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      <title>Using Electrode Design and Creation</title>
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      <div class="title_topic3" id="xps10_pagetitle">Using Electrode Design and Creation</div>
      <hr noshade="true">
      <p class="para_topic">Each of the design steps for electrode design is completed in specialized dialogs in sequential order accessed from the Electrode Design dialog box. </p>
      <div class="title_division">Create Envelope</div>
      <p class="para_division">The first design step for electrode design is to create the envelope.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Electrode Envelope Creation Procedure</div>
      <p class="para_division">The following steps outline the procedure for creating an electrode envelope:</p>
      <p class="para_division">1. Set working part to the part to be sub-inserted.</p>
      <p class="para_division">2. Decide electrode shape.</p>
      <p class="para_division">a. Block</p>
      <p class="para_division">1) Set type to Box.</p>
      <p class="para_division">2) Go to step 3.</p>
      <p class="para_division">b. Cylinder</p>
      <p class="para_division">1) Set type to Cylinder.</p>
      <p class="para_division">2) Go to step 3.</p>
      <p class="para_division">c. Custom Shape</p>
      <p class="para_division">1) Add shape to library.</p>
      <p class="para_division">a) Frequently used</p>
      <p class="para_division">1. Create standard, add to library.</p>
      <p class="para_division">2. Set Definition Method to Dimensions.</p>
      <p class="para_division">3. Set type to New Model. Then go to step 4.</p>
      <p class="para_division">b) Rarely used</p>
      <p class="para_division">1. Model Interactively.</p>
      <p class="para_division">2. Go to step 7.</p>
      <p class="para_division">3. Is electrode size and position known?</p>
      <p class="para_division">a. Yes</p>
      <p class="para_division">1) Set Definition Method to Dimension.</p>
      <p class="para_division">2) Go to step 4.</p>
      <p class="para_division">b. No</p>
      <p class="para_division">1) Set Definition Method to Bounding Faces.</p>
      <p class="para_division">2) Click Apply.</p>
      <p class="para_division">3) Select bounding faces. Then go to step 4.</p>
      <p class="para_division">4. Advance design steps to Head.</p>
      <p class="para_division">5. Click Apply.</p>
      <p class="para_division">6. Select envelope, edit dimensions, and positions.</p>
      <p class="para_division">7. Envelope completed. Proceed to creating the head.</p>
      <p class="para_division">The Envelope dialog contains the following toggles, options, and buttons.</p>
      <table cellspacing="0" width="100%" align="center">
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="26%">
               <p class="para_td">Toggle/Option/Button</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="73%">
               <p class="para_td">Description</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="26%">
               <p class="para_td">Working Part</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="73%">
               <p class="para_td">Choose this pull-down menu to select the parts used to create the electrode. These include cores and cavities. The work part changes automatically to the part selected in this menu.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="26%">
               <p class="para_td">Method</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="73%">
               <p class="para_td">You can create Envelopes using 2 methods:</p>
               <ul>
                  <li>
                     <p class="para_item">Bounding faces</p>
                  </li>
                  <li>
                     <p class="para_item">Dimensions</p>
                  </li>
               </ul>
               <p class="para_td">The Bounding Faces method prompts you to select faces to define the envelope. Select the faces to be contained within the envelope and click Apply. An envelope is then created.</p>
               <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/illustrations/elect32_1.gif"></p>
               <ol type="1" start="1">
                  <li>
                     <p class="para_item">Faces to Define the Envelope</p>
                  </li>
               </ol>
               <p class="para_td">Extremity Faces to Define the Envelope</p>
               <p class="para_td">The dimensional method allows you to enter the desired dimensions for the electrode to be created.</p>
               <p class="para_td">Envelopes created by either method may be resized and repositioned using the dimensional control method.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="26%">
               <p class="para_td">Type</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="73%">
               <p class="para_td">You can create envelopes from template models. The default options are block and cylinder. You can add additional user defined shapes to this option menu.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="26%">
               <p class="para_td">Bitmap</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="73%">
               <p class="para_td">A bitmap image is provided as a key to envelope dimensions. User defined&nbsp;envelope shapes may also register their own bitmap keys.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="26%">
               <p class="para_td">Expression List</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="73%">
               <p class="para_td">The controlling expressions of an envelope are shown in this window. Select a parameter from this list to make it active in the Expression Edit field.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="26%">
               <p class="para_td">Expression Edit</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="73%">
               <p class="para_td">When you select an expression from the Expression List, it's placed in this field for modification. By editing these expressions you can customize the envelope dimensions.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="26%">
               <p class="para_td">Reposition</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="73%">
               <p class="para_td">You can edit the envelope position using this function in the edit mode. The highlighted envelope will be transformed at a distance, or rotated along a selected axis, typically the ZC+ axis. You can switch between the Transform and Rotate modes to reposition an envelope.</p>
               <p class="para_td">You can input the distance to transform an envelope in the X,Y,Z text fields, or drag the slider to move the envelope in the X,Y,Z directions.&nbsp;</p>
               <p class="para_td">You can also select the From Point to Point button. You will be asked to select a from point and a destination point. The distance is shown in the X,Y,Z field.</p>
               <p class="para_td">To rotate the envelope along a specified axis, select the Rotate mode.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="26%">
               <p class="para_td">Delete</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="73%">
               <p class="para_td">To delete an envelope, select the envelope and click the Delete button.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="26%">
               <p class="para_td">Edit Register File</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="73%">
               <p class="para_td">Envelope models, controlling spreadsheets, and bitmap images must be registered in the Mold Wizard electrode application to make them accessible from the Electrode Design dialog box. </p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="26%">
               <p class="para_td">Edit Database</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="73%">
               <p class="para_td">Each envelope model uses a spreadsheet data file to communicate the editable envelope dimensions to the Envelope dialog box. </p>
            </td>
         </tr>
      </table><br><div class="title_division">Create Head</div>
      <p class="para_division">The second design step is shaping the envelope to create the electrode head. Four methods are provided to shape the head:</p>
      <ul>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Trim by Parting Surface</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Trim by Sheet</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Trim by Solid Face</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Subtraction</p>
         </li>
      </ul>
      <p class="para_division">The Head dialog contains the following toggles, options, and buttons.</p>
      <table cellspacing="0" width="100%" align="center">
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Toggle/Option/Button</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Description</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Trim by Parting Surface</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">The Trim by Parting Surface operation trims the envelope with the parting surface. The Selection Steps buttons are used to select the target and tool.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Trim by Sheet</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">The Trim by Sheet operation trims the envelope with a sheet body. The Selection Steps buttons are used to select the target and tool.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Trim by Solid Face</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">The Trim by Solid Face operation allows you to trim a body with a face from a sheet or solid. If the selected face is not large enough to trim the target body, it is extended to complete the trim.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Subtraction</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">The Subtraction operation performs a solid Boolean subtract. This operation is not associative.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Selection Steps</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Selection Steps are used in the head shaping operation described above. The left button is the selection step for selecting the tool bodies and the right button is for selecting the target objects.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Extrude Edges to Sheet</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Selecting a series of edges until a closed loop is formed creates sheets extruded from the chained edges. The sheets are then used to trim off unwanted features.</p>
               <p class="para_td">The Extrude Edges to Sheet button prompts you for the direction to start the selection of edges. If only the first edge is required for extrusion, choose the Selection complete button after selecting the first edge.</p>
               <p class="para_td">As each edge is selected you will be prompted to select a following edge. You can choose to accept the newly highlighted following edge or choose another.</p>
               <p class="para_td">When the edge selection is complete, the extrusion parameters are entered in a dialog box. </p>
            </td>
         </tr>
      </table><br><div class="title_division">Create EWCS</div>
      <p class="para_division">The third design step allows you to create a coordinate system for the electrode which may be used for NC set-up purposes for creation of the electrode. A reference point for electrode positioning is created in the electrode component that may be used for EDM positioning drawings.</p>
      <p class="para_division">The orientation of the coordinate system is the same as the WCS and its positioning is relative to a reference point.</p>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/illustrations/elect34_1.gif"></p>
      <ol type="1" start="1">
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">EWCS Origin</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Z</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">X </p>
         </li>
      </ol>
      <div class="figure">
         <p class="para_figure"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">EWCS Origin</div>
      <p class="para_division">The EWCS dialog contains the following toggles, options, and buttons.</p>
      <table cellspacing="0" width="100%" align="center">
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Toggle/Option/Button</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Description</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Electrode Name</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">The name of the electrode component is displayed here. A default name is provided but can be modified.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Point Method</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">These radio buttons provide two methods for creating a reference point for the EWCS: Face Center Point and Point Subfunction.</p>
               <p class="para_td">The Face Center Point method creates the electrode positioning reference point in the center of a selected face. The Face Center Point Method would be best suited for EDM positioning layouts dimensioned from the center of the work piece. When using the Face Center Point method you are queried to select a face. This is generally the back face of the work piece. A reference point is then created in the middle of the face.</p>
               <p class="para_td">The Point Subfunction method will create the reference point at the position you specify.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Selection Steps</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Two Selection Steps are provided. The first one is to select the attach face on the head. When you have selected a face or faces, click Apply to activate the second step - the selection of the reference point.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Displacement From Reference Point</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">The position of the electrode coordinates may be displaced by this function. Displacing the EWCS alters the NC setup for electrode manufacture and does not effect EDM positioning because the coordinate system is defined relative to the electrode positioning reference point.</p>
               <p class="para_td">The x_displacement, y_displacement, and z_displacement fields are the x-, y-, and z-distance of the electrode coordinate system from the reference point.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Delete</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">To delete an electrode coordinate system, select the coordinate system and click the Delete button.&nbsp;</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
      </table><br><p class="para_division">NOTE: When you create an associative EWCS and a certain part name already exists, the message box will indicate its existence. The specific part name is displayed in the message box in order for you to know what to do to solve the problem.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Create Foot</div>
      <p class="para_division">The fourth design step creates a foot for the electrode head. The electrode coordinate system must have already been created because the locating point (x- and y- coordinate) of the foot is with respect to the origin of that coordinate system.</p>
      <p class="para_division">The x- and y- dimensions are measured from the foot locating point. Orientation of the foot is with respect to the EWCS.</p>
      <p class="para_division">The dialog for creating the foot is the same as for envelope creation. However, the definition method is not available in the foot design dialog and the Reposition button is replaced with the Z-Level Adjust button.</p>
      <table cellspacing="0" width="100%" align="center">
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="17%">
               <p class="para_td">Button</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="82%">
               <p class="para_td">Description</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="17%">
               <p class="para_td">Z-Level Adjust</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="82%">
               <p class="para_td">The foot is constrained to move along the Z direction only. You can modify displacement values in the Z-Level Adjust dialog box. </p>
               <p class="para_td">You can reposition the foot along the X and Y directions by repositioning the electrode coordinate system, i.e. EWCS.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
      </table><br><p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/illustrations/elect30_1.gif"></p>
      <ol type="1" start="1">
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Electrode Foot</p>
         </li>
      </ol>
      <div class="figure">
         <p class="para_figure"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Electrode Foot</div>
      <div class="title_division">Drawing</div>
      <p class="para_division">The fifth design step creates an automatic drawing for a selected electrode component. The reference point for electrode positioning is created on layer 200. To create a drawing for electrode positioning, include layer 200 as a visible layer.</p>
      <p class="para_division">The Drawing dialog contains the following toggles, options, and buttons.</p>
      <table cellspacing="0" width="100%" align="center">
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Toggle/Option/Button</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Description</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Electrode Part</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">This pull-down menu contains the name of the electrode component used for the drawing.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Drawing Sheet Name</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">The name of the drawing is displayed in this field.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Units</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">You can choose between Si or English Units.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Size</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">The size of the drawing to be created is displayed in this pull-down menu. There are two different size categories depending upon whether the units are Si or English.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Scale</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Changes the scale of all the views in the drawing.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
         <tr valign="top">
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">Projection Angle</p>
            </td>
            <td colspan="1" rowspan="1" width="50%">
               <p class="para_td">You are provided with two types of projection angles, 3rd projection angle and 1st projection angle.</p>
            </td>
         </tr>
      </table><br></body>
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