Draft Analysis

The Draft Analysis can be called from the two following top menus:

Analysis > Geometry > Draft (this is the "standard" Pro/ENGINEER draft check)
Analysis > Mold Analysis... then select Draft Check in the Type drop down list
- Available in MOLD and CAST MFG Assemblies.
- Available from Part Mode Mold/Cast Application.

Both menus provide similar results; the "Mold Analysis" draft check is part of the Pro/Engineer Mold/Cast functionality; some users might prefer to use this analysis. The "Mold Analysis" draft check allows to use a "log" scale for the display, and also (in a mold mfg model) uses the Pull Direction by default so that the user does not need to select a direction reference.

This section focuses on the "standard" (Analysis > Geometry > Draft) analysis. Explore the Analysis > Mold Analysis > Draft Check on your own.

To follow along in Pro/ENGINEER, open the EGG.PRT file attached to this tutorial.

Analysis > Geometry > Draft

While keeping all defaults in the "Analysis" tab, select "Definition" tab to review all details
REFERENCES:
- Surface: you may select the entire model (select Solid Geometry in the selection filter bottom of Pro/E window; or click the right mouse button over a surface until "SolidGeom" is selected) or a selection of surfaces only,
- Direction: a plane, axis or straight edge to define the mold opening direction
ANGLE:
- to check the model in only 1 direction; the analysis is done starting at the parting line of the model and in the selected direction
- to check the model in both sides of the parting line; select this option.
- The numerical value: a value of 5 degrees in both directions will color the model based on the surfaces that are between -5 and +5 degrees from the direction reference.
PLOT:
- Different calculation techniques and qualities; the defaults are generally sufficient for most geometries.

The result is:

The model is colored (see previous image)
A color scale is proposed to the user...

You may interact with the Color Scale window to see different important information:

Will color the model using 2 colors only: the parting line is then easy to identify on the model if you have selected a both side analysis. By default, the color separation limit will be set at the angle of 0 degrees.

You may edit the values in the window. For instance, if you change the bottom value to 0 and the top value to 40... you will see the separation limit for 20 degrees in a both sides analysis.

The coloring scale is presented as a Rainbow Plot. By default, the scale is set to CONTINUOUS.
Uncheck Continuous and set the number of colors to 3. This is a very commonly used analysis to understand:

What are all the surfaces with a draft greater than 5 degrees (in our example). In the image below, those are all the surfaces in magenta and cyan colors.
What are all the surfaces between -5 and +5 degrees. In this area, a mold maker may expect marks during the mold opening... this is the reason why even a simple egg might be drafted to avoid marks.

Another example with the model 71010.PRT would provide a results like this one...

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