really cool feature, Michael!

MichaelPascoe

Thanks @Evan_Reese. Feel free to give feedback. I'm sure there are improvements that can be made.

MichaelPascoe

Update!

• New drop down menu "Analyze" lets you choose which side to analyze. This cuts the regen time in half by defaulting to Side A instead of Both sides.

steve_shubin

MichaelPascoe said:

I can't take credit for the math behind the colors. The original three color gradient function is derived from luiscla27 at stackoverflow.com/questions/30143082. 

correct me if I’m wrong

Ok, so you didn’t come up with the math for the coloring. But you did the other part. And without your effort, I would not have the thickness analysis tool

S1mon

While we're talking about color gradients, I'm a big fan of Viridis. It's one of a few gradients which was developed to solve for visually equivalent steps, and being friendly for conversion to black and white, and people with color blindness.

https://bids.github.io/colormap/

MichaelPascoe

@steve_shubin That is correct. Though imagine this tool as a temporary crutch until Onshape releases a built in tool.
@S1mon this is a good point. I have implemented something similar in the latest update: 

Update!

• Node selection for checking thickness at selected node.
• Color drop down menu: Standard, Blue to Green, and Grayscale.

Axel_Kollmenter

Hi @MichaelPascoe

Can I inspect complex injection molded parts to verify that no wall thickness falls below the minimum wall thickness due to the draft?

MichaelPascoe

This was designed for a few faces at a time, not complex parts (depending on your definition of complex). Though this should work for portions of the complex parts. 

Do you have an example part you could share?

MichaelPascoe

Update!

• Improved performance - 2x faster! 
• Fixed bug where you could not select nodes if multiple faces were analyzed.
  
• Changed icon.
• Added CADSharp.com URL. Stay tuned, we have some neat things coming soon related to custom features  

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/55e98155dca4ba4e8049a18d/w/dbf02fb86aafef13f08be126/e/67...