Inspect layers, add patches and understand ply drops

1. Finish the skin on the same mold

   Import STEP… and select only the tooling surface. Use these faces for my part creates whole-face coverage. Apply the reference material set, define your spanwise rosette and Apply stack pattern with QI 8-ply. Declare the first listed ply as the tool side.

   Controls this step usesImport STEP…Use these faces for my partApply setApply stack patternFirst ply in the list

   Expected: Eight plies cover the same selected CAD face. At 0.20 mm per ply, the declared base stack is 1.60 mm.

   Note: Leave shafts and back faces out. Reference thickness is an assumption, not qualified material data.

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2. Watch the layup being built

   Choose Stacked layers above the 3D view. Press Play layup, then move Build through ply to inspect an intermediate stage. Show all plies restores the complete view.

   Controls this step usesStacked layersPlay layupBuild through plyShow all plies

   Expected: The actual trimmed footprint of each committed ply appears on your mold in tool-to-bag order. The design revision stays unchanged.

   Note: Thickness display × changes only the drawing. The numerical thickness remains your declared value.

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3. Explode and inspect one layer

   Choose Exploded layers and adjust Layer gap. Drag to orbit, click a layer and tick Isolate selected ply. Untick Show mold and use Fit view for a closer inspection. Return to Show all plies when finished.

   Controls this step usesExploded layersLayer gapIsolate selected plyShow moldFit viewShow all plies

   Expected: Each layer has its own CAD footprint. Selecting a ply reveals its material, nominal thickness, angle and region.

   Note: Normal offsets are illustrative. A flipped mold normal can be inspected with Flip display side; this view does not solve curved buildup or fibre drape.

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4. Define a tapered reinforcement patch

   Return to Coverage, then Regions. Choose the same tooling group, set XY projection and add four points numerically. In the foil exercise, Patch A uses (-400,-115), (400,-115), (360,10), (-360,10), in millimetres. Name it Patch A and press Apply boundary.

   Controls this step usesCoverageRegionsAdd point numericallyRegion nameApply boundary

   Expected: A real OCCT clip trims the upper skin inside the trapezoid. Its measured surface area differs from the polygon area.

   Note: These coordinates belong to the recorded foil mold. For another mold, use its own coordinates and a projection that intersects the selected face.

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5. Add a patch pair with another footprint

   In Ply stack, add a +45° and a -45° ply on Patch A at 0.20 mm. Repeat the boundary workflow for Patch B: (-260,-100), (260,-100), (220,-10), (-220,-10); assign two carbon fabric plies at 0.25 mm. Patch C: (-120,-85), (120,-85), (100,-25), (-100,-25); assign two UD plies at 0.20 mm.

   Controls this step usesPly stackAdd a plyMaterial referenceThickness (mm)Angle (°)RegionAdd ply

   Expected: The design has 14 plies across four regions. The smaller patches stop progressively earlier in span and chord.

   Note: Place these pairs above the base skin. Ending a ply defines a drop footprint; it does not define a qualified taper, resin fill or cover transition.

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6. See the drops in the thickness section

   Choose Thickness section, XY projection and the X direction. Move Across until Y is near -50 mm on the foil. Compare the plot with Exploded layers and ply-by-ply playback.

   Controls this step usesThickness sectionSection projection planeSection directionSection positionExploded layers

   Expected: The sampled local stack rises from 8 to 10, 12 and 14 active plies, with declared thicknesses 1.60, 2.00, 2.50 and 2.90 mm. Moving the section shows the varying chordwise footprint.

   Note: This section samples display tessellations. It is a local stack schematic; it does not certify an exact curved solid, transition or strength.

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7. Compare an edit and undo it

   Edit a patch ply angle or Thickness (mm), Apply changes, then inspect the layer and section again. Press Undo to return to the earlier design. Reorder or duplicate a ply and inspect the result before keeping it.

   Controls this step usesEditThickness (mm)Apply changesUndoDuplicate

   Expected: The layer, section and part-plan declarations follow the committed design. Undo restores the previous geometry and numerical thickness.

   Note: Editing a ply thickness does not change the material card. Check both declarations deliberately.

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8. Measure exact coverage and hand over the design

   Use Review my design. Expand Additional analysis, select overlapping regions and Measure local declared-thickness map. Read the measured evidence separately from the sampled section. Save project, Export project and Get layup schedule for handoff.

   Controls this step usesReview my designAdditional analysisMeasure local declared-thickness mapSave projectExport projectGet layup schedule

   Expected: You have an editable patch design, a visible ply-drop profile and a current schedule. Exact measured region evidence names its scope and revision.

   Note: A regional symmetry or balance check does not prove that the combined local stack is symmetric, strong or producible.

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