To modify lattices automatically

Functions to clean up or modify lattices using automated methods

Note: These options are not available while you are editing the lattice. You can tell from the color of the displayed lattice: if it is light-blue, editing is active. To leave editing, click Done in the context view.

All of these functions create a new lattice body, so you have options available to control what to do with the old body, whether to keep it, and if so, whether to hide and to exclude from the part output.

To remove open beams automatically

When generating lattices, some junctions can end up terminating in only one single beam. To remove these junctions and beams automatically, use this function.

Tip: If there are no open beams, this option is disabled.

1. In the project tree, select the lattice or surface lattice of a component.
2. In the main menu, click Remove Open Beams.
3. In the context view, adjust values as needed, including whether to keep trimming until there are no open beams left (Trim recursively) in case removing beams once would still leave open beams.
4. Click Generate.

To snap two separate lattices together

Snapping lattices attempts to connect two individual lattice bodies into one single new lattice body. This is done by moving the outermost nodes of the source lattice to connect them with existing nodes of the target lattice.

1. In the project tree, select one of the lattices or surface lattices of a component.
2. In the main menu, click Snap to Other Lattice.
3. Adjust values as needed, including selecting the right lattice from the Target lattice dropdown.
4. Click Generate.

• Max. snapping distance: A source node may be moved up to this distance. If no target node is found within this distance, the source node is not moved and no connection is formed.
• Max. snapping valency: There may be not one source node but a group of them that qualify for snapping to a single target node. Adjust here how many of them are allowed to be snapped.
• Merge duplicate beams: If multiple source nodes qualify for snapping to a single target node, especially at the end of open beams, they are all snapped even if they originate from the same "parent" node, causing duplicate connections. Keep this activated to discard those duplicates and keep only one connection.

To add a thickness gradient

A thickness gradient makes beams across a span of lattice progressively thicker or thinner. You can provide XYZ coordinates for each of the beginning (highlighted with a red plane) and the end (yellow plane) of the gradient, or use the gizmos in the display.

1. In the project tree, select one of the lattices or surface lattices of a component.
2. In the main menu, click Apply Thickness Gradient.
3. Adjust values as needed, including selecting the right lattice from the Target lattice dropdown.
4. Click Generate.

Three steps of creating a thickness gradient. From left: The original body, its lattice with the gradient being set up, the finished lattice with gradient.