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Implicit Body, Bounding Box

Graph, Bounding Box

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About this Block

What it does: The Custom Unit Cell block constructs a Custom Implicit Unit Cell from an Implicit Body. Any Implicit Body can be used in conjunction with a Unit Cell Domain Bounding Box. The Bounding Box defines the domain of the custom Unit cell. This is a Non-Parametric Unit Cell because it requires no additional parameters to define it, such as thickness. Common uses:
  • Used with a Cell Map to create a Periodic Lattice.
Tips:
  • You cannot define additional parameters, such as thickness.
  • For Custom Unit Cells, it is ideal to have it be of equal size in X, Y, and Z directions to be easily scalable.
  • If you want to create a face-based Unit Cell you can import a thin CAD surface. When you convert it to an implicit, you will need to use the Thicken Body block to give it some thickness. Adding the thickness allows you to insert it into the Body input of the Custom Unit Cell.
Custom Unit Cell Beta overload:

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About this Block

What it does: The Beta overload of the Custom Unit Cell block constructs a 1-Paramater Unit Cell from a Graph. The Graph can consist of beams, faces, or a mix of both. Common uses:
  • Generate lattice structures using the Periodic Lattice block.
Tips:
  • You can use the Graph from Line Segments block as a helper block for generating beam-based lattices.
  • Downstream operations such as simulation and filtering require accurate node and beam connectivity. Ensure the input Graph has vertices at all beam-beam intersections. Also, the Graph has beams at all face-face and co-planar beam-face intersections.
  • The Domain must be 3D. If you’re making a 2D unit cell, provide a 3D bounding box.
  • You can import a sketch from CAD, drag out the curves, construct line segments from the curves and use Graph from Line Segments block.
  • If the Graph extends outside the Domain, Graph won’t be trimmed. To fix, you must either scale the Graph down or increase the domain volume.
Download Example: Custom Implicit Unit Cell Custom Implicit Unit Cell

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Implicit Body, Bounding Box

Constructs a Non-parametric Unit Cell from an Implicit Body.

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Inputs

NameTypeDescription
BodyImplicit BodyImplicit body to convert to an implicit unit cell.
DomainBounding BoxBounding box to define the domain of the custom Unit Cell.

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Outputs

Type
Non-Parametric Unit Cell

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Graph, Bounding Box

Constructs a 1 Parameter Unit Cell from a Graph. Parameter 1: Thickness

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Inputs

NameTypeDescription
GraphGraphGraph from which to construct the custom Unit Cell.
DomainBounding BoxBounding Box to define the domain of the custom Unit Cell.

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Outputs

Type
1 Parameter Unit Cell