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 box is illustrated in Figure 6.2.2.

 

Figure 6.2.2 Two-line Binder dialog box

 

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

 

 

          BINDER MARGIN

This function allows the user to expand the binder size. The value of the BINDER MARGIN is the distance between the boundary of the original binder and the expanded binder. Please see the Figure 6.2.3.

Figure 6.2.3 Binder Margin

 

          BINDER SHIFT

This function is used to adjust the shortest vertical clearance between the part edge and the binder surface.  If positive BINDER SHIFT is entered, the binder will be shifted along the -Z axis and vice versa. The BINDER SHIFT directly affects the draw depth of a part. Please see the Figure 6.2.4.

Figure 6.2.4 Binder Shift

 

          DEFINE BINDER ORIENTATION

The DEFINE BINDER ORIENTATION function controls the U-V direction of the binder surface.

 

When the button is clicked, the part is displayed in the X-Y view.  The POINT OF FIRST CONTACT is highlighted with a white circle and the following message is printed in the message prompt window:

CLICK AND HOLD THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON AT THE CROSS HAIR CENTER.


MOVE THE MOUSE TO ROTATE.  RELEASE THE MOUSE BUTTON WHEN DONE

 

As illustrated in Figure 6.2.5, two orthogonal cross lines is created. The line with an arrowhead indicates U-axis of the binder surface.  Click and hold left mouse button, following by moving the mouse to obtain a desirable orientation of the U-V axes.

 

          TRIM REFERENCE LINE

The shape of the binder is determined by the following factors: reference point, orientation of the U-V axes, length of the U-V axes, and the part geometry.   If some of the details on the part are not acceptable during creation of binder shape, the user can truncate the reference line to adjust the curvature of the binder. Figures 6.2.5-6.2.7 illustrates binders created using different lengths of U-V axes.

 

  

 

 

Figure 6.2.5 Two Control Lines         Figure 6.2.6 Two Line binder (before trimming)

 

 

Figure 6.2.7 Trim Reference Line      Figure 6.2.8 Two Line Binder From Trimmed Reference Line

 

The following steps are needed to create a binder:

1.        Enter the BINDER MARGIN and BINDER SHIFT.

2.        Define the proper orientation of the U-V direction.

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

4.        Click the CREATE button at the bottom of the dialog box. eta/DYNAFORM generates the binder surface and stores it in a new part named C_BINDER. The part is automatically assigned as TOOL (binder).  Refer to Section 9.2 for a detailed explanation on the TOOL part.

5.        If a binder has already been created in the C_BINDER part, a DYNAFORM QUESTION dialog box as illustrated in Figure 6.2.9 is displayed.

Figure 6.2.9 DYNAFORM QUESTION dialog box

 

YES – Override previously created binder with the current definition.

NO – Keeps the previously created binder.

 

    SELECT BINDER PART

When more than one binder is available in the database, the user can click the SELECT BINDER PART button to select a specific binder from the SELECT BINDER dialog box as illustrated in Figure 6.2.10.

Figure 6.2.10 Select Binder dialog box

Once the binder is created, the user can edit binder using the editing functions as illustrated in Figure 6.2.11.

Figure 6.2.11 Binder Editing Options

 

The editing functions are described as following:

            MOVE BINDER

This function allows the user to adjust relative distance between the binder and the part.  The relative distance will affect the draw depth of the part.  Click on the MOVE BINDER button to display a dialog box as illustrated in Figure 6.2.12

 

The user can select the following methods to move the binder:

1.  Select MOVE DIRECTION (U, V or W) and enter the translation distance in the input field of U, V and W. Click on the APPLY button to move the binder along the selected direction. The REVERSE OPERATION option is used to reverse the translation of binder.

2.  Translate the binder by dragging the SLIDER bar as illustrated in Figure 6.2.10.  If the bar is slid to the right, the binder will be translated in the positive direction along the selected axis and vice versa.  Click on the APPLY button to accept the new binder position.

 

The total binder travel will be displayed in the input field of BINDER TRAVEL.  The total binder travel is dynamically updated as the user moves the slider.

 

Figure 6.2.12 Move Binder dialog box

 

 

 

 

            ROTATE BINDER

 

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

1.       Click on the ROTATE BINDER button to display a dialog box as illustrated in Figure 6.2.13.  By default, the center of binder is set as the center of rotation with U, V, W axes parallel to X, Y, Z axes of global coordinate system, respectively. The user can define the center of rotation by click on the CENTER OF ROTATION button, following by picking a location using mouse cursor.

 

Figure 6.2.13 Rotate Binder dialog box

 

2.        After the center of rotation is defined, the user can select axis of rotation by toggle on one of the three toggle boxes for U, V and W. The angle of rotation is entered in the input field, following by clicking on the APPLY button to rotate the binder.

 

3.        The user is given an option to rotate the binder by moving the SLIDER bar to either left or right. Moving the slider to the left will rotate the binder in clockwise direction, and vice versa. While moving the slider, the user can observe the dynamic view of binder from the display area. The amount of rotation angle is recorded on the box right below the SLIDER bar as illustrated in Figure 6.2.11.

 

4.        The user can also create a LCS which U, V and W axes are parallel to the X, Y, Z of global coordinate system. Click on the CREATE button to display a dialog box as illustrated in Figure 6.2.14 to define the LCS. Select a point as the origin and click on the OK button to create the LCS. Click on the SELECT button to display the SELECT LCS dialog box, following by clicking on the C.S.ID button to select the appropriate identification number of the LCS.

 

5.        Once the appropriate LSC is selected, the user can select the axis of rotation by toggle on U, V, or W. The angle of rotation is entered in the input field, following by clicking on the APPLY button to rotate the binder. The user can also rotate the binder by moving the slider bar to either left or right.

Figure 6.2.14 INPUT COORDINATE dialog box for selecting origin of the LCS

 

6.        If the REVERSE OPERATION option is selected, and the binder will be rotated about the defined axis of rotation in the opposite direction after clicking the APPLY button.

7.        Click on the OK button to dismiss the dialog box.

 

            MODIFY BINDER

 

This function provides the user with four options to change the binder shape by modifying one of two cross section lines which defines the binder shape.

1.        Click on the MODIFY BINDER button, following by selecting one of the section lines from the display area. Two cross section lines which define the binder shape are illustrated in Figure 6.2.15.

Figure 6.2.15 An illustration showing two section lines for Edit Binder operation

 

2.        After a section line is selected, the CURVE EDIT dialog box is displayed. There are four option tabs available to the user for editing the section line.

 

1.       SIMPLIFY

This function reduces the number of points of the selected line. The dialog box is illustrated in Figure 6.2.16.

 

Figure 6.2.16 Simplify Curve dialog box

 

 

TOL

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

 

PREVIEW

This function displays the new section line after some points are removed.

 

RESELECT CURVE

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

APPLY

The function completes the operation.

 

OK

Accept the operation and dismiss the dialog box.

 

CANCEL

Abort the operation and dismiss the dialog box.

 

2.       SMOOTH

 

This function enables the user to smooth the selected section line. The dialog box is illustrated in Figure 6.2.17. Three methods can be utilized to smooth the section line:

Figure 6.2.17 Smooth Curve dialog box

 

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 input field next to the slider as the smooth coefficient and click on the APPLY button to smooth the curve.  The user can also drag the slider to smooth the curve in dynamic mode.  eta/DYNAFORM will dynamically display the smoothed curve as the slider is dragged, while simultaneously updates the smooth coefficient next to the slider.  Click on SELECT POINT to select constraint point(s) on the curve.  Other points on the curve will be smoothed.

 

THROUGH FIXED POINTS

 

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

 

STRAIGHT SEGMENT

 

This function enables user to smooth the curve through replacing the segment that user selected with straight line. If user toggles on this option, the Select Segment button is activated. User can click this button to select two points in curve. Click the Apply button after selected two points to change the curve to straight line.

 

3.       MORPHING

 

This function allows the user to modify the section line using four different morphing methods. Figure 6.2.18 illustrates the characteristics and results of each morphing method.

 

Figure 6.2.18 Morphing Curve dialog box

 

Figure 6.2.19 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 as illustrated in Figure 6.2.19 for the shape of section line 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 as illustrated in Figure 6.2.19 for the shape of section line 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 as illustrated in Figure 6.2.19 for the shape of section line after morphing.

 

KEEP CONVEX

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

 

Figure 6.2.18 illustrates the dialog box of the MORPHING function.  Click on the SELECT MORPHING POINT to select the control point. eta/DYNAFORM will highlight the points on the section line and request the user to select one control point.   A vector is plotted 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 on the RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON to accept the morphed shape. Click on the APPLY button 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.

 

 

4.  EDIT

 

This function provides a method to edit the selected section line by modifying the points on the line. As illustrated in Figure 6.2.20, the options for editing the section line are:

Figure 6.2.20 Edit Curve dialog box

 

ADD POINT

 

When this option is selected, the BY CURSOR LOCATION and BETWEEN TWO POINTS buttons are activated. The user may toggle on the BY CURSOR LOCATION button to add point on any location on the section line. Toggle on the BETWEEN TWO POINTS option, and click on the SELECT POINT button.  eta/DYNAFORM displays existing points on the section line and request the user to select two adjacent points. After two adjacent points are selected, the POINT NUMBER input field is activated to allow 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 following an error message is printed in the message prompt window:

 

INVALID POINT SELECT, REJECTED

 

 

MOVE CURVE

 

This function enables the user to move a selected section line. The binder surface will be moved along 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 button 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. If the option is selected, the SELECT POINT button and three input field next to DX, DY and DZ will be activated. The user may click on the SELECT POINT button to select a point on the section line, following by entering the displacement value with respect to the global X, Y and Z direction. Click on the APPLY button to move the points.  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. If the option is selected, the SELECT POINT button is activated to enable the user to select the point(s) on the section line. Click on the middle mouse button to complete the point selection. Refer to Figure 6.2.21 for an illustration of the control points.

Figure 6.2.21 Control Points On Section Curve

 

 

            MESH BINDER

This function is used to generate the binder mesh using the binder surface. A dialog box as illustrated in Figure 6.2.22 is displayed.

Figure 6.2.22 Element Size dialog box

 

eta/DYNAFORM 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 input fields. MAX SIZE controls the maximum element size of the mesh, while MIN SIZE controls the minimum element size of the mesh.

 

            CREATE

 

This function creates a binder surface and stores it in the part named C_BINDER.

 

NOTE:    If there is an existing C_BINDER part in the current database, eta/DYNAFORM creates a part named BINDER01.  Subsequently, if additional binders are created, BINDERn+1 will be created.  eta/DYNAFORM recognizes the binder created from the binder menu.

 

            DELETE

 

Remove all binder surfaces and mesh from the database.

 

            EXIT

 

Close the BINDER dialog box.