A better "Solids" representation.

[jgb]

This is actually a 2 part (related) suggestion.

1. Right now if an object is a solid, its volume is shown in Entity Info.
   Then I have to define outside of SU its material density and compute its weight.
   Then I have to go back to components and in the description, enter the weight in a unit of choice.

The problem here, aside from the extra computations, is that if I change the units, the weight is not in the changed units (ie: kg/lbs), or if I modify the solid object, the defined weight must be recalculated and re-entered.

The solution is to define in SU Materials, a density for any material that would apply to a solid, ie: concrete, aluminum, steel, etc. Then let Entity Info display the weight in any current units.
Allow for manually entering/editing any materials density. Just colors would be zero density.

So how would SU "know" an object is a defined density material, considering you can paint an object in multiple colors/materials?

Simple. Allow the exterior faces of the object to be any color or material, but the INTERIOR FACES MUST be 100% a single defined density material. (99% and no weight calc.)

2. When an object is displayed with a cut through section plane, a solid objects interior is quite visible making it difficult to visualize as a solid, especially if a section cut is printed/exported for others to see. This visualization is particularly difficult if the section cut is through a complex mechanical assembly like an auto transmission. You cannot discern the gears and bits.

Using the criteria from above to identify a solids material (interior faces), the section cut of only the solids should be faced with the solids material. This cut face is only seen in section cuts and are not part of the objects geometry.