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SunSolve

Custom objects

Custom objects are user-defined 3D shapes that can be placed in the unit system to represent obstructions such as poles, trees, equipment, or other structures that shade or reflect light onto modules. Like all objects in the unit system, custom objects are simulated as repeating infinitely across the infinite array.

A semi-sphere custom object in the 3D preview

Built-in shapes

Section titled “Built-in shapes”

The following primitive shapes are available by default under the “Basic” folder:

  • Box
  • Sphere
  • Cylinder
  • Semi-Sphere
  • Semi-Cylinder

Additional shapes can be imported from STL files — see Importing custom shapes from STL.

Object properties

Section titled “Object properties”

Each custom object has the following configurable properties:

PropertyDescription

Location, Determines the parent reference frame: System - Fixed (stationary),, System - Tracking (rotates with a single-axis tracker),, or Module (relative to each module).

Type, The 3D shape to use,, selected from a folder and shape within the shape library.Position, Offset from the origin of the parent reference frame along each axis (X/Y/Z).

Size, Scale of the object along each axis. A lock toggle constrains all three axes to scale uniformly.

Rotation, Rotation in degrees around each axis.

Layout, Single places one object. Repeated repeats the object with configurable spacing and count.

Transparent, When enabled the object is excluded from ray tracing and appears in the system image only.

Material, The optical surface applied to the object. See Selecting frame material for details on how material selection affects optical properties.

Custom objects in (left) 'System - Tracking' and (right) 'Module' reference frames

Custom objects in (left) ‘System - Tracking’ and (right) ‘Module’ reference frames

Repeated layout

Section titled “Repeated layout”

When the layout is set to Repeated, the object is repeated a specified number of times with a configurable spacing in X, Y, and Z.

Custom objects arranged in a repeated layout

Importing custom shapes from STL

Section titled “Importing custom shapes from STL”

Custom shapes can be imported from .stl files via the right-pane Import system sidebar.

The Import system sidebar showing the Custom shapes section

From the sidebar, select File import then Select STL file. After loading, the default scaling and rotation can be adjusted before clicking Next. Finally, choose a folder and a name then click Import. The imported shape will then appear under Type > Custom shapes when configuring a custom object.

The maximum STL file size is 5 MB. Only the STL format is supported — other 3D formats such as DWF or DXF must be converted to STL before importing.

A tractor modelled as a custom object in the unit system

3D preview

Section titled “3D preview”

Each custom object includes an interactive 3D preview showing the object within its parent reference frame.

  • Toggle origin axes displays the X, Y, and Z coordinate axes of the parent reference frame (system fixed node, tracking node, or module) in the preview, helping to verify position and orientation.

Validation

Section titled “Validation”

Objects positioned outside the unit system bounds or more than 10 m above the system are excluded from the simulation. When this occurs, the unit system boundary box turns red and a warning is displayed in the preview.