Support

This page describes the parameters to set when working with a Parabolic or Freeform support.

Parabolic Surface

  • Focal: The focal length of the support is defined differently depending on the beam type selected.
    • For Freeform and Radii beam types: the focal length corresponds to the distance between the source barycenter and the support apex.
    • For Sharp Cutoff beam: the focal length is the distance between the barycenter of the source and the corner of the element closest to this source. If this distance is not unique, the Focal matches the distance related to the first corner met when going through them in the following order:
      Figure 1. Corners are swept in this order: Top Left (TL), Top Right (TR), Bottom Left (BL), Bottom Right (BR)
  • X center: tilt of the parabolic support axis around X support axis.
  • Y center: tilt of the parabolic support axis around Y support axis.
  • Centered on X/Y spread: Links the value of X/Y center to the middle of the horizontal/vertical specification of the beam when set to True.
    Note: This parameter is only available with the Freeform beam type.

This parameter horizontally and/or vertically orientates the parabolic support to make the beam pattern match the most with the specification rectangle.

The formulas used when the Boolean is true are the following:

  • X center = (X start + X end) / 2
  • Y center = (Y start + Y end) / 2

Freeform Surface

When working with a freeform surface as support, the only parameter to adjust is the Shift of the facets from the surface.

  • Shift corresponds to a translation of the selected group along the Grid Axis. If Shift > 0, the translation is done in the Grid Axis direction. If Shift < 0, the translation is done in the opposite of the Grid Axis direction.
    Shift = 0 for all groups Pink group Shift = 5mm Red group Shift = 1mm Blue group Shift = -3mm Yellow group Shift =2mm
  • Only one point on support is a boolean imposing that all the elements have only one point belonging to the support.
    Note: This parameter is visible at the feature level only.

    When this parameter is set to True, elements are tilt in order for their beam patterns to be centered on the target origin.