---
title: Thickness
slug: software/thickness
description: The Thickness feature is a visualization and measurement tool in Carbon Design Engine to inform cell size selection. 
docTags: 
createdAt: 2024-06-06T00:05:50.163Z
---

# 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

::embed[]{url="https://vimeo.com/983271594"}

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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 <font color="#00ecff">**light**</font> to <font color="#0001ff">**dark blue**</font>.

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Each point registers a measurement across the depth of the part at that point.

<font color="#00ecff">**Light blue**</font> indicates the smaller depths, ranging to <font color="#0001ff">**dark blue**</font> 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.&#x20;

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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:::hint{type="info"}
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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