Set Volume/Surface Tolerances

Optionally, define Tolerances for the volume and surface of elements’ colliding parts.

Elements are considered to collide if the colliding parts’ volume or (if enabled) the colliding parts’ surface area exceeds the Tolerance value.

Note: The units here are those of the project’s Working Units (Options > Project Preferences).

TolerancesSurface.png

Volume Tolerance

Collision Detection always considers colliding elements in terms of the volume of the colliding parts.

You can set an optional Volume Tolerance: If the volume of the two elements’ colliding parts exceeds this tolerance value, the elements are treated as colliding.

Check for Surface Collision

As an additional option, the Collision Detection function also checks the surface area of the colliding parts. If you enable Surface check and set a tolerance, then elements are treated as colliding if the colliding surface area exceeds this Surface Tolerance value.

Note: If Surface Check is on, it is possible that two elements will be considered as colliding even if the colliding volume doesn’t exceed the Volume Tolerance - because the colliding surface area exceeds the Surface Tolerance. See the example below.