Analysis > 3D Compare generates a three dimensional, color coded mapping of the differences between the objects.
The reference object is the object that is selected in the Model Manager. The test object is chosen from a dropdown list in the 3D Compare dialog.
The test object can be points, polygon, or CAD; the reference object can be polygons or CAD. The comparison appears in the Viewing Area.
If a portion of the test object has insufficient data for valid comparison to the reference object, that portion of the result object will be gray.
The dialog differs depending on whether the reference object is polygons or CAD, and also differs after Apply is pressed.
The first dialog is:
Objects section - identifies the object that is highlighted in the Model Manager as the Reference object, and allows selection of a Test object from a dropdown menu.
Deviation Type group - specifies a method by which the spatial difference between Test and Reference points is reported.
Type Dropdown - specifies the method. Pick one:
3D Deviation (default) - Deviations are reported as the shortest distance from the Test to any point on the Reference.
Directional - Deviations are reported as the distance from the Test to the Reference in a single user-defined direction. In the example, the direction is the direction of movement of a stamping die
Planar - Deviations are reported as the shortest distance from the Test to the Reference along a user-defined plane. In the example of a sheet metal part, the red line shows the distance from a Test point to the closest Reference point. But the black line shows a Planar Deviation, which is the distance from a Test point to the closest Reference point that lies on a specific plane.
Axis field (only when the Type is Directional or Planar) - specifies a measurement axis, either by clicking and dragging a line in the Viewing Area, or by referencing an existing Axis or Plane datum on the Test, Reference, or World object. The measurement axis is stored in the Datums sub-folder of the Reference object as a “Deviation Axis” datum or “Deviation Plane” datum.
Max Deviation - specifies the largest deviation that can be reported. If any region of the test object deviates beyond this maximum, a popup message reports that “X% of the points are too far away to be used in the computation”, and the Result object displays no color in that region.
Display Resolution slider (five levels from Coarse to Fine; only when the Reference object is a polygon object) - Higher values increase visual detail and computation time.
Color Averaging slider (five levels from Low to High; default Medium) - affects the influence of neighboring colors on regions of the color map.
If the reference object is a polygon object:
This slider affects the degree to which gray areas are filled with surrounding colors. If the slider is Low, there is no attempt to fill the gray area with an average of the surrounding colors. If the slider High, there is a greater attempt to fill the gray area with an average of surrounding colors. But if the gray area is too large or irregular and averaging fails, the entire area is restored to gray.
Color averaging will not be possible after you press Apply.
If the reference object is a CAD object:
This slider affects the degree to which colors are blended and averaged across the entire surface, like an airbrush that hides small blemishes.
color averaging will be possible in the second dialog.
Spectrum group - allows modification of the color-coded deviation spectrum. See All About Spectrums.
Done button - terminates the dialog.
Apply button - continues to the second dialog.
When you click Apply, a second dialog appears:
Objects section - (the same as in the first dialog) identifies the objects that are designated as test and reference objects.
Color Averaging slider (five levels from Low to High; appears only if the reference object was a CAD object) - interactively controls the degree of influence of deviation on the colors in the result object.
Display group - controls the graphical display of differences between the reference and test objects
Test Object checkbox - whether to superimpose the test object on the color-coded reference object in the Viewing Area.
Color radio buttons - specifies a method of illustrating the deviations with color.
Color Reference - apply appropriate colors to points that lie on the reference object.
Color Test Points - apply appropriate colors to points that lie on the test object.
Color Deviations - illustrate the deviations with whiskers and apply appropriate colors to the whisker lines. Each whisker runs from a point on the reference object to a corresponding point on the test object.
Highest Deviation Point checkbox - whether to highlight the point on the visible object (test or reference) that has the greatest deviation from the other object.
Spectrum group - allows modification of the color-coded deviation spectrum. See All About Spectrums. Change a value, then press Enter or press Apply.
Statistics group
Maximum Distance group - indicates the greatest deviations that are found anywhere in the comparison. (Neither of these values will ever exceed the Max Deviation setting on the first dialog)
Positive - the greatest positive difference between the test and reference.
Negative - the greatest negative difference between the test and reference.
Average Distance group - indicates the average deviation that is found anywhere in the comparison.
Positive - the average of positive differences between the test and reference object.
Negative - the average of negative differences between the test and reference object.
Standard Deviation - the standard deviation of all deviations.
Done button - closes the dialog.
Apply button - activates any changes to the Spectrum.
If necessary, change the spectrum and click Apply again. If the result color does not seem to match the spectrum colors, right-click the object and left-click Shading > Flat, or check the Disable Lighting checkbox in the Display Manager.