Connection

Connection check detects problems with parts/components such as bolts, nuts, clips, plates and reports the problems in a PowerPoint file.

There are multiple checks that can be performed, depending on the selection, the tool perform the checks and results of the checks are written out to the report files.

  1. In the Comparison Browser, right-click and select Check > Connection from the context menu.
    The Connection dialog opens.
  2. Select Import Type for Base Model.
    • XML (PLMXML or UDMXML)
    • Assembly (CAD assembly files: UG Assembly, CATProduct, JT Assembly…)
    • CAD (Refer Config / CAD files)
    • FE (Nastran, PAM-CRASH, Radioss, Abaqus, OptiStruct, HyperMesh)
    • Multiple Assembly (Multiple CAD assembly files)
    • Spot Files (Not applicable)
    • FE Files (Not applicable)
    • Mixed Import (folder contains CAD and FE files)
  3. Select a datatype.
    Respective data types will be listed.
  4. Click the folder icon and navigate to the model to import (Folder/File selections).
    The folder or the selected location must contain the spot weld file. The spot weld file type must be set in the config file.


    Figure 1.
  5. In the Report Path field, navigate to the directory where the reports generated by the Model Verification tool will be stored.
  6. In the Project Name field, enter a name for the project.
  7. In the Slide Number field, enter a starting number of the slides to use in the PowerPoint report.
  8. Choose a method for running the model.
    • Choose Interactive to run the model in the same Engineering Solutions session.
    • Choose Background to launch a new Engineering Solutions session in batch mode.
  9. The Processes drop-down list becomes active when you select the Background option and it also depends on the processor.
    The Model Verification tool launches as many hmbatch processes selected.
    • Choose Check to execute only the comparison without the report generation.
    • Choose Report to generate only the Reports (Check executed previously).
    • Choose Both to perform the comparison report generation sequentially.
  10. Click Run to execute the function.
  11. Click Stop to stop the operation.
    This closes front and background Engineering Solutions sessions.
  12. Click View Report to display the Summary PowerPoint report.


    Figure 2. PowerPoint Summary . (Stored in Report Path)


    Figure 3. PowerPoint Detailed Report. (Stored in Report Path)

Output

Overview of the PowerPoint report generated from the Connection check.

A PowerPoint report is separated into several sections.
Report Header
Project name, assembly name and slide number.
Full Assembly Picture
Image of the components that have connection issues.
H3D Image
Section can be viewed in the HyperView Player, and shows an H3D image shows the FE model with the connections marked with Cross Hairs.
Issue Details
Details of components which have connection issues.
User Review Section
Used to add additional information when exchanging information with designers/engineers.
Additional Info
Occurrences of the issue shown in the current slide. The number of instances show the number of occurrences of the issue.

Supported Connection Checks

Types of checks to perform on connections in the model.

Free Hole
Detects the holes in the model which do not have connectors around them.


Figure 4.
Free Bolt-Nut
Detects the bolts and nuts which do not have corresponding holes to fit in.


Figure 5.
Bolt Hole Mismatch
Detects the bolts which have a hole around it, but the distance between the bolt center and hole center is more than the threshold value.


Figure 6.
Nut Hole Mismatch
Detects the nuts which have a hole around it, but the distance between the nut center and the hole center is over the threshold.
Bolt-Nut Mismatch
Detects the bolt nut pairs whole location or alignment direction do not match properly.


Figure 7.
Bolt-Nut Size Mismatch
Detects the bolt nut pairs whose sizes are different from each other.
Note: The diameters of bolt, nut and clip are found through a CSV file.


Figure 8.
Holes Mismatch
Detects pairs of holes whose center axes do not match.


Figure 9.
Holes Pair Missing
Detects the holes that do not have a corresponding pairing hole within the specified tolerance.


Figure 10.
Clip Mismatch
Detects the clips which have a hole around it but the distance between the clip center and the hole center is over the threshold.