Gate Design : Options and Results

Access: Open this function from one of the following locations:

Design the melt entrance gate.

Required Step 1

Select the gate options and set the parameters. When the function is invokedinvoked (for more, click Access at the top of this Help topic), the runner part of the assembly is automatically activated or created (if a runner part cannot be found). If a runner part is created, the Direct Gate type is selected by default.

The following parameters are displayed, depending on the gate type selected:

Gate type options

Edge Gate

Fan Gate

Tunnel Gate

Curved Tunnel Gate

Pinpoint Gate

Direct Gate

Gate TypesGate Types

Edge Gate:

Fan Gate:

Pinpoint Gate

Direct Gate

Tunnel Gate, Rectangular:

Tunnel Gate, Circular:

Curved Tunnel Gate, Rectangular:

Curved Tunnel Gate, Circular:

Parameters by Gate TypeParameters by Gate Type

Parameters

Edge Gate

This is a dropdown list containing the following gate types:

Edge GateEdge Gate

Fan GateFan Gate

Tunnel GateTunnel Gate

Tunnel Gate, Rectangular:

Tunnel Gate, Circular:

Curved Tunnel GateCurved Tunnel Gate

Curved Tunnel Gate, Rectangular:

Curved Tunnel Gate, Circular:

Pinpoint Gate
Direct GatePinpoint Gate
Direct Gate

Pinpoint Gate, Circular:

Direct Gate, Circular:

 

Legend

Displays a dialog explaining the parameters of the current gate option selected.

Edge GateEdge Gate

Fan GateFan Gate

Tunnel GateTunnel Gate

Curved Tunnel GateCurved Tunnel Gate

Pinpoint GatePinpoint Gate

Direct GateDirect Gate

 

Spine: Point & Direction

This is a dropdown list of the following methods of defining the spine:

Spine: Point & Direction

Pick a point, either on the face of the runner body, on the work part or the active faces derived from a work part (after a cut operation). Define the direction using the directional arrow.
ExampleExample

Picking a point on the runner body:

Setting the direction:

Spine: By Two Points

Create a spine between 2 selected points.

Spine: Selected Curve

Pick a curve to define the spine. Any selected curve is a separate spine.

Tunnel Angle

Set the angle of the tunnel from the spine direction. This option is displayed if the Edge, Fan, or Tunnel Gate is selected together with the Spine: Point & Direction option above.
ExampleExample

Tunnel Angle = 0:

Tunnel Angle = 30:

Entry Angle
Arc Angle
Arc Radius
Flip Arc

These parameters are displayed for the Curved Tunnel Gate.

Entry Angle

Set the entry angle.
ExampleExample

Curved Tunnel Gate
Entry Angle = 45:

Curved Tunnel Gate
Entry Angle = 20:

Arc Angle

Set the angle of the arc.
ExampleExample

Curved Tunnel Gate
Arc Angle = 115:

Curved Tunnel Gate
Arc Angle = 140:

Arc Radius

Set the radius of the arc.
ExampleExample

Curved Tunnel Gate
Arc Radius = 15:

Curved Tunnel Gate
Arc Radius = 20:

When the Spine: By Two Points option is used, only one of the above parameters can be defined (the parameter with the adjacent green button); the other two parameters are system-calculated as a result of the set parameter.

Flip Arc

This is a toggle option that flips the arc side.
ExampleExample

Curved Tunnel Gate: Flip Arc:

Rectangular

This is a toggle option that determines whether the gate is Circular / Rectangular.
ExampleExample

Rectangular section:

Circular section:

Bottom on Spine

This is a dropdown option that determines the position of the gate relative to the spine:

Top on Spine

The top of the rectangular gate is positioned on the spine.
ExampleExample

Center on Spine

The center of the rectangular gate is positioned on the spine.
ExampleExample

Bottom on Spine

The bottom of the rectangular gate is positioned on the spine.
ExampleExample

Manual Selection

This option enables you to manually select the position of the gate relative to the spine. The Select Spine Position Point icon is displayed; select this icon to highlight the positioning points.
ExampleExample

Displayed positioning points:

Select a positioning point:

The gate is positioned as required:

Exit this mode by either selecting another option or by exitexit(middle mouse button).

Draft Angle

Define a draft angle for the gate. The shape of the draft angle is determined by the position of the gate relative to the spine:
ExampleExample

Draft Angle
Top on Spine:

Draft Angle
Center on Spine:

Draft Angle
Bottom on Spine:

For the Manual Selection option, the Draft Angle behaves as follows:

  • As in Top on Spine for the top 3 positioning points.

  • As in Center on Spine for the middle 3 positioning points.

  • As in Bottom on Spine for the bottom 3 positioning points.

By Length / By Diameter

This is a toggle option By Length / By Angle or By Diameter / By Angle that determines the shape of the selected gate option.

By Length

The Start and End Height/Length determine the shape of the gate.

By Diameter

The Start and End Diameters determine the shape of the gate cone.

By Angle >
Fan Angle

Fan Angle appears in the Fan Gate, Tunnel Gate and Curved Tunnel Gate option, where it defines the angle from the spine direction.

By Angle >
Draft Angle

Draft Angle appears in the Pinpoint Gate and Direct Gate options, where it defines the draft angle of the gate cone.

ExampleExample

By (End) Length:

By Angle > Fan Angle = 40:

Notes:

  • When By Angle > Fan Angle is selected, the following parameters are grayed out:

    • In the Fan Gate option, the calculated End Length is displayed, but grayed out.

    • In the Rectangular option for Tunnel Gate and Curved Tunnel Gate, the calculated Start Height and Start Length are displayed, but grayed out.

    • In the Circular option for Tunnel Gate and Curved Tunnel Gate, the calculated Start Diameter is displayed, but grayed out.

  • When By Angle > Draft Angle is selected, the following parameters are grayed out:

    • In the Pinpoint Gate option, the calculated Start Diameter is displayed, but grayed out.

    • In the Direct Gate option, the calculated End Diameter is displayed, but grayed out.

Start/End Diameter

Define the gate diameter at the start (close to the runner) and end (close to the part) of the section.
ExampleExample

Start Diam. = 5, End Diam.= 3:

Start Diam. = 3, End Diam. = 1:

This parameter is displayed if the Circular option is selected.

Start/End Height

Define the gate height at the start (close to the runner) and end (close to the part) of the section.
ExampleExample

Start Height = 2, End Height = 2:

Start Height = 3, End Height = 1:

This parameter is displayed if the Rectangular option is selected.

Start/End Length

Define the gate length at the start (close to the runner) and end (close to the part) of the section.
ExampleExample

Start Length = 5, End Length = 5:

Start Length = 6, End Length = 2:

This parameter is displayed if the Rectangular option is selected.

Extend Start/End

Define the gate extension at the start (close to the runner) and end (close to the part) of the section.
ExampleExample

Extend Start = 0, Extend End = 0:

Extend Start = 0, Extend End = 5:

Cap

This is a toggle option Cap: None / Cap: Sphere that determines the shape of the end of the gate.

Cap: None

No cap is created at the end of the gate.
ExampleExample

Cap: None

Cap: Sphere

A spherical cap is created at the end of the gate. The default diameter of the cap is the End Diameter of the section.
ExampleExample

Cap: Sphere

This parameter is displayed when the Pinpoint Gate or Direct Gate options are selected.

Melt Entry Area

Displays the area of the entry hole. This parameter is informative only.

Optional Step 1

Offset the start and end points. This step is not available if the Spine: Selected Curve option was selected above.

The following parameters are displayed.

The Start Delta parameters are only available if a start point was created, and the End Delta parameters are only available if an end point was created.

If the Spine: By Two Points option was selected, any change adds a delta to the relevant point.

If the Spine: Point & Direction option was selected, a change on that point will be processed first. Then the 2nd point will be defined and then a delta on it. For example:

If you selected a point on the runner (start) and entered a delta on the end point, it will change the position of the end point.

If you selected a point on the runner (start) and entered a delta on the start point, it will change the position of the start point and then recreate the line.

If you selected a point on the runner (start) and entered a delta on the start point and on the end point, it will change the position of the start point and then recreate the line, and then add the delta to the end point.

The Melt Entry Area displays the area of the entry hole. This parameter is informative only.

Press OK or Apply in the Feature Guide to complete the function.

When completed, the Gate feature will appear in the Feature Tree.

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