Calculate Model Surface Area and Output to Item Data

The surface area can be calculated either part-specifically or for the assembly so that the calculated surface area is output to the item data. This function can be used to calculate the total area of all surfaces, or use a factor to specify what fraction of the total surface area of the part or the assembly is calculated.

For example, if you wish to find out a square pipe's area to be painted, enter 0.5 as the factor value, because the inside of the square pipe will not be painted. Enter 0 as the factor if the entire pipe is painted.

The surface area can be calculated using the following alternate methods:

  • Part-specific surface area calculation in item data and a summary of the surface areas
  • Surface area calculation in the item data of the assembly

Part-specific surface area calculation in item data and a summary of the surface areas

If the assembly includes a large number of different kinds of parts, calculate the surface area separately for each part in the item data of the part. Finally, output the total surface area in the assembly.

  1. Select the part.
  2. Select the context-sensitive function Properties.
  3. Click the Item Data button in the dialog box.
  4. Fill in the item data for the part.
  5. Calculate the surface area as follows:
    • Click the Calculate button in the Area field. The application will calculate the entire surface area of the part, which may take a while. The result is automatically entered in the Area field.
    • Select a Factor from the list, if only a certain fraction of the part's total surface area will be calculated.

      If no factor is specified or the factor value is 0, the total surface area is calculated. If the factor has value 1, no surface area is calculated. For example, if you enter 0.8 as the factor, the resulting surface area will be a fifth of the part's total surface area.

      Note that the factor's effect will not be applied until you output the total surface area of the assembly.

    • If the part is a profile part, you can calculate its surface area by clicking in the Area field on the Mass tab of the part's material data.
  6. Accept the item data.
  1. Select the context-sensitive function Collect Parts List in the assembly.
  2. Select Area Summary as the output format.
  3. If necessary, select Roll-out. Parts List Collection Data
  4. Accept the collect parts list data.
  5. Name the file and choose a folder in which to save it.

Surface area calculation in the item data of the assembly

If an assembly contains many identical parts, calculate the total surface area of the parts only in the item data of the assembly. When the surface area is calculated as described here, the item data of the parts may not contain surface area data.

  1. Select the assembly label and the context-sensitive function Properties.
  2. Click the Item Data button in the dialog box.
  3. Calculate the surface area as follows:
    • You can calculate the total surface area of all parts by clicking the Calculate button.
    • Select a Factor from the list, if only a certain fraction of the assembly's total surface area will be calculated.

      If no factor is specified or the factor value is 0, the total surface area is calculated. If the factor has value 1, no surface area is calculated.

  4. Click OK.