Download and execute the nVIZ Perceived Quality Plugin installer. After the installer has completed, you need to copy the two following files to your VRED plugins directory:
License File and Config File
The plugin supports the import of gap/flush nominal values or configurations, part transformations or rotations and arbitrary combinations. The definition of which data to read from the Excel file and the interpretation of the gap/flush nomenclature are defined in the config file. nVIZ will provide you with a custom Excel file parser and with a config file to meet the specific PQ process in your organization. Please contact nVIZ to receive your license file and config file.
The license and config files need to be copied to the directory:
After installation, the nVIZ Perceived Quality Plugin can be launched from the context menu like any other VRED module – right mouse click on the Main Tool Bar or on the Quick Access Bar:
Getting Started
Step 1: Import Gap/Flush Measure Data from Excel File
The starting point for a Perceived Quality review is the import of the gap/flush data stored in an Excel file. Typically this Excel file is generated from CAD and 3DCS data.
After successful data import, the gap and flush data is listed in the left tree widget. If the Excel sheet for combinations is filled in, the imported combinations will be listed in the center tree widget, grouped in ten groups based on the first digit of the combination ID.
Step 2: Check/Assign Part Names and Cache the Panels
Next, we need to make sure that all part names from Excel will be found in the VRED Scene Graph and we need to cache all the panels vertices in memory for the morphing operations.
As long as you have red lines, the plugin cannot create the panel cache, i.e., you cannot continue. You then have three options to continue:
Option 1: Make the part names in the VRED scene graph correspond to the Excel file.
Option 2: Remove the red gap/flush lines from the list:
Option 3: Assign the correct parts:
If all parts are found in the VRED Scene Graph, i.e., all lines green, the plugin will create a cache with all panel vertices for morphing. This process will take some time. The progress is shown in the three progress bars at the bottom of the plugin.
If the process succeeds, you will see a success message in the VRED terminal window:
Besides creating the panel cache, the Plug-In will also create a number of preset gap/flush variants (according to the checked options in the preferences).
Step 3: Verify the Gap/Flush Data
Step 4: Morph a Gap or Flush Variant
The morphed gap/flush variants will be added to the History on the right-hand tree widget. Click through the history states for real-time A-B comparison.
User Manual - Gap/ Flush Data
User Manual - Cache Panels Function
After every Excel import or database open function, the Plugin needs to check that all part names can be found in the VRED scene graph. If all parts are found, it needs to extract the positions of all vertices and cache them in memory for the morphing operations.
User Manual - Gap and Flush Variants
For automatic creation of gap/flush variants with the Cache Panels function, before executing Cache Panels, go to the preferences and check the check boxes. To add gap or flush variants after caching the panels, select the preset variant you want to add from the Deformations Variant Presets combo box (select All Checked Variants to have multiple variants added) and use the Add Gap/Flush Deformation Variants explained above.
User Manual - Measure Points
To see or to edit the measure point values, expand any gap/flush variant and the individual measure points and their values will be displayed in the columns “Nominal”, “Maximum”, “Minimum”, “Value”, “Ratio” and “Morph Radius”. The last three columns (=yellow values) can be directly edited with a right click on the value.
After editing the data, repeat the morph operation to see the difference.
Further editing options are available with a right click on the measure point ID.
User Manual - Part Transformations
Besides the panel deformation variants discussed above, the PQ Plugin also allows to add panel transformations to simulate effects like the tolerances of the mounting points for the hinges of the doors, bonet etc.
User Manual - Combinations of Gap/Flush/Transformation Variants
Combinations a required to study areas where multiple gaps end at one point, e.g. headlight-bonnet-fender. Also to study worst case scenarios, e.g., minimal gap with maximum flush. By default, the combinations tree widget is organized in ten groups for e.g. front, left-hand, rear, …
When importing combinations from an Excel file, the combinations will be placed into the groups based on the first digit of the combination’s ID. If no combinations are imported, right click a group > Add Combination to create a new combination.
To add gap/flush variants to a combination, simply drag a variant from the gap/flush tree and drop it on a combination in the combination tree.
History For Real-time A-B Gap or Flush Comparison
All morphed states are stored in the history list for real-time A-B comparison of the different gap/flush/transformation/combination variants. By clicking through the list, you can toggle the states.
As VRED models usually consume a large amount of memory, make sure that you have sufficient memory available on your PC for the history. The size of the history cache (number of states cached) can be set in the preferences.
Preferences