Parameters Dialog of Operations and Bodies > Characteristics

The Characteristics tab of the operation and body parameters dialog contains mass-inertia characteristics of bodies. They can be used in following cases:

•in the Mass Properties command;

•in the Measure command;

•when receiving the mass using the corresponding functions in the variables editor;

•when forming a BoM or other reports;

•in Express Analysis studies;

•in T-FLEX Analysis and T-FLEX Dynamics applications.  

T-FLEX Analysis and T-FLEX Dynamics applications have separate help systems. If an application is installed, its help system can be invoked from the textual menu or from the help menu (? > FEA Help / Dynamic Motion Help).

By default, values are calculated automatically depending on the body's geometry and its material's physical properties.

You can type in custom values if necessary. The mass should be typed into the Value: input box, center of mass coordinates should be typed into X:, Y; Z: input boxes. Values can also be defined using variables and expressions.

 

The corresponding Manually: checkbox should be enabled for applying typed in values. Enabling the checkbox applies the custom value of the corresponding characteristic and sets the "1" value in the adjacent input box. Disabling the checkbox discards the custom characteristic value and sets the "0" value in the adjacent input box. Values in this input box might also be typed in using the keyboard or defined by a real variable for controlling the custom characteristics application via Parametrization. Any non-zero value enables the checkbox.

 

This mechanics can be used when the exact model of a product is not created yet, but its mass-inertia characteristics are already defined by technical requirements or manufacturer's data.