---
title: Adaptivity
slug: software/adaptivity
description: Adaptivity is one of Carbon Design Engine's tools to provide guidance on Cell Size Adaptivity for your lattice design by analyzing the thickness of the design space.
docTags:
createdAt: 2024-06-06T00:05:50.163Z
---
**Adaptivity** is one of Design Engine's tools to provide guidance on [Cell Size Adaptivity](docId\:UpBQxWWLjaafbScteZwEd) for your lattice design by analyzing the thickness of the design space.
## Which Cell Size Adaptivity Guidance Tool to Use
[Analysis](docId\:xtN8Td3DzR4G7acDr8_3b) and [Thickness](docId:_TCpiWy80_Ss1HXVrjWxq)** with **[Adaptivity](docId\:bRvmOw6LOHBP06yIA5N0k) are tools to review your lattice or your geometry to provide feedback and **advise on cell size adaptivity**. Each option looks at the design differently, so it is often advantageous to look at both options, as one may work better for your geometry. There are [two workflow options](docId\:UpBQxWWLjaafbScteZwEd):
1. Strut Lattice >> **Analysis**
2. Thickness >> **Adaptivity**
To apply the guideance results to your design, refer to the [Cell Size Adaptivity](docId\:UpBQxWWLjaafbScteZwEd) feature.
As a general guideline, the **Analysis** option tends to work well for more **organic shapes**, while **Thickness & ****Adaptivity** tends to work well for more **orthogonal shapes with parallel surfaces**.
***Organic Shape***
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**Analysis**
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Thickness & **Adaptivity**
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***Orthogonal Shape with Parallel Surfaces***
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**Analysis**
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Thickness & **Adaptivity**
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# Thickness & Adaptivity
The [Thickness](docId:_TCpiWy80_Ss1HXVrjWxq) feature is a visualization and measurement tool to inform cell size selection. Hovering over the points quickly provides **dimensional data**. This can be used on its own or in conjunction with the [Adaptivity](docId\:bRvmOw6LOHBP06yIA5N0k) tool
The **Adaptivity** tool **analyzes the thickness data against a maximum cell size** to advise on cell size in small feature areas. Hovering over the analysis points quickly provides **suggested cell sizes**.
## Thickness & Adaptivity Workflow
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1. Start with Thickness
1. Select input mesh
2. Click Generate
3. Click Thickness to view
4. Hover over points to view thickness
2. Select Adaptivity
1. Select thickness results
2. Select a maximum cell size
3. Optionally choose a minimum cell size
4. Click Generate
5. Hide thickness points
6. Click Cell Size Adaptivity to view
7. Hover over adaptivity points to view suggested cell size
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## How Thickness & Adaptivity Work
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### How Thickness Works
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The Thickness feature reads the depth from a given point via a **30 degree cone**.
The result is a median measurement of depths within that cone.
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::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/3CesIL2dYMCHPZvRjp8S0/6B6GiU2Zp-v71JXtVcDaX_cone-thickness-xs.gif" size="80" width="400" height="400" position="center" showCaption="false"}
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### What Thickness Results Show
Thickness provides points across the surface of the part, ranging in color from **light** to **dark blue**.
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Each point registers a measurement across the depth of the part at that point.
**Light blue** indicates the smaller depths, ranging to **dark blue** for the larger depths.
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::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/3CesIL2dYMCHPZvRjp8S0/QTnrEFLBZoyPSIU0IsMHG_thickness-400.gif" size="80" width="400" height="400" position="center" showCaption="false"}
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### Adaptivity from Thickness
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The Adaptivity feature analyzes thickness measurements and compares that data against a maximum cell size.
Suggested cell sizes are provided where the thickness may not work well with the maximum cell size.
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::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/3CesIL2dYMCHPZvRjp8S0/46L2vZwB8DtLKEpz39aPv_thickness-adaptivity-400.gif" size="80" width="400" height="400" position="center" showCaption="false"}
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If no points are revealed in the analysis result, then no problematic areas were found and therefore no suggestions are provided.
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