Morphing
Settings, limits and names used by Bramble's morphing tools and optimisation runs. For how they fit together, see
morphing and optimisation.
Where to find it
| Tool |
Location |
| Morphing panel |
Parts → a Part's Viewer button → Morphing. Only available for a single Part from the Parts page |
| Parameters |
Morphing panel → View parameters (to edit), or Deform Part → Parameter Deformation tab (to deform) |
| Direct control-node editing |
Sidebar Morphing tab, after Deform Part |
| Optimisation runs |
Runs → Create Optimisation Run |
| Optimisation maps |
Maps → Show Optimisation Maps: |
Each parameter moves its selected control nodes using one transformation type. The magnitude comes from the
slider when you deform a Part, or from the optimisation table. Each node's own factor, 1 by default, multiplies it.
| Type |
Per-node factors |
Effect of magnitude m on a node with factor f |
Slider range |
| Translate |
X, Y, Z |
Moves in proportion to m × f along each axis |
± (largest model dimension + 1) |
| Rotate |
Rotation Rate |
Rotates m × f degrees about the Axis of Rotation through the Origin of Transformation |
−180 to 180, in steps of 0.5 |
| Scale |
X, Y, Z |
Moves to origin + (position − origin) × m × f. A result of 1 leaves the node where it is; 0 moves it onto the origin |
0 to 2 |
| Setting |
Applies to |
Default |
How to set it |
| Origin of Transformation |
Rotate, Scale |
— |
Type X/Y/Z, or Select Centre Point: Grab Centre Point of Volume, Grab Centre Point of Selected Nodes, Select Zone as Centre Point |
| Axis of Rotation |
Rotate |
(1, 0, 0) |
Type a direction vector, or click X, Y or Z |
| Per-node factors |
All |
1 |
Per node, a whole column via its heading arrow, or Reset all to 1 |
Options on the Parameter Deformation tab. Except for the smoothing factors, they change only the preview.
| Option |
Default |
Notes |
| Live Geometry Update |
On |
When off, only the volume moves until you create the Part |
| Smoothing Applied |
On |
Preview only. Created Parts are always smoothed. Switches back on whenever you select a parameter |
| Sharpness Factor |
1.0 |
Minimum 0, steps of 0.1. Higher values give a sharper, more local deformation. Can't be 0 when creating a Part. Only shown while smoothing is on |
| Deformation Factor |
1.0 |
Steps of 0.1. Scales the overall smoothed displacement. Can't be 0 when creating a Part. Only shown while smoothing is on |
| Deformation Heatmap |
Off |
Colours the surface by how far it moved. Options: Auto-scale, Maximum (mm), colour. Shows the maximum and mean deformation |
| Simplify Mesh during deformation changes |
— |
Keeps the preview responsive on large Parts |
| See Original Part |
Off |
Overlays the undeformed Part |
| Column |
Contents |
| (drag handle) |
Drag to reorder. Order changes the result |
| Name |
The parameter |
| Transformation |
Translate, Rotate or Scale |
| Magnitude |
Enter a value, then click Apply |
| (actions) |
Show/hide · colour of the origin and axis markers (Rotate and Scale only) · Edit Parameter in chain · Remove Parameter from chain |
- Hidden deformations are not included in the Part made by Create Displayed Part.
- At least one deformation must stay visible.
- Movie Visualisation steps through the chain, with Delay (ms) from 250 to 10,000.
Optimisation table
| Method |
Inputs |
Default From → To |
Rows generated |
Limits |
| Latin Hypercube |
From, To per parameter; Detail Level |
Translate −0.3 → 0.3 · Rotate −25 → 25 · Scale 0.5 → 1.5 |
Detail Level × number of parameters |
At least 2 parameters. Detail Level 3–30, default 3. Up to 50 rows. To must be greater than From |
| Linear Sweep |
From, To per parameter; Number of Points |
as above |
Number of Points. All parameters step together from From to To |
At least 1 parameter. Number of Points 2–50, default 4 |
- Rows you add by hand are named "Deformation N". Generated rows are named
Def_<n> followed by their values.
- Generate Optimisation replaces every existing row.
- The starting magnitude in a new row is 0, or 1 for Scale.
Names and naming rules
| Item |
Rule / format |
| Volume name |
Unique for the Part. Can't contain "Autosave", "Empty" or "Deformed" |
| Parameter name |
Unique for the volume. Letters, digits, spaces, _ and - |
| Created Part |
<part name>-<volume name>-deformed-<N>, in the original Part's Part Library |
| Optimisation map parameters |
Deformation parameters are stored as map columns prefixed def_opt__. The prefix is hidden in the Run's Optimisation Parameters section |
Messages
| Message |
Meaning |
| "Select a part to create a volume." |
Select zones in the viewer before Create Volume |
| "There is an existing volume with this name." |
Choose another volume name |
| "Cannot edit parameters with unsaved changes." |
Save the volume first |
| "Deleting a plane would create an open volume" |
That plane can't be removed |
| "Volume is in use and cannot be deleted" |
The volume has been used in a Run |
| "Cannot delete parameters in a locked volume." |
The volume has been used in a Run |
| "Mesh node location in progress..." |
Deform Part is loading the geometry. Wait for it to finish |
| "Any deformations that are currently hidden will not be applied during part creation." |
Shown when creating a Part from a chain with hidden entries |
| "Can not delete the last attitude" |
An optimisation table needs at least one row |
| "Can not delete the base attitude for deformations" |
The baseline of an optimisation map can't be removed |
| "Maps associated with optimisations can not be copied" |
Optimisation maps can't be copied |
| "To use a predefined optimisation map, it must be attached to a run." |
Only optimisation maps already used by a Run can seed a new one |
| "Could not find part in assembly." |
The chosen Assembly doesn't contain the optimisation map's Part |
| "No attitudes that have deformations and have not been launched." |
Every deformed Attitude has been launched, so their magnitudes can no longer be edited |