Stock Definition

Introduction

The purpose of this topic to explain all the options found in the Stock Definition dialog, and will provide links to related topics.

The Stock Definition dialog

The Stock Definition dialog will allow you to define the shape, size and orientation of the stock.

 

Important: When the Stock Definition dialog box is open, a GnomonSW.jpg coordinate system gnomon displays to show the stock Origin, which is located at the top and center of the stock. The stock origin is only used as the reference when changing the stock size and orientation, when applicable. The stock origin is not related to the machining origin in the Machine Setup.

Stock Type

The first step is to define the overall shape of the stock by selecting the Stock Type. All definitions are explained in this topic. To jump to a particular stock types definition, click the associated icon in the table below.

 

Rectangle

Cylinder

Wireframe

Solid

STL

Revolve

 

Rectangle

Creates a cubic stock.

 

Creating Rectangular Stock Example

 

Size

Geometry Options

 

  • Geometry from Graphics Area - automatically sets the stock size using all geometry that is currently in the graphics area. If solid and wireframe geometry exist, only the solid is used to create the bounding box.

  • Pick - is used to manually select geometry to define the bounding box. To enable selection mode, click Pick Geometry. Select the appropriate geometry from the graphics area, and then click OK.


Selected Geometry - lists all the entities currently chosen to set the bounds of the stock. This list box only appears when the Pick method is selected for the Geometry Options.

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the Selected Geometry list.

(Delete All) - removes all entities from the Selected Geometry list.
The list will display all entities currently selected for the function.

 

  • Calculate Stock - is used to confirm the geometry selection and create the stock.

 

 

Dimension / Offset

This group allows you to enter, or adjust the X,Y, and Z dimensions of the stock, as well as add offsets in the positive and negative direction of each axis.

 

  X Y Z
Dim Lists the distance in the X axis. Lists the distance in the Y axis. Lists the distance in the Z axis.
Offset + Allows for an offset in the X positive direction. Allows for an offset in the Y positive direction. Allows for an offset in the Z positive direction.
Offset - Allows for an offset in the X negative direction. Allows for an offset in the Y negative direction. Allows for an offset in the Z negative direction.

 

 

Stock Orientation

This group defines where the stock is located in the graphics area and how the stock is oriented. When the stock geometry is defined, the stock origin is automatically placed at the top and center of the stock.

 

Coordinate System

Origin - is used to select geometry in the graphics area as the origin.

 

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

    • X - determines the position along the X-axis of the WCS.

    • Y - determines the position along the Y-axis of the WCS.

    • Z - determines the position along the Z-axis of the WCS.


 

X Direction - this allows you to select geometry that defines the direction for the X Axis. The last geometry selected will show in the list.


 

(Reverse) - Changes the direction of the Axis.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

 

Y Direction - this allows you to select geometry that defines the direction for the Y Axis. The last geometry selected will show in the list.


 

(Reverse) - Changes the direction of the Axis.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

 

Z Direction - this allows you to select geometry that defines the direction for the Z Axis. The last geometry selected will show in the list.


 

(Reverse) - Changes the direction of the Axis.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

 

Important: When geometry is selected to orient a particular axis, that geometry is saved in the list. If new geometry is selected for another axis that conflicts with the geometry assigned for another axis, the geometry selected last will take precedence.

 

Cylinder

Creates a cylindrical stock.

 

Creating Cylindrical Stock Example

 

Size

Bounding Options

 

  • Bounding Box - sets the stock by using the extents of the selected Geometry Option to create a bounding box that will center the stock. The diameter of the stock is then equal to the longest side of the rectangular bounding box.


      

 

Warning: While the default Bounding Box option works fine in most cases, the image above shows a scenario in which it fails to enclose all of the geometry in the cylindrical stock. The Bounding Box  is shown with dotted lines. Notice that the Bounding Box itself encloses the geometry, while the arc that is created fails to.

 

  • Bounding Cylinder -  uses an algorithm to calculate the smallest possible cylinder to enclose the geometry selected with the Geometry Option to create stock.


      

 

 

Geometry Options

 

  • Geometry from Graphics Area - automatically sets the stock size using all geometry that is currently in the graphics area. If solid and wireframe geometry exist, only the solid is used to create the bounding box.

  • Pick - is used to manually select geometry to define the bounding box. To enable selection mode, click Pick Geometry. Select the appropriate geometry from the graphics area, and then click OK.


Selected Geometry - lists all the entities currently chosen to set the bounds of the stock. This list box only appears when the Pick method is selected for the Geometry Options.

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the Selected Geometry list.

(Delete All) - removes all entities from the Selected Geometry list.
The list will display all entities currently selected for the function.

 

  • Calculate Stock - is used to confirm the geometry selection and create the stock.

 

 

Dimension / Offset

This group will allow you to set, or modify the diameter and height of the stock.

 

  • Diameter - sets the width of the cylindrical stock.

  • Height - sets the extrusion length of the cylindrical stock.

 

Offset

This group will allow you to set, or modify the offsets of the above diameter and height of the stock.

 

  • Diameter - (1) adds an offset to the existing diameter.

  • Start Face - (2) adds an offset to the face in the positive direction.

  • End Face - (3) adds an offset to the face in the negative direction.


 

 

 

 

Stock Orientation

This group defines where the stock is located in the graphics area. When the stock geometry is defined, the stock origin is automatically placed at the top and center of the stock.

 

Extrusion Direction - sets the initial axis around which the cylindrical stock is revolved.

 

Coordinate System

Origin - is used to select geometry in the graphics area as the origin.

 

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

    • X - determines the position along the X-axis of the WCS.

    • Y - determines the position along the Y-axis of the WCS.

    • Z - determines the position along the Z-axis of the WCS.


 

X Direction - this allows you to select geometry that defines the direction for the X Axis. The last geometry selected will show in the list.


 

(Reverse) - Changes the direction of the Axis.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

 

Y Direction - this allows you to select geometry that defines the direction for the Y Axis. The last geometry selected will show in the list.


 

(Reverse) - Changes the direction of the Axis.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

 

Z Direction - this allows you to select geometry that defines the direction for the Z Axis. The last geometry selected will show in the list.


 

(Reverse) - Changes the direction of the Axis.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

 

Important: When geometry is selected to orient a particular axis, that geometry is saved in the list. If new geometry is selected for another axis that conflicts with the geometry assigned for another axis, the geometry selected last will take precedence.

 

Wireframe

Creates a custom shaped stock by extruding selected 2D geometry.

 

Creating Wireframe Stock Example

 

Size

Selected Geometry - lists all the entities currently chosen to set the bounds of the stock.

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the Selected Geometry list.

(Delete All) - removes all entities from the Selected Geometry list.
The list will display all entities currently selected for the function.

 

  • Calculate Stock - is used to confirm the geometry selection and create the stock.

 

Top of Stock- is the top of the stock from the WCS (or world coordinate system at X0Z0Y0). You can type a value in the Top of Stock box, or you can click Pick to enable selection mode and select geometry from the graphics area to define the Top of Stock value.

 

Top - allows you to enter a value to define the top of stock. This also lists the value of the point selected when the list box is used to select geometry from the graphics area to define the top of stock.

 

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

 

  • Height - defines the height of the extruded stock from the Top of Stock value.

 

Stock Orientation

 

  • Extrusion Direction - sets the initial axis direction in which the wireframe stock is extruded from the selected entities.

 

Coordinate System

 

X Direction - this allows you to select geometry that defines the direction for the X Axis. The last geometry selected will show in the list.


 

(Reverse) - Changes the direction of the Axis.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

 

Y Direction - this allows you to select geometry that defines the direction for the Y Axis. The last geometry selected will show in the list.


 

(Reverse) - Changes the direction of the Axis.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

 

Z Direction - this allows you to select geometry that defines the direction for the Z Axis. The last geometry selected will show in the list.


 

(Reverse) - Changes the direction of the Axis.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

 

Important: When geometry is selected to orient a particular axis, that geometry is saved in the list. If new geometry is selected for another axis that conflicts with the geometry assigned for another axis, the geometry selected last will take precedence.

 

Solid Model

Creates stock from a solid body in the graphics area. Once geometry has been added to the Selected Geometry list, click Calculate Stock. To view stock, hide the solid body selected for the stock.

 

Create Stock from a Solid Example

 

Solid Body

 

Selected Geometry - lists all the entities currently chosen to set the bounds of the stock.

 

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the Selected Geometry list.

(Delete All) - removes all entities from the Selected Geometry list.
The list will display all entities currently selected for the function.

 

  • Calculate Stock - is used to confirm the geometry selection and create the stock.

 

STL

Creates stock from an .STL file.

 

Create Stock from an STL Example

 

File Name

Lists the file that was selected with the Browse button to act as stock.


  • Browse - displays the Open dialog box for you to locate and open an .stl file which is used to create the stock geometry. There is an informational display to show the file name of the file currently in use.

 

 

STL File Unit

When the dialog opens you will be able to select the unit type in which the .stl file was created.

 

  • MM - sets the units read from the .stl file as millimeter.

  • Inch - sets the units read from the .stl file as inch.

 

Revolve

Creates custom stock by revolving sketch geometry.

 

Create Revolved Stock Example

 

The revolve stock uses a wireframe profile that is revolved around the Z-axis of the stock origin coordinate system (which defaults to the Z-axis of the WCS). The parameters that display for this stock type are explained next.

 

Size

The size of custom stock is defined by revolving sketch geometry that you have already created. After assigning the coordinate system for the stock geometry, click in the box, select the geometry to revolve, and click Calculate to create the stock preview in the graphics area.

 

Selected Geometry - lists all the entities currently chosen to set the bounds of the stock.

 

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the Selected Geometry list.

(Delete All) - removes all entities from the Selected Geometry list.
The list will display all entities currently selected for the function.

 

  • Calculate Stock - is used to confirm the geometry selection and create the stock.

 

Note: The following values can be altered after selecting geometry and clicking Calculate. When you change these values, the stock preview is not updated in the graphics area, but the values are saved and automatically loaded in the Feature parameters of the wizard.

 

 

Axis

  • Pick Axis - the axis will be defined manually, with an existing axis, or a defined vector.
    Pick Axis - the axis will be defined by selecting a line, or surface edge.

    The following parameters vary depending on the Pick Axis option that is chosen: 

 

Pick Axis

 

  • Along X Axis - sets the X axis as the axis to revolve around.
  • Along Y Axis - sets the Y axis as the axis to revolve around.
  • Along Z Axis - sets the Z axis as the axis to revolve around.
  • Customized Axis - allows for a custom axis to used for the axis to revolve around.

 

 

Pick Axis

 

Rotation Axis

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.
The list box will list the entity currently selected for the function.

 

 

Note: The direction defines the vector of the rotation. The direction values are always visible, but can only be edited when Pick Axis is not selected, and the Customized Axis option is chosen. When it is, type in the desired values in the X, Y, Z  boxes to define the direction from the Origin Point.

 


  • Origin X - sets the X value for the center of rotation.
  • Origin Y - sets the Y value for the center of rotation.
  • Origin Z - sets the Z value for the center of rotation.

 

  • Direction X - lists the x value for the vector of the rotational axis.
  • Direction Y - lists the y value for the vector of the rotational axis.
  • Direction Z - lists the z value for the vector of the rotational axis.

 

 

Once the Stock Orientation is defined, click next to go to the Machine Setup.

Related Topics

The Stock Wizard and Machine Setup Tutorials

Next Topic

After setting the stock size in the Stock Definition, click  (next) to go to the Machine Setup.