Creating a Generative Form Block

 

This task shows you how to create a Generative Form Block (block component).

This command manages the selection of:

  • a surface,
  • an axis system,
  • a profile.

The result Generative Form Block  is composed of:

  • a body that contains the component itself,
  • a body that represents the impacting pocket of the component.

This Generative Form Block can then be turned into an insert in Mold Tooling Design.

A Generative Form Block is made of a Pad (in the Mold Tooling Design sense),

  • the Pad is created in the PartBody,
  • it can have a chamfer,
  • it can be drafted.

and of a Pocket ( (in the Mold Tooling Design sense, optional):

  • the pocket is created in DrillHole,
  • it can have a fillet,
  • it can be drafted.
  • Open FormBlock01.CATPart from the samples directory.
  • Go to Tools > Options > Infrastructure > Part Infrastructure > Display and select Parameters and Relations under Display in Specification Tree

  1. Click Generative Form Block in the Blocks toolbar.
    The Generative Form Block dialog box is displayed.

  2. Select the inputs for the block:
    • Select the Shape, i.e. the surface to process.
      The surface must be a tooling surface:
      • No undercut,
      • No internal boundary,
      • Connex.
    • Select an Axis System.
      By default, it is the current axis system.
    • Select a Profile to define the pad.

  3. Click Apply. The Pad is created between the surface selected as the Shape and the Profile.

  4. You can create a Chamfer on that Pad:

    • Select the Chamfer check box, Length and Angle become editable.
    • Key in the Length and the Angle of the chamfer.
    • The Chamfer is created automatically on the Pad, and updated as you modify the Length and Angle.

  5. You can create a Pocket:

    • Select the Create Pocket check box.
    • Edge Fillet becomes active.
    • Select Edge Fillet, Radius becomes editable. Key in the required value.
    • The Pocket is created automatically, the Edge Fillet (if any) is updated as you modify the Radius.

  6. You can apply a Draft Angle to the Pad (or to both the Pack and the Pocket if you have created one).

    • Select the Draft Angle check box.
    • Its value becomes editable. Key in the required value.
    • The Pad and the Pocket are drafted.

  7. Click OK to validate and exit the dialog box.

    • The Pad and its Chamfer and Draft (if any) are created under PartBody.
    • The Pocket (if any) and its EdgeFillet and Draft (if any) are created under a DrillHole body. (in the picture below, the Pad is hidden.)
    • Parameters and Relations are created.
    • The features created are editable.