Contour Manager (NC) > Advanced Contour Selection

Access: Open this function from the following location:

Boundary/Contour selection mode:
Either press the button in the Work Mode Dialog (if you are in Wizard Mode), or display the Geometry parameters in the parameter tables.
The Geometry Table is displayed:

Depending on the current operation, the Boundaries or Contours option is displayed. Press the adjacent button to display the Contour Manager; you are ready to start selecting contours.
See Selecting / Unselecting Geometry.
See the cursor symbols in Cimatron when picking geometry.

Create NC contours from selected geometry.

Additional contour definition parameters are displayed in the graphics window for greater control over the contour creation.

Parameters for the selected contour option:	Contour creation options under the dropdown list:

The dropdown selection determines which of the subsequent parameters are displayed.
Parameter display examples:Parameter display examples:

Contour Creation Options

The following contour creation options are available. All these options are available in the Advanced Selection mode, however, some of them are unavailable in the Basic Selection mode.

Automatic Chain

Create a contour by picking a curve and a direction. The Automatic Chain option looks for a closed contour (from the initially picked curve) and automatically chains the curves until it cannot chain anymore or until it reaches a decision point where the chaining can continue in more than one direction.

Example.

Chain

Create a contour by picking a curve, a direction, and then the last curve in the chain. The shortest possible chain connecting the two curves will be selected to create the contour.

Example.

One by One

Create a contour by picking individual curves.

Along Open Edges

Create a contour by picking a curve and then picking another curve adjacent to it. The path of the created contour is along open edges.

Existing Composite

Create a contour by picking an existing composite curve.

2D-Single Indication

Create a contour by using a single indication (close to screen or close to face). The system finds a closed loop from all displayed edges/curves lying in the defined plane (up to the defined tolerance).

See here for additional information.

Faces Outer Boundary

Create a contour by picking a face. The outer boundary of the picked face is selected as a closed contour. If you choose two or more adjoining faces, the contour that defines the outer boundary of all faces will be selected.

Example.

One by One Projected

Create a 2D contour by picking individual curves that do not lie on the same plane.

See here for additional information.

2D Bounding

Create a 2D (projected) Bounding Box contour around selected entities. Pick one or more 2D contours and the system finds the tightest square, circle, or enclosing polygon that completely surrounds the selected contour(s).

See here for additional information.

Spun Silhouette

Create a contour that is a spun silhouette of selected surfaces. The contour may be either a Half or Full spun silhouette. The resulting contour is calculated around the Z axis. This used mainly for turning (lathe) operations.
Example:Example:

Full Spun silhouette:	Half Spun silhouette:

Parameters

The following screen parameters may appear when using the Advanced Selection mode. The contour creation option that you select (from the top-most screen parameter), determines which of the following parameters are displayed:

Chain

Select the required contour creation option from the dropdown list; see above.

Half / Full

This is a toggle option Half / Full to define the type of Spun silhouette contour to be created from the selected surfaces. The resulting contour is calculated around the Z axis.

Half	Create a Spun silhouette cut by the Z axis. This is the default option.
Full	Create a complete Spun silhouette.

Example:Example:

Full Spun silhouette:	Half Spun silhouette:

This option appears if the Spun Silhouette contour selection method is used.

Max. Gap

This is the maximum gap allowed between the selected geometries, when joining them into a single geometry. If the gap between the selected geometries is greater than the Max. Gap value, they are treated as separate geometries.

With Simplify / Without Simplify

This is a toggle option With Simplify /Without Simplify to simplify the resulting contours to allow for a higher quality result with less edges.

With Simplify

Simplify the resulting contours to allow for a higher quality result with less edges. This option simplifies the creation of contours by merging edges and is particularly useful when the geometry is composed of many small segments.
Example:Example:

With Simplify:

When this option is selected, the additional parameter Max. Smooth Angle is displayed; this defines the maximum angle enabling you to control the smoothness of the contour.
Default = 5°
Min. = 0°, Max. = 45°.

Without Simplify

Do not simplify the result to reduce the number of edges.
This is the default option.
Example:Example:

Without Simplify:

Planar Approximation / No Planar Approximation

If the contour is not planar, the toggle option Planar Approximation / No Planar Approximation is activated. Planar Approximation allows you to set the contour on the plane (allowing you to perform operations that require 2D input).

This option does not appear in the options One by One Projected.

Open / Close

This option defines the type of curve that is created. This option allows you to close the composite curve automatically or leave it open. If the system cannot close the first and last selected curves/edges when the Close option is selected, the Close option is displayed in red.
ExampleExample

The composite curve is OPEN.	The composite curve is CLOSED.	When the system cannot close the first and last selected curves/edges, the Close toggle option is displayed is RED.

This option appears if the One by One or One by One Projected contour selection method is used.

XY Active

Define the required plane using this toggle option: XY Active / Define Plane.

XY Active	Pick points on the XY plane of the active UCS. The system then searches for all the curves on this plane only and creates a contour.
Define Plane	Pick a planar face. The system then creates a contour from all the curves on this planar face.

This option appears if the 2D Single Indication contour selection method is used.

Flip Direction

Flip the direction between the first and last curve.
Example:Example:

Radii (optional)

Add or remove a radius, or do nothing, between each of the selected curves.
Expanded Description:Expanded Description:

The following parameters are displayed:

Add Radius

The Add Radius option is the default radius mode. Click this option to display the following dropdown list of options:

None	Do not create radii.
Add Radius	Add a radius between each of the selected curves.
Remove Radius	Remove a radius between each of the selected curves.

The selection of this option determines which of the subsequent parameters are displayed.
Parameter display examples:Parameter display examples:

Global Radius

Add the defined global radius value between each of the selected curves.
This option appears if the Add Radius option is selected.

Smaller Than

Remove an existing radius between each of the selected curves, if it is smaller than the defined value.
This option appears if the Remove Radius option is selected.

The Radii (optional) button remains in "selected" mode throughout the radius operation. For the different methods of exiting the Radii option, see the Add Radius example below.

Add Radius Example:Add Radius Example:

In the example below, the pink contour has been selected. If the Add Radius option is pressed, each of the affected corners is marked with a blue circle. Note that the Radii (optional) button remains in "selected" mode.

Set the required Global Radius value for each of the affected corners. The system dynamically shows you the results of the corner radii.

Note: The system creates the radii wherever it is possible. In this example, the requested global radius could only be achieved in two corners.

To exit the Radii (optional) option, do one of the following:

"Unselect" the Radii (optional) button to return to the Advanced Selection parameters. In this case, the Radii (optional) button has a red check mark, to signify that radii options have been set. For example:

Click the appropriate approval option, which also exits the Advanced Selection mode, and re-displays the Contour Manager dialog.

Irrespective of which exit option you select, the redefined contour is displayed and the previous contour path is shown in black.

When you have selected the required contours, Click the appropriate approval option, which exits the Advanced Selection mode and re-displays the Contour Manager dialog.