Solid - Surface Spring

Form: Assign Springs to Solid Object Face

Use the Assign menu > Solid > Surface Spring command to access the Assign Spring to Solid Object Face form and assign solid surface springs to selected solid objects. Solid surface springs can be assigned on any face of the solid object.

Select the solid object(s) to be assigned surface springs.
Click the Assign menu > Solid > Surface Spring command to access the Assign Spring to Solid Object Face form.

- Spring Type.
- - Simple. When this option is selected, use the default value for the stiffness per unit area or enter another value in the Spring Stiffness per Unit Area edit box. Also specify if the spring has both Tension and Compression, or only Tension or only Compression by selecting the appropriate option from the Simple Spring Resists drop-down list.
  - Link Property. When this option is selected, the spring is a based on a link property. The option will be available if link properties have already been defined in the model; in that case, select the property from the drop-down list. If no link property has been defined, clicking the + (plus) symbol beside the drop-down list will access the Link/Support Properties form, which can be used to define the necessary link property. Then select that property in the drop-down list.
  - - Link Local 2-Axis Angle from Default Orientation edit box. This edit box becomes available when the spring is being defined using a link property definition. Use the edit box to specify an orientation angle for the link local axis measured counterclockwise from its default orientation.

- Solid Object Face drop-down list. Use this drop-down list to specify the face to which the surface spring is being assigned.
- Spring Tension Direction. Specify the direction of the spring tension, or when the Spring Type is Link Property, the direction of the spring, positive local 1-axis:
- - Parallel to Solid Object Local Axis option and drop-down list. With this option, use the drop-down list to choose the local axis direction of the solid object in the model to which the spring is being assigned. The direction of the spring tension will be parallel to the selected local axis direction.
  - Normal to Specified Solid Object Face option and drop-down list. Specify that the spring tension direction be normal to a face of the solid object. Use the drop-down list to specify that the tension be inward or outward.
  - User Specified Direction Vector option and Coordinate System drop-down list and Global X, Y and Z Component edit boxes. Use this option to specify the spring tension direction along a specified vector. Select the Coordinate System for the vector from the drop-down list. The possible options include the Global axis, any user-defined coordinate systems, and the local axes of the line object to which the spring is assigned.

- Options. Specify how the springs are to be assigned.
- Add to Existing Springs option. Adds this assignment to the existing spring assignment(s).
- Replace Existing Springs option. Replaces the existing spring assignment(s) with this new assignment. If no assignment exists, a new assignment is made. This is the default option.
- Delete Existing Springs option. Deletes all surface spring assignments made to the selected solid object.