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Get Started
New to Inspire? Learn the basics here.
Units and Measurement
Change the default unit system, create custom units, and measure geometry features.
Measure Weight
Use the Measure Weight tool to estimate the weight distribution of an original model or an optimized shape on a set of point supports.

Welcome
What's New
Discover new features and enhancements.
Get Started
New to Inspire? Learn the basics here.
- What is Altair Inspire?
  Inspire is a concept design tool, which you can use to run structural optimization, finite element analysis, motion analysis, and additive manufacturing analysis.
- Videos: Getting Started with Inspire
  A series of videos introducing the view controls, 3D modeling, structural analysis, topology optimization, and PolyNURBS.
- Licensing Features
  Some ribbon tabs are associated with license features. Depending upon the tab you have invoked, additional units may be drawn. These features will be checked out for the duration of the session.
- Workspace and Tool Belts
  Learn how to customize the workspace and tool belts.
- Find and Search for Tools
  Quickly find and open the tools that are available on the ribbons.
- File Import and Export
  Learn how to import geometry and export results.
- Select and Edit
  Review techniques for selecting and editing objects.
- Adjust the View
  Change the view in the modeling window using the mouse or view controls.
- Move and Snap
  Translate, rotate, and align parts and other objects using the Move tool and snaps.
- Screen Capture
  Record a video or take a snapshot of the screen.
- Units and Measurement
  Change the default unit system, create custom units, and measure geometry features.
  - Define the Unit System
    You can change the unit system using the Unit System Selector or the Preferences. When importing "discrete mesh" files (.stl, .nas, .fem) with unspecified units, select the model unit in the Import Options dialog.
  - Measure Features
    Use the Measure tool to measure geometry features including a length, an angle, and the dimensions of a bounding box.
  - Measure Weight
    Use the Measure Weight tool to estimate the weight distribution of an original model or an optimized shape on a set of point supports.
- Browse and Organize
  Browse and organize all of the entities in your model.
- Run a Simulation
  Use the Analyze icons that appear on various ribbons to run and view the results of a simulation.
- Help and User Assistance
  Learn about the forms of help and user assistance available from the product.
- Preferences
  Modify the workspace display, default keyboard shortcuts, and other settings.
- System Requirements
  A list of supported operating systems and minimum requirements for hardware and memory.
- Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls
  Learn keyboard shortcuts and mouse controls for common operations.
Tutorials
Start using Inspire with our interactive tutorials.
Parametric Modeling
Create parametric sketches, geometry, and PolyNURBS with construction history and variables.
Implicit Modeling
Create implicit models with primitives, lattices, point clouds, fields, offsetting, Booleans, inverting, smoothing, morphing, and filleting.
Structures
Set up your model and run a structural analysis or optimization.
Motion
Set up and run a motion analysis, plot the results, and export the results.
Fluids
Prepare and run a computational fluid dynamics simulation.
Design Explorer
Evaluate designs by using geometric variables and applying a design-of-experiments (DOE) or optimization method. We recommend fully constraining your sketch when sketch variables are used in the design exploration.
Manufacture
Set up and run a basic porosity or thinning analysis.
Print 3D
Prepare and run an additive manufacturing simulation, and export a file for 3D printing.
Rendering
Adjust the materials and environment of objects in the scene to create a photorealistic image.
Inspire Python API
Learn how to access the Inspire Python API including online help, quick start demos, and the Extension Manager.
Reference
View the glossary, frequently asked questions, and errors and alerts.
Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls
Learn keyboard shortcuts and mouse controls for common operations.

Measure Weight

Use the Measure Weight tool to estimate the weight distribution of an original model or an optimized shape on a set of point supports.

The Measure Weight tool calculates the mass, weight on each support, center of gravity, and package space extents.

You can view the mass of an optimized part by turning on Mass Calculation in the Preferences dialog. The mass of all parts and alternatives will be displayed in the Model Browser.

From the Home tools, Measure tool group, click the Measure Weight tool.

Tip: To find and open a tool, press Ctrl+F. For more information, see Find and Search for Tools.
In the Measure Weight Browser, select a Load Case.

Note: Only the forces and supports that are in the selected load case will be considered in the calculations.
Define the direction of Gravity.
Choose from the following options:
- Show bounding box: Display the model's bounding box in the modeling window.
- Show center of gravity: Display the center of gravity in the modeling window.
Click Calculate.
The results are displayed.

Note:

Point forces applied to the model also contribute to the reaction forces on the supports.
The weight at each support is calculated by multiplying the total mass of the parts by gravity, plus any point or distributed forces. Distributed supports and forces are treated as though they act only at their point of application; they are not treated as distributed, even if they are applied to faces or edges. When distributed forces and supports are present in a load case, the weight calculator adds warnings to the output to let you know that it treated them as point forces and supports. Torques and pressures are ignored completely in the calculations, and warnings are displayed at the bottom of the Measure Weight Browser to remind you of this.
Any parts that have been deactivated using the Activate/Deactivate tool are excluded from the calculation.
If a part is hidden but is still active, it will be included in the calculation.
If a different mass has been entered using Mass Properities: Override in the Property Editor, this will affect the measure weight calculations but not structural analysis calculations.