The functions provided in the Outer Smooth dialog box are used to smooth the outer boundary of the selected part. Before outer smooth, the user must specify a part by clicking on Select Part button. As illustrated in Figure 7.1.78, there are four functions in the dialog box:

1.  Arc Fit

2.  Morphing

3.  Corner Smooth

4.  Expand

Figure 7.1.78  Outer Smooth

TO PART

The user must specify a part for outer smooth. The user may directly input a part name or click the select part button to select a created part.

·           ARC FIT

This function allows the user to roll a cylinder with a defined radius along the boundary and fill the gaps between the part boundary and the cylinder.  Once this function is selected, a dialog box as illustrated in Figure 7.1.78 is displayed.  The default radius of the cylinder is 300 (mm) in the Roll Radius input field.

1.       After the desired radius is entered, click on the Create Boundary button to show the new boundary line with the cylinder rolled along the part boundary.  If the result is acceptable, click on the Fill Boundary button to fill the gap with elements and a new surface. A new part will be created, as specified in the To Part field, to include the elements and surfaces, or the user can select an existing part. A newly created part will be automatically assigned to the Die part for subsequent operations.

2.       The Undo function is used to remove the filled mesh in the gap and allow the user to go back to the original part. Figure 7.1.79 illustrates the result of a typical arc fit operation.

   

Figure 7.1.79  An illustration of an arc fit operation

3.       Click on the Exit button to exit the function.

LOCAL SMOOTH

This option allows the user to smooth the local boundary using a cylinder with a defined radius along a selected boundary, as illustrated in Figure 7.1.80.

Figure 7.1.80  Local smooth

KEEP TANGENT

This option enables the user to maintain tangency between the existing surfaces and meshes as well as meshes generated by smooth operation.

CREATE BOUNDARY

By clicking this button after specifying the radius, the program will highlight the part boundary and prompt the user to show the first point on boundary line in the message prompt window. After the first point is selected, the user is prompted to select the second.

EDIT END-POINT

This function allows the user to edit boundary end points. As illustrated in Figure 7.1.81, this button is activated after the boundary of the local smooth area is created. Click this button to highlight the boundary end points. The user may move the boundary end points dragging to edit the position of boundary end points.  

Figure 7.1.81  Edit local smooth

EDIT BOUNDARY

This function enables the user to edit the created boundary line. This button is activated after the smooth boundary is created. Click this button to show all the points on the boundary line and prompts:

SELECT TWO POINTS ON LINE TO DEFINE EDIT REGION

After selecting two points on the boundary line, the program pops up the Curve Edit window illustrated in Figure 7.1.82. Refer to Section 5.1.15 for detailed description about related operations.

Figure 7.1.82  Edit Boundary

FILL BOUNDARY

If the smooth result is acceptable, click on the Fill Boundary button to fill meshes and generate surfaces between the new boundary and the original boundary. Edit the boundary points after filling. The Edit Boundary and Fill Boundary are disabled, as illustrated in Figure 7.1.83.

Figure 7.1.83  Local smooth

EDIT FILLED SURFACE

This function is used to edit the local smoothed result by adding control lines. By clicking this button, the program pops up a dialog box illustrated in Figure 7.1.84. Click the Add, Edit, or Remove button to add, edit or delete control lines, and click the Apply button to regenerate local smoothed surface. The operation of this dialog box is similar to the one in Section 7.2.3 Modify Binder.

Figure 7.1.84  Edit Filled Surface

Figure 7.1.85 illustrates the result of a typical roller operation using the Local smooth option.

Figure 7.1.85  Local smooth result

·           MORPHING

This function allows the user to modify the part mesh by morphing the boundary line of the part. Figure 7.1.86 illustrates dialog box of the Morphing function.

Figure 7.1.86  Morphing dialog box

1.       Click on the Morphing Boundary button to highlight the boundary of the part. eta/DYNAFORM requests the user to select two points on the part boundary to define a morphing region. Figure 7.1.87 illustrates the selected region on the part boundary for morphing operation.

Figure 7.1.87  Select Morphing Boundary

2.       After two points are selected, the Curve Edit dialog box as illustrated in Figure 7.1.88 is displayed. About the detailed description of Curve Edit function, the user can refer to the Section 5.1.15.

Figure 7.1.88  Curve Edit dialog box

3.       Click on the Fill Boundary button to fill elements between the original boundary and the smoothed boundary.  The result from a typical morphing operation is illustrated in Figure 7.1.89.

  

Figure 7.1.89  Morphing Result

4.       The Undo button is used to remove the elements from the gap, allowing the user to return to the original boundary and keep the newly created part.  The To Part field enables the user to assign a name to the part; it will be automatically assigned.

 

5.       Click on the Exit button to exit the function. The generated elements, nodes or surfaces, etc. will be automatically saved in a new part. The user can modify the name of this part and the generated part will be automatically assigned.

·           CORNER SMOOTH

This function allows the user to smooth sharp corners on a part using a defined radius. eta/DYNAFORM will generate a set of elements in a circular shape with the defined radius around the selected point.

When this function is selected, the dialog box as illustrated in Figure 7.1.90 is displayed.  The default corner radius is 30 (mm) as displayed in the input field of Corner Radius.

Figure 7.1.90  Corner Smooth dialog box

1.       After entering the desired corner radius, click on the Corner Smooth button to highlight the boundary line of the part such as illustrated in Figure 7.1.91.

Figure 7.1.91  Sharp Corner

2.       The user selects a node on the boundary for the corner smooth operation.

3.       After a node is selected at a sharp corner, eta/DYNAFORM will generate a set of elements around the part boundary to create a circular shape to smooth the edge.  Figure 7.1.92 illustrates a typical result of a corner smooth operation.

Figure 7.1.92  Corner Smooth

4.       The Undo button is used to remove the elements from the smoothed corner and allowing the user to obtain the original boundary.

5.       Click on the Exit button to exit the function.

·           EXPAND

The Expand function is used to extend the part boundary with.  When this function is selected, dialog box as illustrated in Figure 7.1.93 is displayed.  The value in the input field of Extension is the default extension value for the active part.  The user can type in any positive value.

 

Figure 7.1.93  Boundary Expand dialog box

1.       Click on the Boundary Expand button to highlight the boundary of extension as illustrated in Figure 7.1.94(a).  The default extension value is calculated from the average element size. The user can input a different value followed by clicking the Boundary Expand button once again to modify the default value.

2.       Select the Morph Boundary button to morph the boundary line. Refer to Section 5.1.15 Line Morphing for description of this function.

3.       The Straighten Boundary Segment function allows the user to straighten a line segment between two selected points on the boundary line.

(a) Extended boundary                             (b) Filling extended boundary

Figure 7.1.94  An illustration of the Boundary Expand operation

4.       When the morphed boundary is accepted, click on the Fill Boundary button to generate the mesh between the original boundary and the extension boundary.  An illustration of extended boundary with filled elements is illustrated in Figure 7.1.94(b).

5.       The Smooth Corner function allows the user to smooth a selected a sharp corner.

Note: A sharp angle is determined by two adjacent boundary elements when the angle between two boundary edges is greater than 30º.

6.       Click on the Undo button to remove the generated mesh and exit the function.