Advanced Modeling with Target Driven Deformation can save days of modeling time when developing sheetmetal overbend forms, adding mold draft after the fact, and when tweaking models for special needs.
Advanced Modeling represents a quantum leap forward in part modeling and tool design. It provides technology to benefit all users in every industry sector. It is capable of deforming CAD geometry while maintaining model integrity and holding curvature up to stringent G4 constraints. This is particularly important for parts with high gloss requirements (black, white, chrome) or that have aerodynamic requirements.
Bending
The bend option allows the user to bend geometry along a defined path by selecting two points – one to be held stationary while the other is dynamically moved to define the bending or warping movement to achieve the required model deformation. Practical applications include development of cores and cavities with mold part warpage compensation and die sections with sheetmetal overbend compensation.
Twisting
The twist option allows the user to twist geometry around an axis of revolution. The deformation is created by defining two points which define the axis and its length. Users can control twist by defining a rotation value around the axis while constraining “pin down” points at starting and ending positions. The length of the axis line will control the severity of the twist across the entire geometry. Practical applications include sheet metal twist compensation and product design variants.
Stretching
The stretch option allows users to stretch and deform geom- etries by defining two geometry sets (of points, lines, or surfaces), for holding the first stationary and applying movement to the second.
Capping
The capping option is a new filling command similar to the existing drape surface. Importantly, the capping tool is more powerful due to the fact that it has the ability to manage gaps with virtual vertices, the ability to set multiple ‘draping’ shape combinations, the ability to define the master surface starting type, and the ability to set different tangency and curvature conditions for individual edge combinations. Practical applications include the use of this technology for removing features when working with 3rd party data and for filling over holes in NC programming applications to prevent the cutters from diving in geometry holes to be machined in subsequent operations.
Target Driven Deformation
The Target Driven Deformation command is an extremely powerful geometry deformation tool that allows the CAD operator to define the start and end geometrical conditions to control any model change. This is a mechanically driven change where the deformation is driven by pre-defined geo- metrical constraints. It is possible to define several pieces of geom- etry as two sets (each including points, lines and surfaces in com- bination) to define the starting and ending definitions of movement. For areas on the model that must not change, they can be defined as “pin-downs.” Practical applications include:
Sheet Metal
Target Deformation can be used to develop overbend models after springback has been determined by die simulation or forming analysis, or by a CMM machine measuring springback in a newly developed die after try-out. What’s more, Deformation can also be used to model intermediate form stations in progressive and transfer dies for drawn metal parts.
Plastics
Model Deformation can be used to apply draft to a part model – after the fact – when it was not properly included in the original product design. With Target Driven Deformation, it is possible to define simple starting and ending draft geometry while maintaining all tangency conditions of connecting fillet radii. Additionally, Deformation can be used to compensate core and cavity models for parts that warp.
Foundry
Deformation can be used to easily add compensation to patterns and cores to correct for sinks and distortions in castings.
Product Design
Model changes can be made more easily and frequently during product design cycles when changes must be made for aesthetic rather than manufacturing reasons. The ability to “tweak” original driving geometry for “trying out” variant possibilities allows for more variations to be investigated.
Geometry Healing
When dealing with errant surface data from IGES files, Deformation can be used to develop alternative surfaces when closing a model to a solid. In short, Deformation represents an additional tool in a designers tool bag to help him develop filler surfaces while maintaining tangency and curvature constraints.
