Using Mass Properties

KeyCreator Prime / Verify / Physical / Mass Properties / Using Mass Properties

Select Mass Properties from the Verify>Physical Ribbon area.  You will be prompted to select the solid object(s) to analyze.

 

Using the Function:

Density

Mass per unit volume.  The units of measure must agree with the default wire-frame length units.

Area-Weighted

Mass per unit area of the faceted surface enveloping a  solid object.  Think of this as the density of a material coating the object.  Solids uses this data, not Density, to calculate surface mass.
 

 

As you tab to a new field after entering a value, the Mass Properties fields update based on the data you just entered. In addition to calculating the weights and properties of each object, a Total listing calculates the sum total of all objects selected (e.g., the total weight of an assembly) and displays those results in the Total tab. To view a point entity at the center of mass choose the Model Center of Mass button. To view a point entity at the Model Principal Axis choose the Model Principle Axis button.

  1. Select Mass Properties from the Tools>Verify submenu.

  2. Select the solid object(s) using any of the standard Selection Menu options.

  3. The Mass Properties dialog box appears.The solids appear according to there I.D.

  4. Choose the object you want to analyze from the pull-down list.

  5. Mass properties will by default calculate using a 'quick calculation' method which speeds up the result time considerably but a recalculate using a more precise method is possible by choosing the Recalculate using a Higher Precision button. Once done the button will be grayed out signifying the calculations where run using the precise method.

  6. Properties are calculated based on the default unit value of density and area weighted density. To determine the mass properties based on different density values, enter a different value in the edit field and Tab out of the field. Tab from field to field and enter values of the following parameters:

  7. Repeat steps 1-3 for any remaining objects you want to analyze.

  8. Select the MASS OUT button to save your data to a Mass Properties output file (ASCII .TXT format).

  9. Enter a new filename, without the extension, in the File Name dialog box to replace the default filename, "massprop."

  10. Click OK.