How to warp the cell size of a Cell Map

Objective:

Learn how to warp the cell size of a Cell Map using the Ramp block.

Applies to:

  • Lattices
  • Cell Maps

Procedure:

1. Create your base Cell Map: This is the cell map that we are warping.

  • Add a Rectangular Cell Map block (in this example, we use the Rectangular Cell Map block, but you can use whichever cell map you prefer)
    • Input a Cube to use as the Volume
    • Set the Cell size to 10 x 10 x 10

Creating a Rectangular Cell Map from a cube.

2. Warp your Cell Map

The Warp Cell Map block.

  • Add a Warp Cell Map block
  • Insert the Base Cell Map from Step 1

The Warp Cell Map block has scale inputs for U, V, and W, which warp the cells in the cell map. 

Since the block prevents out-of-plane warping at the boundaries of the Cell Map, the amount of local stretching and compression that can take place is restricted. This means that local cell size depends on how large the weight field is locally relative to the weight field in the rest of the domain. Hence, there is no direct correlation between the inputs of U, V, and W scale fields and the output cell size.

Positive values stretch out the cells and negative values compress them. To scale the values, you need to use a field. 

Some examples of fields that you can use include, but aren't limited to:

  • Extracting the U, V, or W fields from the original Cell Map. 
    • If you use the U, V, or W fields, you need to use that field in the corresponding U, V, or W scale inputs to see results.

Using the Warp Cell Map block to modify the cell map in the U direction.

  • Using a Ramp with any field

Using the Warp Cell Map block to modify a cell map in all directions. The field used to warp the cell map is created using a Ramp block.

3. Build the Lattice: Build up your lattice now that the cell map is warped and ready to go.

  • Add a Periodic Lattice
  • Input a Unit Cell block and choose the unit cell you want
  • Input your Warp Cell Map block (for this example, we used the Ramped cell map)
  • Set the Unit cell parameter 1 to 1mm

A lattice generated using the warped cell map.

 

A few more representations are displayed in the example file, a linear warp and a radial warp.

 

The top lattice is created with a regular rectangular cell map, while the bottom lattice uses a warped cell map.

The left lattice is created with a regular rectangular cell map, while the right lattice uses a warped cell map.

And that’s it! You’ve successfully warped and ramped your Periodic Lattice

Are you still having issues? Contact the support team, and we’ll be happy to help!

Download the Example file:

More on this topic:

Keywords:

 ramp lattice volume ramping body edit scale cell periodic vary warp how-to graded warping U V W size 
Was this article helpful?