Weld Identification

Weld Identification

The weld identification dialog has a number of options available to control how welds are automatically identified from the CAD model.

Weld Identification

Weld Detection Distance

From each face of the CAD model, this controls how far to check for intersecting faces that may produce a weld. A value of zero will require parts to be intersecting for welds to be identified. If parts are drawn with gaps between them, and welds should be identified between those parts, a value high enough to span at least half the gap should be used. For example, if a butt weld is drawn with a 3mm gap (for example, to allow a full penetration weld), a value gerater than 1.5mm should be used to identify a weld in that location.

Default Value: 1mm

Combine Welds Closer Than

Combines welds that have start or end positions closer than the specified value. This also takes into account the maximum immediate angle change and maximum total angle change settings. This setting is useful for identifying a continuous weld where there are several pairs of faces that makes up the weld seam.

Default Value: 1mm

Minimum Weld Length

The minimum weld length that should be considered to be a weld. Prevents the weld detection from creating small welds where they are not required.

Default Value: 5mm

Skip Welds Already Present in the Project?

If enabled, this will not add any detected welds that are already in the project. These will be drawn as thin black lines in the Weld Detection dialog. This is useful when identifying welds with different settings to avoid adding duplicates.

Default Value: disabled

Weld Splitting

Maximum immediate angle change

The maximum angle change between two consecutive points in a weld. This is calculated with both the change in nominal wire direction, and the change in path direction. Typically this means that a weld turning a 90° corner at the end of a plate will have an angle change of 180° between the points at the corner.

Smaller values will split welds at corners such as this, larger values can be used to allow the weld path to move around these corners and prevent a weld start/stop at the corner. Welds around corners can create some difficulties with planning.

Default Value: 45°

Maximum total angle change

The maximum angle change along the entire weld. This is calculated with both the change in nominal wire direction, and the change in path direction. Typically this means that a weld turning a 90° corner at the end of a plate will have an angle change of 180° between the points at the corner. This is useful to limit the size of circular welds to smaller sections if it will be difficult to plan the complete circular path.

Default Value: 360°

Display

Make Parts Opaque

Changes the opacity of the parts in the viewer. Can make it easier to see the welds paths for internal welds, or external welds depending on the opacity of the parts.

Default Value: enabled