Thickness analysis for plastic injection parts - Is there a feature or how to do in Onshape?

jens_sommerfeldt · February 2018

Hi,
I am need to decide on a CAD system to do injection moulding parts.So far Onshape will cover most of my needs but one thing is missing and is mandatory to me.
I need a possibility so evaluate the wall thicknesses on the part. This is extreme important to design a working plastic part.
To my knowledge there at least two option to do: 1. simply vector measurement from one wall to the other or 2. flying ball method. The second is much more accurate and would be preferred.

My questions:
- Is there such a feature included?
-- If yes: Please tell me how to use it.
-- If no: What are the plans and rough time frame to implement such feature?

Thank you in advance.
All questions are welcome

Jens

brucebartlett · February 2018

Hi Jens, Wall thickness analysis (flying ball) is not available yet, however, Onshape recently added draft analysis for plastic mould designer, this is accessed through the view drop down. I'd imagine you're after something similar for wall thickness showing areas on the model with different colors based on a spec'd wall thickness. This area of design is very important to Onshape and if enough demand is seen it will be added quickly. Another option may be a custom FS feature which could fill the gap until it is included.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/m5/dipgab1pezs6.png

jens_sommerfeldt · February 2018

Dear All,
thank you for your fast answers..

To you comments (in chronological order):
@ Jake_Rosenfeld
Well the answer is no.

I was aware of this normal measurement, alas what I need is the analysis tool as brucebartlett described above.

@ bradley_sauln
I am designing plastic injection parts. As I am also responsible for the tooling and production success I need to analyse the my own design as well as client designs for possible flaws that will result in structural or visual errors at the moulded part.
With onshape I spend a day, but I am an experienced user of Catia and Solidworks.
What is your idea?

@ brucebartlett
You are right, this is what I am looking for (I had tested the draft analysis before I send my question)
So it is a question of the community request and then some development and implementation time, isn't it?
Please do not hesitate to ask me for beta test...

Thank you again
Jens

Jake_Rosenfeld · February 2018

Hi @jens_sommerfeldt ,

If you click on two faces, a "Min. Distance" measurement will appear in the bottom right corner. If you hover over this measurement, it will show you a representative vector:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5022071/uploads/editor/db/z4ci122owwhr.png

Is this what you are looking for?

bradley_sauln · February 2018

Hey @jens_sommerfeldt how much time have you spent in Onshape so far? Are you performing the injection molds or are you working with a manufacturer? Depending on which end of the DFM process you are on I can help point you to the appropriate answer.

brucebartlett · February 2018

Hi Jens, Wall thickness analysis (flying ball) is not available yet, however, Onshape recently added draft analysis for plastic mould designer, this is accessed through the view drop down. I'd imagine you're after something similar for wall thickness showing areas on the model with different colors based on a spec'd wall thickness. This area of design is very important to Onshape and if enough demand is seen it will be added quickly. Another option may be a custom FS feature which could fill the gap until it is included.

jens_sommerfeldt · February 2018

Dear All,
thank you for your fast answers..

To you comments (in chronological order):
@ Jake_Rosenfeld
Well the answer is no.

I was aware of this normal measurement, alas what I need is the analysis tool as brucebartlett described above.

@ bradley_sauln
I am designing plastic injection parts. As I am also responsible for the tooling and production success I need to analyse the my own design as well as client designs for possible flaws that will result in structural or visual errors at the moulded part.
With onshape I spend a day, but I am an experienced user of Catia and Solidworks.
What is your idea?

@ brucebartlett
You are right, this is what I am looking for (I had tested the draft analysis before I send my question)
So it is a question of the community request and then some development and implementation time, isn't it?
Please do not hesitate to ask me for beta test...

Thank you again
Jens

autotivMFG · July 2018

@brucebartlett

Wall thickness analysis will improve workflow for our manufacturing company significantly. We are currently having to download .stp files as STL and then analyzing wall thickness using magics.

Is this a feature being worked on currently?

Thanks!

brucebartlett · July 2018

@autotivMFG it's been there a long time now, maybe almost 1 year. You access it from the appearance drop down under the view cube

mahir · July 2018

@brucebartlett, unfortunately draft analysis =/= wall thickness analysis. OS still doesn't have this. Maybe someone has finagled a FS hack for this, but I'm not aware of one.

brucebartlett · July 2018

mahir said:

@brucebartlett, unfortunately draft analysis =/= wall thickness analysis. OS still doesn't have this. Maybe someone has finagled a FS hack for this, but I'm not aware of one.

Whoops, Mahir you a totally right, I must be still half asleep. Thickness is very much needed as well.

Sorry @autotivMFG for misleading you. As a pro user, you should give feedback under the ? menu top right.