GENERATE A TOOL FROM MATING TOOLS

This function is used to generate the current tool from an existing tool. It combines the operations of copying or offsetting elements, creating parts, and adding parts to the current tool.

1. Select OFFSET FROM MATING TOOL and the TOOL OFFSET dialog window displays, see Figure 5.1.11.

 

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2. Select SELECT ELEMENTS. The user can select elements in the dialog window, see Section  ADD ELEMENT, PART/ADD ELEMENT for more information.

3. Toggle the INCLUDE IN CURRENT PART function on/off. If the function is ON, the new copied or offset elements will be in the current part and the current parts will be included in the current tool. Otherwise, a new part will be automatically created. It contains all new elements and is contained in the current tool.

4. Toggle the function NORMAL OFFSET on/off. If it is ON, the new elements will be offset at the location based on input values of distance and thickness. Otherwise,the new elements will be copied at the location based on the values of distance.

5. Toggle the function SHOW NORMAL. If it is ON, the normal of every element is shown with the vector.

6. Type the value in the DISTANCE field for moving the new elements in the stroke direction. It is always better to leave the value at zero.

7. Type the value in the THICKNESS field for offsetting elements in the element normal direction.

8. To apply the offset to the element, select APPLY.

9. Select OK to exit the window.

Note: It is desirable to generate the mating tool from the smaller tool (such as from Punch to Die) to avoid overlap elements due to small radius in the original tool.