What is an internal plate?

In model A the inner plate (or hole) (= plate 2) is completely surrounded by the outer plate (= plate 1). In other words, there is only one plate ( = the outer plate) adjacent to the inner plate. We call the inner plate an ‘internal plate’.

Where can an internal plate cause trouble?

• Internal plates can be hard to remove.
  For example: removing ‘Plate 2’ from model A, will not be possible
• It can lead to a bad definition of the plates when an outer plate contains a lot of internal plates.
• It will cause trouble when you want to define practical reinforcement using the button .

Why do internal plates cause problems?

Because of the way Diamonds stores the model:

• In model A Diamonds has to remember that plate 1 is part of the model and that plate 2 is located in plate 1.
  
• In model B Diamonds has to remember that plates 1, 2 and 3 are part of the model.
  A similar story can be made for cases C, D and E.

It goes without saying that it is easier to remember the structure for case B than the structure of case A. Especially when the model becomes large rand more complex. If follow that it is easier to perform a process (e.g. add extra model, mesh, …) on case B, than on case A.

Solution

It is recommended to limit the number of internal plates by using any of the configurations B, C, D or E. Model B is a slightly better modelling then C, D and E, as it has been made of pre-established points for the generation of the 2 ‘outer’ plates (= plate 1 and 3). As a result, the model doesn’t becomes unnecessarily heavier.