CREATE DRAWBEAD

 

 

After a drawbead property is defined, the user can continue with generation of drawbead by clicking on the NEW DRAWBEAD button as illustrated in Figure 9.4.7. In the DRAWBEADS field, there are some functions such as RESPACE, TRIM, COMBINE, DELETE, SPLIT, which are utilized to edit the drawbead. The description of each function is detailed in the following sections.

 

Figure 9.4.7 Drawbeads field

 

 

9.4.3.1    NEW DRAWBEAD

 

This function enables the user to create drawbead through selecting the existing geometrical lines. After clicking the NEW DRAWBEAD button, the SELECT LINE dialog box as illustrated in Figure 9.4.8 is shown. Then the user can select one or more lines to define the drawbead.

At the same time, the function enables the user create drawbead through selecting the nodes. Click the CONSTRUCT button to pop up the SELECT NODE dialog box. The user can refer to Section 5.4.3 about how to select nodes. After selected the nodes, the program will automatically construct a curve by selected nodes, and then create drawbead through the curve. 

 

NOTE: Prior to creating a new drawbead, the user has to select one property from the drawbead property field. The selected property is assigned as the property for new drawbead.

Figure 9.4.8 Select Line dialog box

 

The DRAWBEAD INPUT dialog box as illustrated in Figure 9.4.9 is displayed after a line is selected. The functions provided in the dialog box enables the user to set the density of point on each drawbead line.

 

 

Figure 9.4.9 Define the density of points on the drawbead line

 

BY DISTANCE

Define the points on line by setting the constant distance between two adjacent points on line. The default distance is 20 (mm).

 

UNIFORM

The specified number of points is evenly spread on the line. The default number of points is set as 20 on each line. Refer to Figure 9.4.10a for drawbead line with uniform point distribution.

 

CHORDAL DEVIATION

The points on the lines are distributed according to the CHORDAL DEVIATION value. For drawbead line with larger curvature, more points are distributed. If the CHORDAL DEVIATION value is small, more points are created on the drawbead line. The default CHORDAL DEVIATION is set as 0.25. Refer to Figure 9.4.10b for drawbead line with point distribution based on CHORDAL DEVIATION.

 

 

(a)                                        (b)

Figure 9.4.10 The distribution of points on drawbead line (a) Uniform (b) Chordal deviation

 

The user can select more than one drawbead line as drawbead using the same property. Alternatively, the user can define different line using different property.

 

The drawbead is created on each selected line. Each drawbead in the Drawbeads field (as shown in Figure 9.4.7) is identified with a unique name such as Drawbead 1, Drawbead 2 and so on. As illustrated in Figure 9.4.11, the corresponding ID number is displayed on the screen beside the drawbead.

Figure 9.4.11 Drawbead name

 

DRAWBEAD LIST

All defined drawbeads are listed in the Drawbead List as illustrated in Figure 9.4.12. Each time a new drawbead is created, it is automatically included in the Drawbead List. The Drawbead List consists two columns. The left column displays the drawbead name while the right column is the property name corresponded to the drawbead. The user can select multiple drawbeads from the list by pressing the SHIFT or the CTRL key while simultaneously clicking the left mouse button to pick drawbeads. The selected drawbeads is highlighted both on the dialog box (in blue) and on the screen (in white).

 

Figure 9.4.12 Drawbead List

PERCENT

This option enables the user to modify the lock force percentage for the selected drawbead(s). First, the user picks the drawbeads from the drawbead list. The key in the desired percentage following by clicking on the APPLY button to compete the modification.

 

SELECT ALL

Allow the user to select all the drawbeads on the DRAWBEAD LIST.

 

NOTE: If the LIST by PROPERTY option is checked, all the drawbeads sharing the current property are selected.

 

LIST BY PROPERTY

If this option is selected, only the drawbeads sharing the current property are displayed on the DRAWBEAD LIST. Please see the Figure 9.4.13.

 

            

(a)                                        (b)  

Figure 9.4.13 List by Property option (a) Check (b) Uncheck

 

 

9.4.3.2    MODIFY

 

This function enables the user to modify drawbead. Firstly, the user can select a drawbead, and then edit the curve in the pop-up CURVE EDIT dialogue box. Refer to correlative section about CURVE EDIT function.

 

 

9.4.3.3    RESPACE

 

This function enables the user to modify the density of points on the drawbead line using the DRAWBEAD INPUT dialog box as illustrated in Figure 9.4.9. Prior to performing the operation, the user has to select a drawbead from the drawbead list.

 

9.4.3.4    TRIM

 

This function enables the user to divide a drawbead along the original referred line. The user has to select a drawbead prior to performing such operation.

 

1.         Select ENDPOINT of the drawbead that need to be TRIMMED. See the Figure 9.4.14.

2.         Select a point on the Drawbead line as destination point

a) Before Trim                                b) After Trim

Figure 9.4.14 Trim the Drawbead

 

NOTE: The TRIM function also can be utilized to recover the TRIMMED drawbead along the original drawbead line. For example, a drawbead as illustrated in Figure 9.4.15 has been TRIMMED.  The user can recover the trimmed drawbead.

 

1.     Select the END POINT A as illustrated in Figure 9.4.15.

2.     Select a point B on the original drawbead line as the destination point.

 

      

 

(a)                                             (b)

Figure 9.4.15 Trim Drawbead (a) Before trim (b) After trim

 

 

9.4.3.5    COMBINE

 

This function enables the user to combine two adjacent drawbeads into one drawbead. To combine two adjacent drawbeads, the user has to click on the COMBINE button, following by selecting two adjacent drawbeads using the mouse cursor. Figure 9.4.16 illustrates the COMBINE drawbead operation.

 

 

 

(a)                                              (b)

Figure 9.4.16 Combine drawbead (a) Before (b) After

 

NOTE: This function enables the user combine two adjacent drawbeads without the same property. If the two adjacent drawbeads have the same property, then the property of combined drawbead is the same as the selected drawbeads. If the two adjacent drawbeads have different property, then the property of combined drawbead is the same as the FIRST selected drawbead.

 

 

9.4.3.6    DELETE

 

This function enables the user to remove the selected drawbeads. If the user has selected drawbead on the Drawbead list, then all the selected drawbeads are removed after he/she clicks on the DELETE button. If the user hasn¡¯t selected the drawbead, then a message is printed in the message prompt window asking the user to pick drawbead. The user can place the mouse cursor near the drawbead following by clicking on left mouse button to complete the DELETE drawbead operation.

 

 

9.4.3.7    SPLIT

 

This function enables the user to split a drawbead at selected location. After the function is activated, the user selects the desired location to split the drawbead using the mouse cursor. eta/DYNAFORM identifies the nearest NODE to the selected location and splits the drawbead into two drawbeads. The drawbeads share the same property with the original drawbead. Figure 9.4.17 illustrates SPLIT drawbead operation.

   

(a)                                               (b)

Figure 9.4.17 Split drawbead (a) Before (b) After