Automatic Offset of surfaces

[castman]

This is how I work today:
Im moddelingthe EDM electrod by copy all desiredsurface needed from the cavity (mold tool) that I want to getthe shapeof desiredelectrod. After this is completed Ido the MFG sequense (CAM program) were the offset for the electrode is defined.Then the electrode is milled with the desired EDM gap created by the MFG program.

This is how I want to work:
I still want to modelling the electrode the same way by copining surfaces. But as the second step I would like to in an automatic way add the offset on every surface on the elctrod so that the electrod modell is defined with the offset. Then the CAM program can bepreparedwith0 in stock. Is this possible to do in Pro/E or any other CAD software?


Be aware that its not possible to scale the modell. (all surfaces should have an ofset of i.e.-0.07mm)

Br. Jonas

 

[marker4x4]

Well,I assume that youcopy/pasteyour geometry by holding down the CTRL buttonand multi-selecting selecting your surfaces in one go.


Once you have that done andwhile your COPY feature is still red, go Edit-Offset and thatwill offset ALL surfaces in the desired direction by the amount you specify.


I hope it helps.

 

[Mr Ray]

Can you please elaborate on offsetting a surface?
When I first open a part I cannot select just one surface. The whole part gets highlighted.
I must have an option turned off when selecting a surface. Are you not selecting a button or something prior to selecting the surface? I tried setting the option

 

[tobbo]

Mr Ray.


Is your part an Iges/step file, or is it a pro/E file?


If you got a pro/E file, then click on the part so i gets highlighted, then move the mouse (a little bit, or even outside the modell sometimes..) and then back and pick the surf you want to offset or copy. (then only the surf will be selected , not the part)


Or else, change your selection filter to "geometry" (bottom right corner of pro/E)


//Tobias
Edited by: tobbo

 

[tobbo]

You could also pick all surfaces by selecting one single surf , rightclick and pick "solid surfaces"


Then just copy/paste - offset your copy - and solidify the offset.


//Tobias
Edited by: tobbo

 

[Mr Ray]

Thanks for the quick response.


Changing the filter to Geometry did the trick.


This is a nice little time saver for me!

 

[ToolDude]

The way we do electrodes is copy the desired surfaces as stated earlier then thicken the copied surfaces. this essentialy offsets all surcaces the same amount as long as there are no small surfaces that will disapear when using thicken.