Auto Point

Create weld points at a predefined pitch distance so that the model build process can continue without the need to wait for the published weld data from CAD. The Auto Point tool is useful when working with elements, not geometry.



Figure 1. . Starting with a CAD model, the Auto Point tool creates unrealized connectors (yellow) which can then realized via the Point tool.
  1. From the Connectors ribbon, Point tool group, click the Auto Point tool.


    Figure 2.
  2. Select the components to automatically add connectors to.
    All selected components receive connectors with the same qualities to help you perform a blanket application of connectors – using the same pitch – to all components that need them as a single operation. Be wary of simply selecting the whole model, however, as this could result in undesirable actions, such as adding welds to a car's tires.
  3. Click on the guide bar and define the following options.
    Consider closed shell thin solids
    Use shell meshes that enclose a volume (some small gaps are allowed) as input.
    Create in middle
    Create connectors in the middle of the found flanges.
    Combine spots to lines
    Combine a series of spot connectors into a spot-line connector.
    Maximum number of layers field
    The maximum number of layers for the connector to add.
    Search distance
    The distance to consider between components.
    Spot pitch distance
    The distance between each connector.
    Spot pitch end offset
    The distance from the end of an edge/flange to the connector.
    Distance from free edge
    The distance from the free edge to the connector.
    Distance from feature edge
    The distance from feature edge to connector.
    Feature angle
    The angle used to segregate the model into faces that are planar within its specified value.
    Max deviation from avg dist (%)
    the average distance that can be calculated based on the estimation that the distance between two flanges does not change too much in the areas where connectors should be placed.

    If the distance at the position where a connector is planned exceeds the given deviating value, no connector will be created at that position.

    This segregation is used to identify where auto point connectors are placed. For example, faces found to have significant topological complexity are not used to create auto point connectors.

    Note: By reducing its value, the complexity of some of these faces is generally reduced. Of course, flat regions are unaffected by the parameter.
    Exclude holes with width less than
    Filter holes from the flange search if under a defined width.
  4. Click on the guide bar.

The created output is connectors with the appropriate spacing and other associated parameters. The connectors are in the unrealized state.