Distance & Clearance Analysis

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Measure spacing between parts

A design review may need the narrowest gap between parts or space along an installation direction. Inspection software may need the distance from a measured point to a CAD surface.

Distance & Clearance Analysis adds measurements on meshes and precise CAD geometry to your application. Find closest points, identify the faces or edges involved, and show where a spacing problem needs attention.

How it works

Select two model items, or a point and a model. Choose a shortest-distance measurement, or set a direction to find an opposing surface. The result includes a distance, supporting geometry, and measurement locations that your application can highlight in 3D.

When users know which area needs attention, restrict the measurement to selected components or a region of the model.

Faster checks with prepared model data

An optimized model representation reduces unnecessary distance calculations. Prepared model data can be reused for repeated checks, helping measurement tools respond as users inspect different parts or positions.

Multi-core processing can share larger part-to-part workloads across available CPU cores. This supports interactive measurement and batch assembly checks, with accuracy settings chosen for each task.

Choose precise CAD geometry or meshes

Precise BRep measurements use model curves and trimmed surfaces directly. Use them when a measurement needs to follow the design geometry, including curved faces and small gaps that a coarse mesh may miss.

Mesh measurements use a model’s polygonal surfaces, which are already available in many 3D review and processing tools.

Choose mesh detail around the smallest clearance your application needs to distinguish. A finer tessellation follows curved geometry more closely and adds more elements to process. Keep representation and accuracy settings with reported measurements so reviewers can understand the result.

Keep measurements linked to their source

Return closest points with their supporting face, edge, or vertex. Users can select a value and inspect the model region behind it.

In assemblies with repeated parts, keep results attached to the correct placed component. This makes highlighting and reports clear when the same part appears in several positions.

A result status shows whether all required calculations completed. Your application can flag incomplete measurements for review before using them in a report or a decision.

Measure a gap along a chosen direction

Minimum distance shows where two parts come closest. A directional clearance shows how much space lies along a selected line. Use it to inspect a gap beside a mounting face, investigate opposing walls, or check space along a planned access direction.

Show the measurement direction and supporting surfaces alongside the value. This helps engineers compare the measurement with their own assembly, installation, or service requirements.

Make space requirements part of a design review

A component can fit inside an assembly and still leave too little room for installation or service. Discovering that issue after surrounding parts are fixed creates extra design work. A review tool can help teams check required spacing while layout choices are still open.

Users could measure a shortest gap around a housing or inspect spacing along a selected access direction. Results linked to the placed components show which regions need attention. Your application can compare completed measurements with project-specific limits and keep findings with the design revision.

Designers and service engineers can review the measured gap against an agreed limit. Tool access and complete removal paths need additional checks beyond a single distance measurement.

Add measurement to review and inspection tools

Add fast distance checks to interactive CAD measurement, point-to-CAD inspection, assembly clearance review, and layout tools. Pair with Collision Detection for interference checks or PMI Editor to add a specified dimension or tolerance.

Bring a distance or clearance task from your workflow, along with sample models and accuracy needs. We can help choose suitable measurement settings and a clear way to show results.