TWO-LINE BINDER

 

The TWO-LINE BINDER function is used to create a binder with curvatures in both the X and Y directions.  The dialog window is shown in Figure 6.2.1.

Figure 6.2.1 Two-line Binder

 

BINDER MARGIN and BINDER SHIFT parameters are used to control the binder size and position relative to the part.

 

l       BINDER MARGIN

BINDER MARGIN allows the user to expand the binder. The value of the BINDER MARGIN is the distance between the boundary of the original binder and the expanded binder.

 

l       BINDER SHIFT

BINDER SHIFT is used to adjust the vertical distance between the part and the binder.  If the value of the BINDER SHIFT is positive, the binder will be shifted along the -Z axis. A negative value will shift the binder along the +Z axis. BINDER SHIFT directly affects the draw depth of a part.

 

l       DEFINE BINDER ORIENTATION

DEFINE BINDER ORIENTATION controls the U-V direction of the binder surface.  TRIM REFERENCE LINE adjusts the length of the REFERENCE LINE, which controls the binder shape.

 

When the button is clicked, the program displays the part in the X-Y view.  The program will highlight the POINT OF FIRST CONTACT with a white circle and prompt:

CLICK AND HOLD THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON AT THE CROSS HAIR CENTER.
MOVE THE MOUSE TO ROTATE.  RELEASE THE MOUSE BUTTON WHEN DONE

 

The program draws two orthogonal cross lines on the binder as shown in Figure 6.2.2.  The line with an arrowhead indicates that it is the U-axis of the binder surface.  Click, hold and move the mouse to obtain a desirable orientation of the U-V axes.

 

l       TRIM REFERENCE LINE

 

The shape of the binder is determined by the following factors: the reference point, the orientation of the U-V axes, the length of the U-V axes, and the part geometry.   If some of the details on the part are not acceptable for the binder shape, the user can trim the reference line to adjust the curvature of the binder. Refer to Figure 6.2.3, Figure 6.2.4 and Figure 6.2.5 to see binders created by different lengths of U-V axes.

 

  

 

 

Figure 6.2.2 Two Control Lines         Figure 6.2.3 Two Line binder (before trimming)

 

 

 

Figure 6.2.4 Trim Reference Line         Figure 6.2.5 Two Line Binder From Trimmed Reference Line

 

To create a binder follows these steps:

1.        Enter the desired BINDER MARGIN and BINDER SHIFT.

2.        Define the proper orientation of the U-V direction for the binder surface.

3.        Adjust the binder shape by using the TRIM REFERENCE LINE function.

4.        Click the CREATE button at the bottom of the window. The program will create the binder surface and put it in a new part called C_BINDER that will be automatically assigned to TOOL (binder).  Refer to Section 9.1 for a detailed explanation on the TOOL part.

5.        If a binder has already been created in the C_BINDER part, DYNAFORM will display a QUESTION WINDOW as in Figure 6.2.6.

Figure 6.2.6 DYNAFORM QUESTION Window

                   YES - Recreates the binder with the current definition.

                   NO - Keeps the old binder.

l       SELECT BINDER PART

When there is more than one binder in the database and the user wants to modify a specific binder, the user can click the SELECT BINDER PART button and the SELECT BINDER window as shown in Figure 6.2.7 will pop up and prompt the user to select the desired binder:

Figure 7.2.7 Select Binder Window

Once one binder is created, the editing functions are activated for the user. The editing functions are used to modify the binder as shown in the lower part of Figure 6.2.8.

 

Figure 6.2.8 Binder Editing Options

 

 The description for each editing function follows:

l       MOVE BINDER

 

This function allows the user to adjust the relative distance between the binder and the part.  The relative distance will affect the draw depth of the part.  Click the MOVE BINDER button, and the program will display a dialog window as shown in Figure 6.2.9

There are two methods to move the binder.

1.    Select MOVE DIRECTION U, V or W and enter the vector distance to be moved directly in the data window.  The value in the data window is the translation distance of the binder. Click APPLY once and the binder will be moved along the selected direction with the defined distance.  Toggle on the REVERSE OPERATION option and the binder will be moved in the opposite direction by clicking APPLY.

2.    The SLIDER can also be used to translate the binder.  Move the slider to the right, and the binder will be moved in the positive direction along the selected axis.  Move the slider to the left and the binder will be moved in the opposite direction.  Click APPLY to accept the new binder position.

The total binder movement will be displayed in the data window below the slider.  The program will display the binder in the new position as the user moves the slider.

 

 

Figure 6.2.9 Move Binder

 

l       ROTATE BINDER

 

This function allows the user to rotate the binder to a desirable orientation relative to the part. 

1.        Click the ROTATE BINDER button, and the program will display a dialog window as in Figure 6.2.10.  This function enables the user to create or select a local coordinate system (LCS) for rotating the binder. The binder is rotated about the W axis of the LCS.

 

Figure 6.2.10 Rotate Binder

2.        After defining the origin, the LCS is created with U, V and W parallel to the global coordinates. The program will display a dialog window as in Figure 6.2.11 to define the LCS. Select a point as the origin and click OK to create the LCS. Click the SELECT button (Figure 6.2.10) and the program will display the SELECT LCS menu to prompt the user to select an existing LCS.

Figure 6.2.11 Select Origin of the LCS

 

3.        Once the LSC is defined, the user has a choice of either rotating the binder by the defined rotational angle or using the slider to rotate the binder in dynamic mode. To define the rotation, the user may select the U, V or W axis and enter the rotational angle in the data window next to the axis.  Click APPLY once, and the binder will rotate counter clockwise about the selected axis of the LCS with the defined angle. Click OK to exit the function.

4.        Toggle ON the REVERSE OPERATION option, and the binder will rotate about the defined axis of the LCS in the opposite of the selected direction when the APPLY button is clicked. To use the slider, the user selects the U, V or W axis and moves the slider to rotate the binder.  Move the slider to the right to rotate the binder in a counter clockwise direction about the selected axis. Move the slider to the left to rotate in the opposite direction. The program shows the new binder position as the user moves the slider.

5.        Click APPLY to accept the new binder position. The program displays the total rotational angle about the selected axis in the data window below the slider.

 

l       MODIFY BINDER

This function provides the user with four options to edit the binder by modifying one of two cross section lines on the binder.

1.        Click the MODIFY BINDER button, and the program displays the SELECT LINE window and prompts: SELECT ONE LINE TO EDIT.  Two cross section lines are displayed as shown in Figure 6.2.112.

Figure 6.2.12 Edit Binder

 

2.        After selecting a section line, the program displays a CURVE EDIT window. There are four option tabs available to the user.

 

1.       SIMPLIFY

This function simplifies the selected curve by reducing the number of points in the line. Refer to Figure 6.2.13 for the dialog window.


TOL


These are the criteria used to simplify the curve.  If the distance between two adjacent points is less than the defined criteria, one of the points will be removed from the curve

 

PREVIEW


This function shows the new section line after some points are removed



RESELECT CURVE


This function enables the user to select the other section line to be simplified.

APPLY

 

Accepts the simplified curve without exiting the function.


OK

 

Accepts the simplified curve and exits the function.


CANCEL

 

Discards the simplified result and exits the function.

 

Figure 6.2.13 Simplify Curve

2.       SMOOTH


This function enables the user to smooth the selected section line. There are three methods to smooth the section line; refer to Figure 6.2.14.

AUTO SMOOTH


If this function is toggled ON, the program will automatically smooth the selected section line.


MANUAL SMOOTH


If this function is toggled ON, the slider and SELECT POINT button will be activated. The user can enter any value between 0 and 1.0 in the data field next to the slider as the smooth coefficient and click the APPLY button to smooth the curve.  The user can also drag the slider to smooth the curve in dynamic mode.  The program will display the smoothed curve as the slider is moved. The data field next to the slider will be updated simultaneously to show the user the smooth coefficient.  Click SELECT POINT to select constraint point(s) on the curve.  Only the points other than the selected points will be smoothed on the curve.


THROUGH FIXED POINTS


When this function is toggled ON, the SELECT POINT button will be activated. Click the SELECT POINT button, and the program will highlight all the points on the selected curve.  A new spline curve will be created passing through the selected point(s).

        

Figure 6.2.14 Smooth Curve

3.       MORPHING


This function allows the user to modify the section line by morphing.  There are four methods available in the MORPHING function.  Figure 6.2.15 illustrates the characteristics and results of each morphing method.

 

 

 

Figure 6.2.15 Morphing Methods


 

NO CONSTRAINT

There is no constraint imposed on the section line when it is morphed.  The morphed shape will assume a natural spline curve.  Refer to type 1 in Figure 6.2.15 for the section line change after morphing.


KEEP C ANGLE

The tangent at the control point on the section line is constrained.  The morphed shape will maintain the original tangent direction at the control point of the section line.  Refer to type 2 in Figure 6.2.15 for the section line change after morphing.


KEEP E ANGLE

The tangent at both end points on the section line is constrained.  The morphed shape will maintain the original tangent direction at the end points of the section line.  Refer to type 3 in Figure 6.2.15 for the section line change after morphing.


KEEP CONVEX

Maintains the convex edge by changing the curvature of the section line.

 

Figure 6.2.16 shows the dialog window for the MORPHING function.  Click SELECT MORPHING POINT to select the control point. The program will highlight the points on the section line and prompt the user to select one as the control point.   The program draws a vector at the morphing point to indicate the morphing direction.  The user may move the cursor to see the new shape of the section line in real time.  Click the RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON to accept the morphed shape. Click APPLY to update the binder shape according to the morphed section line. eta/DYNAFORM calculates a default morphing direction that is normal to the section line and the binder surface.  The user may click on the USER DEFINE option to enter the desirable vector for the morphing direction.

 

Figure 6.2.16 Morphing Curve

 

4.  EDIT


This function provides a method to edit the section line by editing the points on the selected line. Figure 6.2.17 shows the available options for editing the section line.


ADD POINT


When this option is toggled ON, the BY CURSOR LOCATION and BETWEEN TWO POINTS buttons are activated. The user may toggle on the BY CURSOR LOCATION button to pick any location on the section line to add a point. Toggle on the BETWEEN TWO POINTS option, and click the SELECT POINT button.  The program will display points on the section line and prompt the user to select two adjacent points. After two adjacent points are selected, the program will activate the POINT NUMBER field for the user to enter the number of points to be added between two selected points.  If the second selected point is not adjacent to the first one, the program will issue an error message: INVALID POINT SELECT, REJECTED.


MOVE CURVE


This function enables the user to move a selected section line. The binder surface will be moved with the section line.  Toggle the option on and the program will activate three data windows next to DX, XY and DZ. The user may enter any three displacement vectors with respect to the global X, Y and Z direction.  Click APPLY to move the section line and the binder.


MOVE POINT


This function allows the user to move a point on the section line in order to move the binder accordingly. Toggle the option on and the SELECT POINT button and three data windows next to DX, DY and DZ will be activated. The user may click SELECT POINT to select a point on the section line, enter the displacement value with respect to the global X, Y and Z direction, and click APPLY to move the section point.  The binder shape will be modified according to the new shape of the section line.


REMOVE POINT


This function enables the user to remove the control points from the selected section line. Toggle the option on, and the SELECT POINT button is activated for the user to select the point(s) on the section line. Click the MIDDLE MOUSE BUTTON to complete the point selection. Refer to Figure 6.2.18 for an illustration of the control points.


Figure 6.2.17 Edit Curve

Figure 6.2.18 Control Points On Section Curve

 

 

l       MESH BINDER

This function is used to generate the binder mesh from the binder surface. DYNAFORM displays a dialog window as shown in Figure 6.2.19.

Figure 6.2.19 Mesh Parameters

 

The program calculates the default maximum and minimum element size of the mesh based on the shape and size of the binder surface.  The user may enter the desirable value in the data windows. MAX SIZE controls the maximum element size of the mesh. MIN SIZE controls the minimum element size of the mesh.

l       CREATE


This function creates a binder surface and adds it to the part called C_BINDER.

 

Note: If there is a part called C_BINDER in the current database, eta/DYNAFORM will create a part called BINDER01.  Subsequently, if additional binders are created, BINDERn+1 will be created.  eta/DYNAFORM will recognize the binder created from the binder menu.

 

l       DELETE

Deletes surface and mesh in the binder from the database.

 

l       EXIT

 

Closes the BINDER DIALOGUE WINDOW.