Access: Select Extract Electrode from the Electrode Guide or select Electrode / Extract Electrode from the main menu.

Rectangular electrode area	Cylindrical electrode area

When you are creating the electrode area, the part is displayed in mixed mode. The Electrode Area parameters are displayed.

1. Pick a place where you wish to create the electrode and define the parameters.

Note: Edit the electrode area (either dynamically or by entering numeric values) to position it approximately where you wish to create the electrode.

Rectangular: Define the shape of the blank; Rectangular or Cylindrical.

Clearance: Define the Clearance height. The clearance is the distance between the highest point under the blank and the bottom plane of the Base. The default of the clearance is set in the Electrode Preferences.

Trim On / Off: Use Trim On when creating the electrode area to specify which faces are to be attached to the extracted electrode.

Apply Template: Apply a predefined electrode template to the electrode while it is being created or select No Template.

Change Template: Select a different electrode template.

 

2. The electrode area is created.

To change the shape of the electrode area, toggle the Rectangular parameter to Cylindrical

 

Use Trim On when creating the electrode area to specify which faces are to be attached to the extracted electrode. When Trim On is selected, an additional option Blank Offset (with a default value of 0) is displayed.

For example:

1. Pick the three faces (see below) you wish to be part of the electrode and attach them.

2. Those parts of the faces which intersect the blank preview are then trimmed and attached to the extracted electrode.

The finished electrode will look like this:

Use Trim On with a defined Blank Offset when creating the electrode area to create a blank with a slight offset from the original definition of the Burning Area. This allows you to define the Burning Area according to the trim size, without a direct impact on the size of the blank. It also creates a blank which is bigger in all directions in the offset value.

Blank Offset defined as 0:	Result:
Blank Offset defined as > 0:	Result:

To dynamically edit the electrode area, pick one of the locations listed below and start dragging immediately.

Move Pick an edge. Drag the electrode area to another position.
Re-Size Pick a mid-point. Drag to re-size the electrode area, without changing its position.
Pick a corner. Drag to re-size the electrode area.
Rotate Press SHIFT and pick a corner. Drag to rotate the electrode area.

 

To edit the electrode area by entering numeric values:

1. Press the expansion arrow to display numeric sizing and positioning parameters. These parameters vary, depending upon whether the electrode area is defined as Rectangular or Cylindrical.

2. Adjust the parameter values as required.

Note: To rotate a rectangular Electrode Area, either enter an angle value manually, or select a reference line to automatically define the angle value.

 

For Rectangular electrode areas, you can rotate the Electrode Area by selecting a Reference Line to automatically define the rotation Angle. In the examples below, the Angle value is initially 0.

1. Press the Reference Line parameter button.

2. Pick a reference line to define the rotation angle.

The electrode area is rotated to the angle defined by the reference line and the Angle parameter is automatically filled with the new angle value.

Note: The rotation angle value may also be changed by entering numeric values manually.

 

Any face that is completely included within the electrode, will be colored yellow. Such a face is considered a candidate for attachment to the electrode. Attached faces are displayed in green.

To attach a yellow face to the electrode area, press the middle mouse button.

The attached face is displayed in green.

To unselect a yellow face, use standard Cimatron E tools (Pick, Un-Select All and Un-Select by Box).

To detach green faces, pick the face (you can also use Pick by Box).

The electrode direction represents the motion direction of the electrode. This direction is used as the default direction for all extensions. By default, the direction is set to the + Z direction of the reference UCS. This is represented by an arrow next to the reference UCS and may be edited to suit the motion direction of the electrode.

Note: Flipping or changing the electrode direction does not effect the orientation of the mold component.