Generating a Vibration Volume from a Track

Vibration Volume functionality:

lets you calculate the dynamic envelope of a part or a group of parts with respect to a positions file or from a existing fitting track .

  • This dynamic envelope  is in fact given by a set of positions in Euler coordinates from an ASCII positions file (ADAMS format) or (VDA format) or a track
  • Vibration volume as most Optimizer commands is a multi-selection command, which means the user can select as many input products he wants and then launch  the process to the select product or group of products
  • Once the computation is launched, a solid shape is generated: this shape represents an envelope of the products (s) placed in every position 
  • The result can be saved in CGR, VRML, V4 model or STL
This task will show you how to generate a vibration volume from a track
Open the Mobile_Phone.CATProduct document
  Use the Fit All In icon to I_ReframeP2.gif (216 bytes) to position the model geometry on the screen
Alternate Shape
  1. Manage automatically your result as an alternate shape. For this:

    • Select Tools > Options from the menu bar.
      The Options dialog box is displayed.
    • Expand the Digital Mockup category from the left-hand tree.
    • Select  DMU Optimizer item to display the corresponding tab. The Alternate Shapes Management is available
    • Check Vibration Volume option: it is automatically activated as an alternate shape. When activated the vibration volume representation is the one visualized in session.

    Note: If your are not working in alternate shape mode, it is strongly recommended to use the Reference Product option to avoid positioning problems when reinserting products. Read About Reference Product.

  2. Click the Vibration volume icon   from the DMU Optimizer toolbar.
    The Vibration Volume dialog box is displayed:

  3. Select the product or the group of products on which you want to apply the vibration volume.

    In our example, select Mobile Phone in the specification tree
  4. Select Track option button. Select Vibration (Vibration) from the drop-down list

  5. Set the vibration volume accuracy by entering a value. In our example, keep the default value 1mm

    Setting the vibration volume accuracy

    The accuracy determines the precision of the vibration volume representation. The accuracy parameter determines the size of the triangles used to represent the vibration volume. A lower setting results in slower computation time, but a more precise calculation of the vibration volume.

    For more detailed information, see More about Vibration Volume

  6. Select the Apply Simplification option and set the simplification accuracy as you wish (enter 0.5mm)

    Note you can also apply the simplification afterwards or launch again the operation with different accuracy values as many times as needed
  7. Click Preview to launch the calculation and obtain a preview. The progress bar is displayed letting you monitor and interrupt if necessary (Cancel option) the calculation.

    The Preview window lets you visualize the resulting vibration volume.
    The number of triangles representing the simplified vibration volume is displayed in the Number of triangles area, as shown below:
    If you are not satisfied with the result, you can simplify your vibration volume result again. For more detailed information, read Using Simplification Command and More about Simplification.
  8. Click Save. The Save As dialog box is displayed.

    • Set the Type to  .cgr
    • Identify the folder in which you want to save the file
    • Enter a file name
    you can also save your result as V4 model, .stl or .wrl documents. Read About Saving Operations
  9. Click Save

  10. Click Close

    Your vibration volume is managed as an alternate shape, therefore, it is automatically inserted into your product and replaces the original component.
Vibration volume is a 'journalized' functionality. You can therefore generate a macro using Tools->Macro->Record... (read Recording a Macro in Infrastructure User's Guide and read CAA V5 Automation - DMU documentation).