---
title: Sides per Strut
slug: software/sides-per-strut
description: The Sides per Strut features in Carbon Design Engine allows the user to choose how many facets the struts' circular cross section becomes when converted to a printable triangular mesh.
docTags: 
createdAt: 2024-06-06T00:05:50.163Z
---

Strut lattices created by Design Engine are converted to printable mesh files via the [Solidify](docId\:pCwFrPen5GnTNB9INmFIB) operation. To become a triangular mesh, the circular cross section of struts are converted to a faceted circular cross section.

The **Sides per Strut** feature allows the user to choose how many facets the struts' circular cross section becomes. By **default**, lattices are given **6-sided** strut cross sections.

# Accessing Sides per Strut

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![Sides per strut in Solidify operation](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Sides-per-strut/Sides-per-strut-find_sml.png)
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**SOLIDIFY **(operation)

- **Sides per Strut **(field option)
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# Using Sides per Strut

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- Valid inputs are between **3-16 sides**
- Larger numbers yield a **less faceted, rounder **aesthetic to the lattice struts
- The effect of a larger number is a** larger file size **for the downloaded lattice mesh.
  - All files will vary by complexity.
  - The example part shown here yields a 40% larger file size for a 16-sided strut compared to the standard 6-sided strut file. 
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![Section cuts shown in red for clarity](https://res.cloudinary.com/carbon3d/image/upload/t_auto_quality_format/Education/Software/Design-Engine/Tools-Features/Sides-per-strut/Sides-per-strut.gif "Section cuts shown in red for clarity")
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