Emboss Swept
Introduction
This topic will explain the Emboss Swept, describe where to find it, the options found in it, and will provide links to related topics.
Emboss Swept
The Emboss Swept feature creates an emboss by sweeping a cross section along open or closed geometry chains. The chains (feature geometry) can be any combination of lines, arcs, and splines and they must be 2D geometry drawn in the XY plane. The cross section is swept along the entire length of the open or closed feature geometry.
Navigation
To create an Emboss Swept feature:
- In the
BobART
tab, right-click 
Emboss Model, and click Emboss
Swept.
The Emboss dialog 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
The Emboss group contains all of the following parameters that define the cross section and the application type of the feature.
Cross Section
The Cross Section defines the shape or appearance of the emboss in Z. To learn more, view the Emboss Cross Sections help topic.
- Convex Arc - This cross-section type creates a raised arc
in the model using the following parameters.
- Radius - sets the distance
from the center of the arc to the edge of the arc.
- Start Angle - sets where
the arc begins and is tangent to adjacent surfaces in the model.
- End Angle - sets where the arc stops and is tangent to adjacent surfaces in the model.
Note: If the Start Angle is greater than the End Angle the resulting surface is concave and the radius does not appear in the model. The angles should be within a sweep of 90 degrees, that is, neither value should exceed 90.
- Concave Arc - This cross-section type creates a sunken or depressed arc in the model
using the following parameters.
- Radius - sets the distance
from the center of the arc to the edge of the arc.
- Start Angle - sets where
the arc begins and is tangent to adjacent surfaces in the model.
- End Angle - sets where the arc stops and is tangent to adjacent surfaces in the model.
- Line - This cross-section type creates an angled wall on the model using the
following parameters.
- Height - sets
the distance from the bottom of the Slope Angle to the top of the
Slope Angle. If looking at the results of this operation as a right
triangle, the height indicates the length of a leg and not the length
of the hypotenuse.
- Slope Angle -
sets the angle of the resulting surfaces, relative to the stock of
the model.
- Height - sets
the distance from the bottom of the Slope Angle to the top of the
Slope Angle. If looking at the results of this operation as a right
triangle, the height indicates the length of a leg and not the length
of the hypotenuse.
- Convex Ellipse - This cross-section type creates a raised radial surface on the model
using the following parameters.
- Major Axis -
sets the horizontal length of the ellipse.
- Minor Axis -
sets the height of the surface created by the operation.
- Concave Ellipse - This cross-section type creates a sunken or depressed radial surface
in the model using the following parameters.
- Major Axis -
sets the horizontal length of the ellipse.
- Minor Axis -
sets the height of the surface created by the operation.
- Spline - This cross-section type creates a contour using three control points
as follows.
- Point 1(X-Y) - sets the
distance from the base geometry to the first control point in X/Y.
- Point 1(Z) - sets the distance
from the stock to the first control point of the contour in Z.
- Point 2(X-Y) - sets the
distance from the base geometry to the second control point of the
contour in X/Y.
- Point 2(Z) - sets the distance
from the stock to the second control point of the contour in Z.
- Point 3(X-Y) - sets the
distance from the base geometry to the third control point of
the contour in X/Y.
- Point 3(Z) - sets the distance
from the stock to the third control point of the contour in Z.
- Point 1(X-Y) - sets the
distance from the base geometry to the first control point in X/Y.
- Custom Cross Section
In addition to the six predefined cross-section shapes, you can select custom cross-section geometry. The custom cross section must be an open shape and it must be drawn (flat) in the XY plane. The cross section can be drawn anywhere in the graphics area, as long as it is drawn in the XY plane. The open shape can include lines, arcs, and splines.
Because embossed models cannot have undercut areas, any part of a custom cross section that would result in an undercut area results in a vertical wall. What this means is that although there are some limitations on the shape of the custom cross section, you can draw any open shape, and the software automatically uses as much of the shape as possible. If you cannot create the desired result, you may need to redraw the cross section.
To assign a custom cross section:- In the Cross Section group
of the emboss feature dialog box, select Custom.
- In the BobART
tree, right-click
Cross Section Geometry, and
click Re/Select. - In the graphics area, select
the cross section geometry, and confirm the selection.
- Regenerate the model.
- In the Cross Section group
of the emboss feature dialog box, select Custom.
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.
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 to access a shortcut menu.
The Feature Shortcut Menus
Emboss Swept
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.
Geometry
Right-click this item to access the following commands.
-
Re/Select -for you to select geometry that is used to create the feature. To confirm your selections, click
OK. -
Remove - removes any geometry assigned to the feature.
Cross-Section Geometry
Right-click this item to access the following commands.
-
Re/Select -for you to select the geometry that is used for the cross section. To confirm your selections, click
OK. -
Remove - removes any geometry assigned to the cross section.
-
Reverse Direction - reverses the chain direction of the selected cross section.
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.
