*features

Generates plot elements between two-dimensional elements whose normals exceed the user-specified angle.

Syntax

*features entity type mark feature angle ignorenormals created entity break angle smooth

Type

HyperMesh Tcl Modify

Description

Generates plot elements between two-dimensional elements whose normals exceed the user-specified angle.

Inputs

entity type
The entity type on the mark. Valid entries are components and elements.
mark
The mark ID that contains the above entities.
feature angle
The angle specifying the maximum angle allowed between any two plate elements, before a plot element or a line is generated between the shared sides of the two elements.
ignorenormals
  • 0 - Do not create features based on normals.
  • 1 - Create features if the angle between adjacent elements is greater than the feature angle, but less than (PI-feature angle).
  • 2 - Use advanced analysis: this creates features based on the recognition of natural transitions between basic surfaces such as planes or cylinders, as well as features based on the feature angle. When using this option, a feature angle of 60 degrees or more is recommended.
  • 3 - This value is set by the workspace when both ignore normals and advanced analysis checkboxes are active. However, advanced analysis overrides other parameters, so the ignore normals flag is ignored. Thus, this value has the same effect as 2.
created entity
  • 0 - Creates plot elements to represent the features.
  • 1 - Creates geometric lines representing feature lines.
break angle
If created entity = 1, the angle specifying when to break the feature line created into multiple line segments. When the angle between adjoining elements along the feature is larger than the specified value, it splits the line into multiple segments.
smooth
  • 0 - Do not smooth the lines.
  • 1 - Smooth the line created through the nodes of the feature.

Example

To create smooth lines representing features on the component hood based on 30.0 degrees feature angle and 20.0 degrees break angle:
*createmark(components,1) hood
*features(component,1,30.0,1,1,20.0,1)

*features() can be used to reduce the time it takes to generate an animation sequence, by reducing the number of active elements. All features generated are placed into a component named ^feature which HyperMesh will create, if necessary.