In the Tools
definition page, the user may add and delete tools, positioning between tools,
define tool part, working direction and contact between tool and blank. The
main interface is shown in Figure
Figure
TOOL LIST
On the left side of Tools definition page, there is a list of defined tool names. The highlighted tool name is the working tool. The user can mouse click the tool name from the list to switch current tool. During a new setup, the program sets default tool according to the user selected process type. For example, if the user selects SINGLE ACTION, the program creates three default tools, which are die, punch and binder. Every basic parameter is set to default, except for tool part, working direction, contact offset, etc. The user may define each tool part directly from the menu page, which greatly saves the tool definition time.
NOTE: The new tool is listed in red, which indicating the definition of tool parameters is not completed. In new setup, the user must define every necessary parameter. Otherwise, the title of the tool page is displayed in red to remind the user that there is incomplete setup.
The NEW TOOL
function allows the user to create a new tool in current setup. The user may
click NEW TOOL button to switch the interface to the new tool interface, as shown in Figure
Figure
TOOL NAME
Allow the user to define a name for the current tool. Default tool name is tool1, tool2, tool3, etc. The user may define a meaning full name for the current tool for the ease of identifying each tool in the stamping simulation.
DEFAULT SETTING
Allow the user to set defaults for the current tool. It includes working direction, offset, etc. There are two options in default setting. One is to take existing tool as reference, set basic parameter of newly generated tool as in the selected existing tool. The other one is to set the basic parameter of the newly generated tool as default value.
USER SETTING OF TOOL: Use an existing tool’s parameters for the new tool. The user may select an existing tool from the pull-down list. The parameters of two tools are basically the same. Only minor modification to the parameters is necessary for the newly generated tool.
USER DEFAULT SETTING: Use system default parameter to define the new tool. The working direction of this tool is WCS +W direction. Both contact offset and travel distance is equal to 0.
SIDE/AXIAL: The user needs to define the contact type of new tool and blank. There are two different contact types in the auto setup. The first type is normal axial contact. For example, contacts of punch and blank, die and blank are of this type. The other type is side contact. Contact of location (guide) pin and blank, blank and blank, hydro forming side and blank are of side contact. The user needs to determine the type of contact to be used between current tool and blank.
APPLY
The user may click this button to generate new tool. Newly generated tool is added in the tool list.
This function
allows the user to delete the current tool. The user may select a tool from
tool list to be the current tool, and click the DELETE TOOL button. The program
will display a confirmation dialog box as shown in Figure
Figure
Click OK to delete the current tool, or Cancel to cancel the operation.
This function allows the user to modify the current tool name. When creating a tool, the user may assign a name for the tool. After the tool is generated, the user may change the tool name in tool define main interface. In the NAME bar, the user may enter new name and press “Enter [CR]” to confirm.
Note: Every tool must have a unique name.
This function
allows the user to define parts for the current tool. The user may add one or
more parts to the current tool. Click button to display the DEFINE GEOMETRY
dialog box as shown in Figure
Figure
ADD PART…: This function allows the user to select one or more parts from part list to define the tool. The selected parts are displayed in Pars List window. See Chapter 4 for description about selecting parts.
REMOVE PART: This function allows the user to remove selected parts form the Part List.
ADD ELEM…: This function allows the user to add selected element(s) to selected part.
COPY ELEM…: This function allows the user to COPY or
OFFSET new element(s) form existing elements. If the user defines only one die
face, then he/she may COPY or OFFSET new parts by using this function, and
define the part as the relevant tool. The program displays the copy element
dialog box as shown in Figure
Figure
OFFSET ELEMENTS: This function allows the user to offset new elements from existing elements to a new part in the current tool. The name of the new part is OFFSET01, OFFSET02, etc.. Under normal condition, this option is not selected, which indicates only copy element operation is conducted. Newly generated element is at the same location as the original element.
THICKNESS: Element offset thickness. Default thickness is 1.0 (mm). The user may change this value to the required offset distance. The user may offset the elements to the opposite direction by setting a negative value, such as -1.0. The program will offset new elements in the opposite direction of the element normal.
SELECT…: This function allows the user to select element(s) to copy and offset. After clicking this button, the program displays the select element dialog box.
CLEAR: This function allows the user to clear selected elements. The user may use SELECT button to select elements again.
APPLY: After selecting elements, the user may click APPLY to copy and offset.
UNDO: The user may click UNDO to cancel the last copy and offset operation.
EXIT: Exit copy element dialog box.
GUIDE/PIN: This function allows the user to create GUIDE and/or PIN, and create a new part for the GUIDE as current tool. Default name of new GUIDE is ACC0000, ACC0001…and so on. For detailed description of GUIDE and PIN, refer to Section 9.6.
DISPLAY: This function allows the user to display parts that are corresponding to the current tool on the screen. After user defined tool geometry, parts that are corresponding to this tool are displayed in the part list.
In the new auto
setup, a unique working direction has to be defined to every tool. Working
direction is the moving direction from the tool toward the blank. Note: working
direction is a vector, starts from the tool and points to the blank. It is the
line of the tool’s movement. It is not necessarily the actual moving direction
of tool. It can be opposite to the moving direction. The interface of
working direction is shown in Figure
Figure
DX, DY, DZ: This
function displays the current tool working direction as a vector. Default
starting point of the vector is WCS (0, 0, 0). The
coordinate of the end point is also displayed in this box. The User may click button
to change the working direction of this tool. After clicking this button, the
program displays the DEFINE DIRECTION dialog box as shown in Figure
Figure
MOVE: This function displays the tool travel distance from tool’s original position after positioning the current tool. This value is the travel distance of the tool along the working direction. If it is negative, the tool moves along the opposite direction of working direction.
CONTACT
This function allows the user to define contact parameter between the blank and tool.
OFFSET: When the user defined tools are copied from the same die face, contact offset is required for corresponding tools. For example, if the mesh is generated according to die face, an offset value is required for the corresponding punch and binder ring. The blank thickness is used for the offset value. The user may change the value according to actual requirement.
FRICTION COEF: Allow the user to specify friction coefficient of tools.
ADVANCED: Define advanced parameters for contact interface.
Detailed description of contact definition is available in Section
POSITIONING…
This function is
used to control the initial position of tooling and blank in the stamping
simulation, relatively to the original position. This function includes auto
positioning and manual positioning as shown in Figure
Figure
BLANK TRANSLATION: The user may enter a value in the input box to translate the blank. If the user chooses auto positioning, the translation of blank from its original position is displayed in this dialog box.
TOOL MOVEMENT: The program lists all define tools in the tool bar. The user may define initial position of tooling by entering a value for each tool in the input data field. If the user selects auto positioning, distance from tool to its original position is displayed in this dialog box.
NOTE: Auto positioning of tool and blank are both along working direction. The user must specify working direction for each tool prior to performing auto-positioning.
AUTO-POSITION: This function allows the user to auto-position the initial position of tooling. A fixed tool during actual forming process should be selected as the reference tool. For example, the punch is selected as reference tool for single action forming process. For double action forming process, the die is selected as reference tool. After auto positioning, distance of every tool from their original position is displayed in input box. The user may adjust the value as required.
NOTE: The minimum gaps between the blank and tools are equal to the thickness of blank in the Auto Position. If multiple blanks are defined with different thickness, the largest thickness is selected.
ROUND OFF: This function allows the user to control round off of auto positioning value of the tool or blank. If this function is selected, the program sets every tool travel distance a rounded integer number after auto positioning.
OK: Click this button to save the positioning result to database and exit positioning dialog box.
EXIT: Click this button to exit the positioning dialog box without saving positioning result.