Create and Realize Connectors

Use the tools in the Create tool set to create connectors, assign controls, and realize.

  1. Navigate to the Connectors ribbon then select any of the tools in the Create tool set to define the associated connector type.
    • Point
    • Fastener
    • Line
    • Area
  2. On the guide bar, click to define connector options.
  3. Use the selector on the guide bar to choose an entity type, then select features on which to create connectors.
  4. Use the options in the microdialog to further define the connector.
    The following options are available for all entity types and tools.
    Option Description
    Move/Morph () Relocate sections or the whole connector to a different position
    Link Edit () Opens a dialogue that allows you to adjust the link detection logic.
    Show/Hide Projections () Show and hide the pre-projections that indicate where the connector will connect to.
    Other options are dependent on the entity type and selected tool.
    Option Description
    Trim () Split the connector at a selected position.

    Available for node list, line, element, and surface selection.
    Partition () Partition the seam connector if any part of that connector does not have projections.

    Only available for the Line tool.
    Pitch and Density
    Pitch ()
    Adjust the number of significant points along the connector line by given spacing.
    Density ()
    Adjust the number of significant points along the connector line by a number.

    Available for node list and line selection in the Point and Line tools.
    Line Interpolation
    Straight line ()
    A straight interpolation line is created between the selected nodes.


    Figure 1.
    Interpolated line ()
    A smoothed interpolation line is created between the selected nodes.


    Figure 2.

    Available for node list selection in the Point and Line tools.
    Line Creation
    None ()
    Leave the line selections separate.


    Figure 3.
    Combine Smooth ()
    Combine selected lines with an interpolated line.


    Figure 4.
    Combine Straight ()
    Combine selected lines with a straight line.


    Figure 5.
    Mid Line ()
    Generate a midline between selected lines.


    Figure 6.

    Only available for line selection.
    Remesh () Remesh the connector surface.




    Figure 7.

    Available for any selection type in the Area tool.
  5. Use the drop-down menu on the guide bar to assign a control to the connector.
    Choose a previously defined control or click Create New to open the Control Manager and define a new control. If you select Undefined, the connector will be created without a control.

    By default, an assigned control is realized.

  6. On the guide bar, click one of the following:
    • - Apply and stay in the tool
    • - Apply and close the tool
    • - Exit the tool without applying

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 8. . 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 9.
  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.

Auto Fastener

Use the Auto Fastener tool to identify and pair holes to create fastener connectors between components and parts. The process works on 2D/3D mesh.

  1. From the Connectors ribbon, Fastener tool group, click the Auto Fastener tool.


    Figure 10.
  2. Select the parts to automatically add connectors to.
  3. Click on the guide bar and define the following options.
    Hole Type
    The Hole types that will be looked for the in the model.
    Max hole dia
    The maximum allowable hole diameter.
    Min hole dia
    The minimum allowable hole diameter.
    Tolerance
    The distance between the holes.
    Max angle
    The angle between the normal to the holes.
    Allow holes to tubes
    Allow the connection between holes and tubes.
    Allow self
    If there are multiple holes on the same link that could be a part of the same stack.
    Center Connector
    Create the connector between the holes.
  4. Click on the guide bar.

    The created output is connectors between the selected hole type taking into account the associated parameters. The connectors are in the unrealized state.

Auto Line

Use the Auto Line tool to identify locations to create line connectors between components and parts. This process works on 2D geometry and mesh.

  1. From the Connectors ribbon, Line tool group, click the Auto Line tool.


    Figure 11.
  2. Select the parts to automatically add connectors to.
  3. Click on the guide bar and define the following options.
    Search distance
    The distance between the parts.
    Minimum length
    The tolerance for the smallest connector.
    Holes exclusion radius
    Filters holes from the flange search if under a defined width.
    Spacing
    Sets a spacing value on the connector.
    Create internal seams
    Creates connectors within a part if able.
  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.