Defining the Light Guide Prisms

This page shows how to define the light guide prisms' and prisms' milling construction mode and parameters.

To define the Light Guide Prisms and their Milling:

Prerequisites: A Light Guide Body should already be defined.

Each parameter of the prism geometries and milling can be set as constant, variable or file based whatever the operation selected (Add, Remove, Hybrid). For more information on the parameters, refer to the Prism Parameters.

Make sure to apply consistent prism parameters values, otherwise you may generate prism with wrong shape. For instance, a milling radius larger than the prism size may generate wrong prism shape after applying the milling.

  1. Before setting each parameter's value, define its construction mode:
    • Select Constant to exclude parameter variation along the guide. This mode ensures prisms parameters are constant along the guide curve.
    • Select Control points if you want to create parameter variation along the guide curve.
    • Select Input file to import a *.csv file defining the prisms repartition along the light guide body.
      Note: When using *.csv files, make sure the regional settings and number format of the workstation are correctly defined. A dot "." should be defined as Decimal symbol.
      Tip: From the Design panel, right-click the light guide feature and click Export as CSV file to export all prisms parameters. The file can then be modified and used as input for light guide definition.
    • Select Automatic if you want parameters to be automatically calculated according to other settings.
      Note: Automatic mode is only available for Start Angle, End Angle and Length.
  2. Once the prism's construction mode is defined:
    • In case of a Constant mode, set the Parameter value that will be constant along the guide curve.
    • In case of a Control points mode:

      1. Click to add as many control points as needed.
      2. Set their Position along the curve. The position is expressed in % (a position of 50 places the control point in the middle of the guide).
      3. Define the parameter's value for each control point.
      Note: The variation is measured on the curve minus the Start and End.

    • In case of an Input file mode, browse and load the CSV file.

  3. Click Compute to build the feature.
The Light Guide is created and appears in the 3D view.
Now you can define the Manufacturing parameters to take into account a correct removal from the mold.