Stock : Options and Results

Access: Open this function from the following location:

Select Solid > Creation > Stock from the menu bar.

Obtain the overall size of a part or create a bounding box (stock) around it. In 2D optimization mode, the box is based along the directions of the active UCS. In 3D optimization mode, the system analyzes and calculates the box orientation and the resulting stock is the minimum bounding box or bounding cylinder around the part. The stock size can be manually manipulated.

Using this function provides an easy way for a designer to find a molding orientation and for a CNC operator to set up a direction on a mill.

Within the function, several on-screen options allow you to add extra stock to the part or round the stock size to a nominal number. When the stock is saved as a solid box, it gets placed on an automatic set and can be marked as a cutting object. Whether or not you create the actual stock geometry, the function can still place the overall part dimensions into the Stock Size attribute, where it can be used for the Bill of Materials.

Required Step 1

Select the entities for which a stock is to be defined. Pick objects, faces or wires.

Required Step 2

Set the stock parameters. 2D and 3D optimization is available when defining the stock size and shape. Similar parameters are displayed for both methods.

In 2D Optimization mode, the box is based along the directions of the active UCS. The following parameters are displayed:

2D Optimization Box stock parameters:		2D Optimization Cylinder stock parameters:

In 3D Optimization mode, the system analyzes and calculates the box orientation and the resulting stock is the minimum bounding box or bounding cylinder around the part.

The following parameters are displayed. When the Start Analysis button is clicked, the system calculates and finds the smallest 3D box or cylinder, and also displays the remaining parameters.
Press the Start Analysis button in the respective image below to display the remaining parameters.

3D Optimization Box stock parameters:

3D Optimization Cylinder stock parameters:

Parameters

2D Optimization

This is a toggle option 2D Optimization / 3D Optimization which determines the type of calculation to define the stock.

2D Optimization	Use 2D optimization to achieve the required stock. A Box stock can be further optimized by manually rotating the box around the Z axis or by using the adjacent button to automatically find the smallest 2D-optimized box size.
3D Optimization	Use 3D optimization to calculate and find the smallest possible 3D stock.

Create Solid

This is a dropdown list with the following options:

Create Solid

Show the stock as a solid entity in the display area.
Example:Example:

Box stock Solid:

Create Wireframe

Show the stock as a wireframe entity in the display area.
Example:Example:

Box stock Wireframe:

Only Attribute

Only show the Stock Size attribute value in the Cimatron Explorer Properties pane. Do not show the stock in the display area.

Note: Depending on the selected option, some of the parameters below are not displayed or are displayed grayed out.

Select the required units of measurement from the dropdown list.

Select the required precision (decimal places) from the dropdown list.
The defaults are as follows: mm: #.#, inch: #.###.

Box

This is a toggle option Box / Cylinder which sets the shape of the stock.
Example:Example:

Box stock:	Cylinder stock:

Z Axis

Rotate the box result around the Z direction (of the active UCS). For each change, the Calculated Size and Final Size = Auto are recalculated.
Example:Example:

Box stock: Z Axis = 0.	Box stock: Z Axis is manually change.

This button is displayed for the 2D Optimization, Box option.

Click this button to automatically find the rotation angle (Z axis value) that gives the smallest 2D-optimized box size.
Example:Example:

Box stock: Z Axis = 0.	Box stock: The button finds the Z Axis that gives the optimum 2D-optimized box size.

This button is displayed for the 2D Optimization, Box option.

Start Analysis

When the Start Analysis button is clicked, the system calculates and finds the smallest possible 3D box or cylinder, and also displays the remaining parameters.
This button is displayed for the 3D Optimization option.

Calculated Size

This parameter displays the calculated size of the minimum bounding stock. The parameters displayed depend on the stock shape selected. The parameter values are grayed out and cannot be changed.

For Box, the XYZ values are displayed. For Cylinder. the Diameter and Z values are displayed. See the parameter images above.

Symmetric Offset

This is a toggle option Symmetric Offset / Non-Symmetric Offset which sets the method of defining offsets to the stock shape.

For Box stocks, XYZ offset direction parameters are displayed.

For Cylinder stocks, the Diameter and Z offset direction parameters are displayed. See the parameter images above.

Symmetric Offset

Offsets are applied symmetrically for each direction. For example, if an offset is added in the X direction, it is added symmetrically in the +X and -X directions.

For Box stocks, the offsets are can be applied in the XYZ directions. For Cylinder stocks, the offsets can be applied for the diameter and also in the Z direction.
Example:Example:

Box stock: X=0, Y=0, Z=0.	Box stock: X=20, Y=0, Z=0 Note that the offset is applied symmetrically in both the X directions (+ and -).

Non-Symmetric Offset

Offsets are applied non-symmetrically for each direction. For example, if an offset is added in the +X direction, it is only added in the +X direction (it is not added in the -X direction).

Two sets of parameter definitions are displayed, one set for the + directions and the other set for the - directions. This enables you to define different offsets for each direction of an axis.

For Box stocks, the offsets are can be applied in the + and - XYZ directions. For Cylinder stocks, the offsets can be applied for the diameter and also in the + and -Z direction.
Example:Example:

Box stock: X=0, Y=0, Z=0.	Box stock: +X=0, Y=0, Z=0 -X=20, Y=0, Z=0 Note that the offset is applied non-symmetrically (only in the -X direction).

Rounding Off

This is a toggle parameter Rounding Off / Rounding On which enables you to round the stock size. The Final Size parameter reflects value of this parameter.

Rounding Off	Do not round the stock size. Example:Example: Rounding Off: The Final Size = Auto of the stock is the same as the Calculated Size.
Rounding On	Round the stock size by the increment value. When Rounding On is selected, an additional parameter, Increment, is displayed. Example:Example: Rounding On: The Final Size = Auto of the stock is based on the Calculated Size, but rounded according to the Increment value.

Final Size = Auto

This is a toggle parameter Final Size = Auto / Final Size = Manual which enables you to accept the automatically calculated size or to manually adjust the size.

Final Size = Auto	The final stock size is automatically calculated based on the Calculated Size+Offset+Rounding. The parameter values are grayed out and cannot be changed. This is the default option. Example:Example:
Final Size = Manual	Manually adjust the final stock size. The initial values are the same as those calculated for the Final Size = Auto parameter. The parameter values are active and can be changed as required. If a value smaller than the Calculated Size parameter value is entered, the new value is displayed in red as a warning. Example:Example:

Don't Round

This is a toggle parameter Don't Round / Round Corners which is only displayed when the stock is saved as a solid box and enables you to round the box corners. When Rounding On is selected, an additional parameter, Radius, is displayed enabling you to set the round values.

Don't Round

Do not round the corners of the box stock.
Example:Example:

Round Corners

Round the corners of the box stock size by the radius value. When Round Corners is selected, an additional parameter, Radius, is displayed.
Example:Example:

Box stock:
Round Corners, Radius = 15.

Don't Save Stock Size as Attribute

This is a toggle parameter Don't Save Stock Size as Attribute / Save Stock Size as Attribute which enables you to display the size of the stock in the Stock Size attribute in the Cimatron Explorer Properties pane.

Don't Save Stock Size as Attribute

Do not display the size of the stock in the Stock Size attribute.

Save Stock Size as Attribute

Display the size of the stock in the Stock Size attribute. The stock size is saved in the file units.

For Box stocks, the following dropdown list of options is displayed:

XYZ

Display the stock size in the XYZ order. The Stock Size attribute value is displayed as:

Stock Size 22.2222 x 33.3332 x 11.1111 (for X, Y, Z).

Large to Small values

Display the stock size in order from the largest to the smallest value. The Stock Size attribute value is displayed as:

Stock Size 33.3332 x 22.2222 x 11.1111 (for Large to Small values).

Small to Large values

Display the stock size in order from the smallest to the largest value. The Stock Size attribute value is displayed as:

Stock Size 11.1111 x 22.2222 x 33.3332 (for Small to Large values).

For Cylinder stocks, the Stock Size attribute value is displayed as:

Stock Size Ø 11.2234 x 55.6667 (for the Diameter and the Z size).

Don't Mark as Cutting Object

This is a toggle parameter Don't Mark as Cutting Object / Mark as Cutting Object which is displayed when the stock is saved as Create Solid and enables you to mark, or not mark, the object as a cutting object.

Don't Show in Drawing

This is a toggle parameter Don't Show in Drawing / Show in Drawing which is displayed when the stock is saved as a solid box and enables you to show, or not show, the object in a view.

When you have completed the steps, click OK or Apply in the Feature Guide to complete the function. The stock object is created.

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

The new entities are also added to the Stock set, in the Sets tab of the Feature Tree.

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