|
|
AUTOMESH-2D USER MANUAL |
Run the download program Preprocessor.exe. It is the pre-processor interface of bulk forming FE software CASFORM-2D. The AUTOMESH-2D has been implemented in it. |
1. Define the geometry Click on the button Define Dies & Workpiece on the left dialog MAIN MENU and dialog OBJECTS appears. Select the third item (3 Workpiece PLASTIC) from the top list box, and then click on the button Geometry and dialog GEOMETRY appears. Now you can define the geometry of the object. |
In the preprocessor interface, the geometry can be defined by external boundary and internal boundaries (holes). Every boundary contains a set of consecutive points which can be defined by their coordinates X, Y and the fillet radius R. For example, in Fig. 1, the object has one external boundary and a hole inside. The external boundary can be defined by the following 5 points: |
The hole is defined by the following 6 points: |
Fig. 1 Defining the geometry of the object |
We know that it is not convenient sometime to construct complex geometry in the preprocessor which can not be represented by line and arc. We are considering importing geometry via DXF or IGES file from other CAD system. The function will be implemented in the next version. The method of constructing geometry in the preprocessor is as following: Every object has at least one boundary, i.e. the external boundary on which the points are entered in counter-clockwise direction. The object may has one or more internal boundaries (holes) on which the points are entered in clockwise direction. Press on the button Add a hole and one internal boundary will be added. Press on the button Del a hole and the selected internal boundary will be removed. Notice: the external boundary can not be removed. First select the boundary which you will edit from the upper list box. Follow the steps below to edit the boundary points. |
(1) The input of the coordinates and fillet radius. Enter the coordinates X, Y and fillet radius R of the point in the edit boxes. (2) Add a point to the current boundary. There are two ways to add a point: (a) Enter the X, Y and R, and then press on the button Add. (b) Select a point with the mouse in the graphic area. In this case, the radius will be 0. Notice: When adding or selecting a point in the graphic area with the mouse, please click the icon Select on the toolbar. |
(3) Modify the coordinates and radius of a point. Firstly select the point from the list of the points or select it in the graphic area with the mouse. You can click on the icon Point Label on the toolbar to show the point label to help you find your wanted point. Enter new X, Y and R and press on the button Point Label. You can also click on the point in the graphic area and then drag it to another position. (4) Insert a point before the current point. Enter the X, Y and R and press on the button Insert Before. The new point will be inserted before the current point. (5) Insert a point after the current point. Enter the X, Y and R and press on the button Insert After. The new point will be inserted after the current point. (6) Remove a point. Select the point and press on the button Remove. (7) Remove all the points on the current boundary. Press on the button Remove All and all the points on the current boundary will be removed. (8) Reverse the sequence of the points. Press on the button Reverse and the sequence of the boundary points will be reversed. As mentioned previously, the points on the external boundary should be entered in counter-clockwise direction and the points on the internal boundaries in clockwise direction. When the sequence of the points does not satisfy with the requirement, press the button to reverse the sequence. (9) Check the validity of the boundary. Press on the button Check to check if the boundary is valid. (10) Save the geometry to the file. Press on the button Save to file, enter the file name and the points on the boundaries will be saved to the file (Text file in XYR format). (11) Read the geometry from the file. Press on the button Load from file, select the file name and the points on the boundaries will be read from the file (only in XYR format). When the geometry can not be represented by the line and arc, you should convert it to XYR format according to certain precision and then read it. Notice: The fillet radius of the first and last points of every boundary will be neglected. The boundary can be closed or open. But the first and last points must coincide when the boundary is closed. |