Small Opening Detection Tool
Small Opening Detection module is used to detect and highlight small holes and gaps in the geometry that are difficult to manufacture in AM Process. The tool can Highlight critical small opening features in the geometry that may be fused during the laser sintering process. Depends on laser diameter or nozzle diameter. This tool can rotate a part and highlight critical small opening features in the geometry and calculate the areas of the small openings in each layer
Figure 1 Custom GUI and result output for small opening detection in Siemens NX Modeling
Instructions
Figure 2 Small Opening GUI
The Small Opening GUI is shown in the figure below. The detailed explanation of each option in the GUI is given below.
a) Select Body
This option is used to select the body for which small openings are detected and highlighted.
b) Rotation along X axis
Rotation along X axis (value to be entered in degrees) will rotate the selected part along the X axis.
c) Rotation along Y axis
Rotation along Y axis (value to be entered in degrees) will rotate the selected part along the Y axis.
d) Threshold Value
The threshold length of the gap that is identified as a small opening is entered here. (unit in mm).
e) Slice Thickness
Slice thickness is the distance between two adjacent slicing layers (unit in mm). As slice thickness decreases, the analysis is more accurate. However, decreased slice thickness will increase the processing time of the tool.
The output window of the Small Opening Detection is shown below. The result shows the total areas of the small opening features.
Figure 3 Small Opening Output Window
Example Problem
Use the Parasolid File named SiemensPart1.x_t in the Example Parts folder attached in the Small Opening Detection module folder that you have extracted from the website.
Open the example part, try the following input configurations and note the changes in areas of the small openings.
a. Input Threshold Value as 1.0 (mm), Slice Thickness as 0.1 (mm), analysis the small opening area of the given part.
b. Increase the Threshold Value to 1.5 (mm), analysis the small opening area.
c. Reduce the Slice Thickness to 0.01 (mm), analysis the small opening area.
d. Rotate the part along Y axis by 90 degree. Set the Threshold Value as 1.5 (mm) and Slice Thickness as 0.1 (mm). analysis the small opening area.