Additional Interval Constraints

Curve Minimum | Maximum

Rather than specifying a hard interval count, which may overconstrain the interval matcher, the user can specify an upper and lower bound that is acceptable. Typical uses are sweeping a complex assembly where the normal compromises lead to too many (or few) intervals on specific curves, or thin layers.

{Group|Body|Volume|Surface} <range>
{Interval | Size | Periodic Interval} {[Lower]|Upper}
Bound {On|Off|<bound>}

Curve <range> {Interval | Size} {[Lower]|Upper}
Bound {On|Off|<bound>}

Loop Minimum | Maximum

The user can specify the minimum and maximum number of intervals on a loop. This is mostly used for small loops, such as holes drilled in a plate, to ensure they have at least 4 or 6 intervals. If no entties are specified, then the setting is applied globally to all current and future loops in the model.

set [{group|volume|surface|curve} <range>]
interval loop minimum {<count>|default}

set [{group|volume|surface|curve} <range>]
interval loop maximum {<count>|default}

list [{group|volume|surface|curve} <range>]
interval loop [minimum] [maximum] [default]

Manual Constraints

General Constraints

Curve <curve_id_range> Interval {Equal_to|Greater_than_equal|Less_than_equal} [Curve] <curve_id_range> [ Extra <intervals>]

Curve <curve_id_range> Interval {Equal_to|Greater_than_equal|Less_than_equal} Extra <intervals>

These sets a constraint that the interval matcher resolves when it is run. E.g., the command "curve 2 3 greater_than_equal curve 4 5 extra 4" stores the inequality constraint "c2 + c3 >= c4 + c5 + 4" in the interval matcher. While this can resolve quality issues, it is also an easy way to make the interval matching problem infeasible.

Sets of Curves with the Same Intervals

Interval same is a two way constraint that is resolved immediately. If the user subsequently changes the interval on a curve in the set, then the other curves are changed immediately. One problems is if the user hard sets an interval on one curve and then sets a size on another, the hard set interval on the other curve is not changed.

Curve <range> Interval {Same|Different}

List Curve [ <curve_id_range> ] Interval Same

Specifying that curves have the "same" intervals stores them in a set. More curves may be added to an existing set, and sets merged, by future commands. The current contents of the affected sets are printed after each command. A curve may be removed from a set by specifying that its intervals are "different."

Even

The user can also constrain the parity of intervals on curves:

{Curve|Surface|Volume} <range> Interval {Even | Odd}

If Even is specified, then during subsequent interval setting commands and during interval assignment, curves are forced to have an even number of intervals. If the current number of intervals is odd, then it is increased by one to be even. If Odd is specified then intervals may be either even or odd. Setting intervals to even is useful in problems where adjoining faces are paved one by one without global interval assignment.