Emboss 2-Rail Sweep

Introduction

This topic will explain the Emboss 2-Rail Sweep, describe where to find it, the options found in it, and will provide links to related topics.

Emboss 2-Rail Sweep

The Emboss 2-Rail Sweep feature creates an emboss with one or more cross sections swept along two rails. Generally, the two rails are drawn inside the emboss stock that you create, and the cross section geometry can be drawn anywhere in the XY plane of the coordinate system selected for the emboss model. Be sure to click the links available in this topic to view more information about a given option.

To create a 2 Rail Sweep feature:

 

  • In the BobART tab, right-click Emboss Model, and click Emboss2 Rail Sweep.

 

The 2-Rail Sweep dialog box displays.

Parameters

Emboss Attributes

 

  • Name- indicates the feature name that displays in the BobART tree. By default, it is automatically named by the feature type and number. Note that you cannot use the hyphen (-) character with spaces around it, as this is reserved for the automatic naming and will be removed. You can however use it without spaces, for example, Emboss-Body).

  • Color - opens the Color dialog box. Select the desired color for the feature, and click OK.

 

 

 

Emboss

 

  • Scale Cross Section Based on Width- To learn more, view the Emboss 2 Rail Sweep Leaf tutorial.

    Select the check box to have the entire cross-section geometry, including the height, scaled to fit between the rails.



    Clear the check box to have the cross-section geometry width, excluding the height, scaled to fit between the rails. This results in a model with a height that is equal to the height of the selected cross section.



  • Sync Rail Nodes - To learn more, view the Sync Rail Nodes tutorial.

    For use when both rails have an equal number of entities, select this check box to force the cross sections to match at the end of each entity. Note that the start point of each rail should use the same location on each rail.



    When the check box is cleared there is no effect on the embossed model.



  • Use 3D Rails -

    Select the check box to use rails that are not flat. This allows the rails to extend outward from the surface of the stock model.



    Clear the check box to automatically flatten the 3D rails to the stock surface.



  • Geometry List Box - is located below the Use 3D Rails check box, this box displays a list of the geometry associated with the operation. Click a geometry item to show a preview in the window below the Cross Section Spacing options.

 

Application Type

These options are explained in more detail in the Application Types help topic.

  • Add - Builds up on top of whatever is already there.

  • Subtract - Pushes down into whatever is already there.

  • Merge High - Builds up independent of whatever is already there and intersects as needed.

  • Merge Low - Builds up in place of whatever is already there.

 

 

Transition Type

Blends the shape of one cross section into the shape of the other. These options apply when three or more cross sections are in use. The Transition Types are for use with three or more cross sections. There are three transition types available:

  • Linear - creates a linear blend between the cross sections.

  • Local Smooth - creates a smooth blend from one cross section to the next to make a smoother appearing transition.

  • Global Smooth -creates a smooth blend between all cross sections in a manner similar to the Local Smooth transition type. This creates a smoother transition across the entire model.

 

Transition Examples

 

A model is used next in order to better show the difference between the transition types. The three cross section entities used in this example are shown next.

 

First Cross Section Second Cross Section Third Cross Section

 

Sweeps generated with the previous entities using the three transition types are shown next.

 

Linear

 

Local Smooth

 

Global Smooth

 

The three previous images were all created using the Scale Cross Section Based on Width option which resulted in a significant height change between cross sections. The first cross-section width is half of the distance between rails, so it is scaled 200% to fit. The second cross section is wider than the distance between rails so it is scaled down to fit between them. The third cross section is much smaller than the distance between rails, so the scaling makes it much larger than all other cross sections in this example.

 

 

 

Cross Section Spacing

The Cross Section Spacing parameter is used with three or more cross sections. By default, the Automatically Space Cross Sections option is selected which sets the Location % of each cross section. The Location % represents the distance along the rail. So, for example, when three rails are used, the first is set to 0%, the second to 50%, and the third to 100%. When the check box is cleared the Location % box becomes available allowing you to change the placement of a cross section along the rails. When manually setting the cross-section spacing, one cross section must be set to 0 % and another must be set to 100%, with the remaining cross sections set at any other distance.

 

  • Automatically space cross sections

    Select this check to automatically set the spacing between multiple cross sections along the two rails.

    Clear the check box to manually set the spacing between 3 or more cross sections along the two rails using the Location % box.

  • Location % - sets the distance along the rails (percentage of the rail length) at which the cross section is located. This option is used with a minimum of 3 cross sections.

    Select this check to automatically set the spacing between multiple cross sections along the two rails.


Cross Section Spacing Examples

 

A model is used as an example using the following geometry items.

 

First Cross Section Second Cross Section Third Cross Section

 

Sweeps generated with the previous entities using the three transition types are shown next.

 

The first image shown uses Automatically Space Cross Sections. The first cross section is set to 0%, so it begins on the far left. The second cross section is set to 50%, so it is centered. The last cross section is set to 100%, so the model ends with this geometry.

 

The next image shows the second cross section set to 75% instead of 50%.

 

If you decide that want to reverse the direction of a sweep you can take advantage of setting the spacing manually. Change the first cross section to 100%, and change the last cross section to 0%. This is shown in the following example.

 

Notice that the geometry location is now reversed along the rails.

 

Tip: The Transition Types and manual Cross Section Spacing are used with a minimum of three cross sections. When using 3 or more cross sections, set the first to 0%, and set the last cross section to 100%. The remaining cross sections can be placed at any other distance (%).


 

 

Fast Edit

 

  • X-Y Scale - scales the cross section geometry that is used to create the feature. A value of 0.5 scales the cross section to one-half (50%) of the original size in the X- and Y-axes.

  • Z Scale - changes the height of the resulting surface in relation to the Z-axis. A value of 1.0 is equal to 100% and results in no scaling.

  • Base Height - creates a vertical wall that extends from the stock, to the beginning (bottom) of the embossed model. In other words, this adds a wall to the base of the model.

 

 

  • OK - accepts any changes and closes the dialog. (The first time you click OK, the feature is created and added to the BobART tree.)

  • Cancel - cancels the creation of the feature (the first time that the dialog box displays). When editing the feature, this cancels any changes and closes the dialog.

 

 

After defining the parameters, you use the Emboss Features in the BobART Tree to finish creating, or edit, the feature.

The Emboss Feature in the BobART Tree

When you finish defining the feature parameters and click OK, the feature is added to the BobART tree. You right-click each feature item in the tree to access a shortcut menu.

 

The Feature Shortcut Menus

 

2 Rail Sweep

Right-click this item to access the following commands.

    • Edit - opens the Feature dialog box for you to modify the feature parameters.

    • Delete - removes the feature from the tree. Regenerate to view the change in the model.

    • Suppress/Unsuppress - is used to remove the feature from the model or to restore a suppressed feature. To update the model, Regenerate.

    • Save As Component/STL - is used to save the feature as a component or .stl file. This saves the individual feature and not the entire model. The STL Save Option dialog box displays for you to set the tolerance. Next, the Save As dialog box displays for you to select a location, name the file, and save it. The component can be used to create an Emboss from Component feature.

 

Rail Geometry (There are two Rail Geometry items. One for each rail.)

Right-click this item to access the following commands.

    • Re/Select - opens the Selection Manager for you to select geometry for Rail 1 (or Rail 2) to define the sweep path. Be sure to set the same chain direction for each rail.

    • Remove - removes any geometry assigned to the feature.

    • Reverse Direction - reverses the chain direction of the selected rail (for 2-Rail sweep only).

    • Modify Start Point - opens the Selection Manager for you to click a new start point location along the rail geometry. This is used when the geometry assigned to a rail contains more than one entity and is a closed chain. You can select the start or endpoint of any entity in the chain (no midpoints).

 

Cross-Section Geometry-1 (By default there is only one item, but more Cross Sections can be added.)

Right-click this item to access the following commands.

    • Re/Select - opens the Selection Manager for you to select geometry for this cross section. Be sure to set the desired chain direction for the rail. The start of the cross section goes to rail one and the end goes to rail two.

    • Remove - remove any geometry assigned to the cross section.

    • Reverse Direction - reverses the chain direction of the cross section.

    • Edit - opens the 2-Rail Sweep Cross-Section Geometry Location dialog box which allows you to edit the Location % of this cross section. In order to use this option, you must clear the Automatically space cross sections check box in the 2 Rail Sweep dialog box first. This is used when there are more than two cross sections.

    • Add New Cross Section Geometry - adds another Cross-Section Geometry item to the 2-Rail Sweep to allow the use of multiple cross-sections.

    • Delete Cross Section Geometry - deletes the Cross-Section Geometry item from the tree. (This option is only available when there are more than one Cross Sections.)

Generating the Model

After all necessary selections are made, you must regenerate to create the model.

 

To Regenerate the Model:

 

  • Right-click Emboss Model, and click Regenerate.

 

Note: Every time a change is made to an Emboss feature, you must Regenerate to update the model.

Process Summary and Important Notes

When creating a 2-rail sweep you must first select a coordinate system for the model and define the stock. The stock defines the area in which you can create an emboss. The next step is to create 2 rails inside the stock. If portions of the rails go beyond the stock, the emboss will simply end at the stock edge and not continue on. These rails can be open or closed shapes such as two parallel lines or two offset rectangles; and they can be 3-dimensional. The two rails must share the same chain direction. After creating two rails at least one cross-section geometry is needed. The cross section (width) should be drawn horizontally along/parallel to the X-axis. The X parallel is essentially the base of the stock. Sweeping a line that is parallel to X will create a flat surface.

 

Important: You cannot use a cross section that is drawn vertically in the Y-axis. So, the start and end point of a cross section cannot share the same X-value. The width of the cross section is taken from the change in X-values and the height is taken from the change in Y-values.

 

When using more than one cross section the chain direction should also be shared among all cross sections. The start point of the cross section is connected to rail 1 and the end of the cross section is connected to rail 2. Once all of these items are created, the cross-section geometry is swept along the two rails to create an Emboss 2-Rail Sweep from the stock surface.

Quick Steps - Emboss 2 Rail Sweep

  1. Open BobCAM for SolidWorks and click File, New.

  2. In the BobART tab, right-click Emboss Model, and click Emboss 2-Rail Sweep.

 

Because no stock is defined the Stock Parameters dialog box appears.

 

Set the desired stock parameters and click OK.

 

The 2-Rail Sweep dialog box appears. Click OK. The stock displays in the graphics area.

 

The following items are added to the BobART tree below Emboss Model:

 

2-Rail Sweep 1 - Add (Each feature name is numbered and includes the Application Type)

Rail 1-Geometry (Stores the geometry for the first rail)

Rail 2-Geometry (Stores the geometry for the second rail)

Cross-Section Geometry-1 (Stores the geometry for the first cross section)

 

 

  1. Draw the first rail and the second rail inside the boundary of the defined stock.

    Draw one or more cross sections in the graphics area either inside or outside the boundary of the defined stock.

  2. Right-click Rail 1-Geometry, and click Re/Select. In the graphics area, select the appropriate geometry, and click .

    Right-click Rail 2-Geometry, and click Re/Select. In the graphics area, select the appropriate geometry, and click .

    Make sure the chain direction of each rail is the same. To view the chain-direction arrow, click the Rail Geometry item in the BobART tree.

    Right-click Cross-Section Geometry-1, and click Re/Select. In the graphics area, select the appropriate geometry, and click OK.

    Make sure the desired chain direction is achieved. The start point of the cross section is connected to rail 1 and the end of the cross section is connected to rail 2.

  3. Right-click 2-Rail Sweep 1 - Add, and click Edit.

    The 2-Rail Sweep dialog box appears.

    Select the desired parameters that are explained in the Emboss 2-Rail Sweep help topic. Click OK.

  4. Right-click Emboss Model, and click Regenerate. The Emboss 2-Rail Sweep is finished.

 

Note: Remember that every time a 2-Rail Sweep parameter is changed, you right-click Emboss Model, and then click Regenerate to see the changes reflected in the model.

Related Topics

The BobART Overview