|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|---|
Topsolid online Help Index
Elements (fixture,)
Icon:
Menu: Part | Part clamping | Elements (fixture,)
Links:
Purpose
Include tooling elements, such as a clamp, stop, cube, V, plate or locating in the current document.
The element must be predefined, according to the methods defined in the TopSolid manual.
As a rule, parameters are assigned to tooling elements. Their general shape is identical to a model, with only the dimensions changing.
Understanding the function
The running mode for this command is identical to the TopSolid’s “Include Element” command. The user may refer to the corresponding TopSolid manual’s chapter. However, to simplify manipulations, several positioning types will be deliberately ignored, so that the function easily controls 90% of positioning problems.
In fact, positioning for a tooling element is done manually, using the mouse and the keyboard’s keys and correcting the relative position of the element to the part.
How to use
Click on Menu 'Part / Clamping / Elements'
The dialogue box below allows the user to select the component to be included.
Select element type to be included, here a B100 Goose Neck Clamp .
The element is made to float at the end of the cursor and can be manually positioned, using the keyboard keys, as shown in the figure below:
Press one of the direction keys to lock a tooling element on the axis associated with the key. As an example, when the “Arrow Towards the Bottom” key is pressed, the tooling element is moved by a parameter value towards the negative Y’s. The mouse’s free movements only allow movements in X or in Z. Therefore, the Y-axis is locked. The user can unlock it, by pressing the Y key. The same applies to the X and Z keys. Press the “+” and “-” signs for a tooling element rotation, using a parameter value.
The following top.cfg file parameters allow the user to define default values for translations and rotations:
ZMI_POSITION_STEP_TRA 0.001
ZMI_POSITION_STEP_ROT 10
Recapitulation of keyboard keys used for tooling element positioning:
Keys 0 to 9: incremental variation for the translation: 0 = 10mm, 1 = 1mm, 2 = 2mm, etc..
Key X: locks or unlocks the X-axis. The mouse’s free movements are carried out in YZ..
Key Y: locks or unlocks the Y-axis. The mouse’s free movements are carried out in XZ..
Key Z: locks or unlocks the Y-axis. The mouse’s free movements are carried out in XY.
Key F: selects a side support 'from the stock), side with which contact will be made.
Key + -: bridle rotation around the Z-axis
Warning:
it is neither necessary nor compulsory to position tooling elements on a part. However, if tooling element positioning is present, TopCam can control potential collisions during toolpath definition
Topsolid online Help Index
