Using Mass Properties
Select Mass Properties from the Tools>Verify options. 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. |
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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.
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Select Mass Properties from the Tools>Verify submenu.
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Select the solid object(s) using any of the standard Selection Menu options.
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The Mass Properties dialog box appears.The solids appear according to there I.D.
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Choose the object you want to analyze from the pull-down list.
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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.
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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:
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Repeat steps 1-3 for any remaining objects you want to analyze.
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Select the MASS OUT button to save your data to a Mass Properties output file (ASCII .TXT format).
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Enter a new filename, without the extension, in the File Name dialog box to replace the default filename, "massprop."
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Click OK.