I don't know if this is the proper forum, but I couldn't find anything else that might be more correct, apologies if I'm in the wrong room.
I have an assembly that is compiled from 15 individual 'layers' of parts. Each part when evaluated returns roughly 2.5 cubic inches. Let's just say a total 37.5 cubic inches total.
However, when I evaluate the assembly, SW returns 65 cubic inches.
It is important to the client to keep the volume as low as possible, and I am supposed to give him an accurate measurement.
Due to NDA I cannot share the files here. They are complex though. Each layer has lots of tapers, hollows, fillets, etc. So, manually calculating the volumes would find me playing with my rubber ducky in the corner of the closet soon enough :-). I must rely on the algorithms from SW to do the math for me, but in this case I can't trust SW.
The question therefore is, should I trust the volume returned from the individual layers and add them manually together to find the total? Or should I trust the assembly?
Many thanks
Carter (now going quietly to the closet)
Make sure there is no hidden part in the assembly or a part saved internally in the assembly or there are more instances of the same part via component pattern. Also check if by mistake you have set some density to the assembly.
For a check select few components and then evaluate them using mass properties. Compare the results with individual part vs combined results. And finally try to find out the reason for the wrong values.
If everything is correct but you still getting wrong results, then please contact your VAR to fix the issue as without files one may not be resolve the issue.