Blank (Electrode) : Options and Results

Access: Activate the appropriate Electrode or a Location in the Electrode Tree, and then invoke this function from one of the following locations:

Create or edit the blank for the electrode, using finite element analysis (FEA).

Notes:

  • Only one Blank feature per electrode can be created. If the Blank function is invoked after a Blank has been created, the function will be invoked in edit mode.

  • This function is only available when an electrode is active in an assembly environment.

Required Step 1

Set the appropriate parameters:

Toggle the parameters expand/collapse button / to display sizing and positioning parameters relevant to the shape of the Blank and Base.

Blank shape parameters (see Blank Parameters below):

  

Base shape parameters (see Base Parameters below):

 

 

Blank parameters: The 'shape' parameters that are displayed depend on the shape of the blank:  

Rectangular

This is a toggle parameter enabling you to define the shape of the blank: Rectangular / Cylindrical.
Example:Example:

Rectangular Blank

Cylindrical Blank

 

Blank Wire Frame

This is a toggle option Blank Wire Frame / No Blank enabling you to display the blank with or without a wireframe body.

Blank Wire Frame

No Blank

Notes:

  • When a Blank is created with a wireframe body, the wireframe body can be created as a single body or as three separate bodies. This is defined in the Tools > Preferences > Electrode > Colors (exampleexample).

    Single wireframe body - the blank is created as a single body and has one color.

    Separate wireframe bodies - the blank is created as three separate bodies and has a color defined for each body.

  • Irrespective of whether the blank is created with or without a wireframe body, the information is saved as a parameter of the blank into templates and is considered in the execution of the templates.

  • Points are created on the bottom face of the blank and also on the top and bottom face of the blank base (exampleexample). These points indicate the center of the blank and enable you to pick an origin point for the Burn UCS. The points are created irrespective of whether the blank is created with or without a wireframe body or whether the base is Rectangular or Cylindrical.

Free Blank Size

This is a toggle parameter enabling you to define how to set the size of the blank: Free Blank Size / Use Blank Library.

Free Blank Size

Define the size of the blank by entering the Blank X and Blank Y size.

Use Blank Library

The size of the blank is defined from the Blank Library and the Blank X and Blank Y screen parameters are grayed out. An additional option, Edit Parameters, is displayed, enabling you to select the X/Y parameter values from the library. The Blank Library is stored under the following folder: \Cimatron\Data\templates\.

Edit Parameters

This parameter enables you to select the X/Y parameter values from the library.

Press Edit Parameters to open the Library.
ExampleExample:

Select a different catalog size and press OK .
ExampleExample:

Select a different catalog size and press OK .

The Blank X and Blank Y size are updated.

The library table can be edited to change the values in the table.

 

 

X/Y/Z Position

Toggle the parameters expand/collapse button  / to display numeric sizing and positioning parameters. These parameters vary, depending upon whether the electrode area is defined as Rectangular or Cylindrical.

The size and position of the blank can be set either dynamically, by entering numeric values (see below) or by setting a direction.

Numeric values examples:Numeric values examples:

To define the rotation angle of a cylindrical or rectangular blank, either set the Angle value (entering numeric values manually) or by selecting a Direction (using the direction arrow) to define any direction as the +X direction of the blank.

See the example.

Adjust the parameter values as required. The default sizes of the blanks are set in the Electrode Preferences.

Angle

Direction

 

  
Base parameters: The 'base' parameters that are displayed depend on the shape of the base and also the shape of the blank (see above):  

Base

From the dropdown list, select the type of Base for the Blank. The Base is the part of the blank that is not milled. The following Base types are available:

The following parameters are displayed according to the selected base type and also the blank shape:
Example:Example:

The parameters shown below are for a rectangular shaped blank:

 

Offset Base

This is a toggle parameter that enables you offset or to not offset the base from the blank. The toggle options are Offset Base / Don’t Offset Base.

When offsetting the base, this creates a base that is slightly smaller than the blank. This enables the base to be machined completely and not just up to its top face.
The offset defaults are set in the Electrode Preferences.

Offset Base

Offset the base from the blank. When offsetting the base, this creates a base that is slightly smaller than the blank. This enables the base to be machined completely and not just up to its top face.
Example:Example:

The following additional parameters are displayed:
Expand parameters:Expand parameters:

Base Offset

Sets the offset size from the size of the blank. The default value is set in the Electrode Preferences.

Base X

Displayed for a Rectangular blank. Determines the X length of the base.

Base Y

Displayed for a Rectangular blank. Determines the Y length of the base.

Base Diameter

Displayed for a Cylindrical blank. Determines the diameter of the base.

Notes:

  • These parameters can receive a value equal or greater than zero.

  • Base X cannot be greater than the Blank X value. Base Y cannot be greater than the Blank Y value.

  • If you have just turned on the Offset option, or if the Blank function was just invoked and the Base Offset option is turned on in the Electrode Preferences, the Base Offset parameter will be taken from the preference, and the Base X and Base Y (or Base Diameter, in the case of a cylindrical blank) parameters will be calculated by it.

  • If you change the Base Offset parameter the Base X and Base Y are calculated accordingly.

  • The Base X and Base Y are grayed out and cannot be changed.

  • If the blank size is changed – the Base X and Base Y will be according to the offset.

  • The Base Mark dimensions and the step in a stepped base are applied on the Base size and not on the Blank size.

The offset defaults are set in the Electrode Preferences.

Don’t Offset Base

Do not offset the base from the blank.

Notes:

  • These parameters are kept in the blank features in templates, and applied accordingly.

  • When applying a template the parameter from the feature (template) is used and not from the preferences.

Round Base

This is a toggle option Round Base / Don't Round Base that enables you to automatically round sharp corners in the electrode base. This option is only displayed if a Rectangular blank is selected above.

The rounding defaults are set in the Electrode Preferences.

Round Base

Round sharp corners in the electrode base.
Example:Example:

Base example:

Stepped Base example:

An additional parameter is displayed:

Round Size

Set the required round value.

The offset defaults are set in the Electrode Preferences.

Don't Round Base

Do not round sharp corners in the electrode base.
Example:Example:

Base example:

Stepped Base example:

 

Notes:

  • These parameters are kept in the blank features in templates, and applied accordingly.

  • When applying a template the parameter from the feature (template) is used and not from the preferences.

Blank Height

Select and set the parameters used in the blank definition. Three of the displayed parameters are always available for defining the blank; these parameters are displayed with orange buttons. One of the parameters is always grayed out (unavailable). When pressing one of the three orange (available) buttons, the selected button becomes grayed out (unavailable) and the previous grayed out button becomes orange (available). The blank is always defined by three of the following parameters:

Blank Height

The height of the entire blank.

  

Base Height

The height of the base. The default of the base height is set in the Electrode Preferences.

Clearance

The clearance is the distance between the highest point under the blank and the bottom plane of the Base. The default of the clearance is set in the Electrode Preferences.

Allowance

The allowance is the distance between the lowest point under the blank and the bottom plane of the blank. The default of the allowance is set in the Electrode Preferences.

Optional Step 1

Center to selection. Center the blank over the burn face. The size of the blank remains the same.

Note: The electrode blank can also be Re-Centered, at a later time, to all the electrode faces (burn faces, extension and manually created faces).

Before:

After:

Optional Step 2

Fit to selection. Fit the blank over the burn face with a predefined offset. The size of the offset around the attached face is defined in the Electrode Preferences.

Note: The electrode blank can also be Re-Fit, at a later time, to all the electrode faces (burn faces, extension and manually created faces).

Before:

After:

Optional Step 3

Mark the base of the blank or only the step. The base is often marked by a chamfer or a round on one of its edges. The mark helps the machine operator to position the electrode correctly on the EDM machine.

The mark options depend on the shape of the blank.

Rectangular Blanks

An Electrode Preference option sets the default rules for the rectangular marking.

Chamfer

From the dropdown list, select the type of mark Round, Chamfer or None. For Round or Chamfer, define the size of the mark. The round or chamfer can be created on the step only (see below) and not the entire blank.

Round

Chamfer

None

The mark can be applied to the corner of the base which is closest to the reference UCS, or it can be applied to a predefined corner.

Size

Set the size of the mark. The examples below are for a Chamfer mark.

Size = 5:

Size = 10:

 

Entire Blank

This is a toggle option Entire Blank / Step Only.

Entire Blank

Mark the entire blank.

Step Only

Mark only the step, if a step is defined. If you switch from a Stepped Base to no step, the marking is applied to the entire blank.

An Electrode Preference option sets this as the default option.

Circular Blanks

An Electrode Preference option sets the default rules for the circular marking.

Mark Base

From the dropdown list, select Mark Base or None. For Mark Base define the size of the mark.

Mark Base

None

Height

The height of the mark.

Height = 3:

Height = 5:

Depth

The distance from the exterior wall of the base to the wall of the mark.

Depth = 6:

Depth = 10:

Angle

Angle of the plane of the mark from the active UCS (the default is 0).

Press <exit><exit>(middle mouse button) when finished. Click OKOK or ApplyApply in the Feature Guide to complete the function.

When completed, the Blank feature will appear in the Feature Tree as follows:

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.