Specifying a Ramp Definition

This task shows you how to specify a Ramp Definition in Composites Parameters or when defining a Grid Panel.
Available in Composites Engineering Design (CPE), Composites Design for Manufacturing (CPM) and Composites Braiding (CPB).

  1. In Composites Parameters, click Add Ramp Definition.

    In Grid Panel, when editing a Reference elements group or a Reference element, click New under Default Ramp Definitions.

  2. In the Ramp Definition dialog box that appears

    Select a Ramp Type from the list, then enter the required parameters.
    Only the parameters corresponding to the selected type are proposed and listed below.
    In the images below:

    • 1: reference element
    • 2: start geometry
    • 3: ramp curve

    Proposed types:

    • Parallel/Parallel

    • Offset/Offset
    • Offset/Parallel
    • Angle to curve
    • Between two curves
    • Custom

    The last three types specify not only staggering parameters but also geometries, in particular curves, that are used to compute Ramp Support Curves. Some of those curves must be identified as lying on the reference surface to fit the grid design intent and to be proposed.

  3. For Parallel/Parallel
    • Select the Parallel Type from the list
      Note that Chained parallels and Parallels from first result in several parallels computed in several steps.
      They are more time consuming, and may be less accurate than the Multi-Parallel option. However, they ensure the compatibility of older designs.
      They are also useful when you need a local control of the ramp support, or when the global computation does not meet your requirements. 
      • Multi-Parallel: The parallels are build in one single computation, as a Multi Parallel feature, from the reference curve.
        The computation is faster and safer. When this option is selected, the geometry creation and smoothing options are no longer available.
      • Chained parallels: Each parallel is computed after the previous one, by applying an offset and a deviation.
      • Parallels from first: Each parallel is computed from the first one, by applying an offset and a deviation. /li>

  4. For Offset/Offset, select a Smoothing mode from the list and a Maximum Deviation if required.

  5. For Offset/Parallel , enter the parameters described in the previous two steps.

  6. For Angle to curve, select a Spine, that is the curve with which the ramp forms an angle.

  7. For the above types, do one of the following to define the Start (clearance).
    • Enter an Offset.
    • Select a Geometry.
      • If the clearance geometry is a point on the surface, this reverts to applying an automatic offset.
        The first curve of the ramp support goes through this point.
      • If the clearance geometry is a curve on the surface, this curve becomes the reference of the first curve of the ramp support.
        As a consequence, the ramp support shape no longer depends on the geometry of the reference elements.
      • Likewise, if the clearance geometry is a plane or a surface, the reference curve of the first curve of the ramp support is the intersection
        of the selected plane or surface with the reference surface.
    • Select Centered ramp support.
      See More about Drop-off for more details.
    • Define the slope value either by a Step, a Rate of the Material Thickness, an Angle and Material Thickness or a Length.
      Material Thickness is given at Ramp Definition level.

  8. For Between two curves, select the top and the bottom ramp curves.

    Click Add Connection Curves in the Ramp Definition table and specify them.
    Connection curves provide a better control of the shape of the curves.

  9. For Custom, select required curves.

  10. For all types, define a Name, or select Automatic.

    Automatic naming rules are as follows:

    • Ramp Type: Since it is the most common type, Parallel/Parallel has no suffix.
      O-O stands for Offset/Offset,
      O-P for Offset/Parallel,
      /_ for Angle to curve,
      I I for Between two curves,
      Custom for Custom.
    • Parallel Type: Since it is the recommended type, Multi-Parallel has no suffix.
      CP stands for Chained Parallels,
      FF for Parallel from First.
    Examples:
    • Multi-Parallel:
      35.56mm/3.5mm Centered/3.5mm (current centered)
      Centered RS/3.5 mm (old centered)
      Curve.1/3.5mm (geometric clearance)
      35.56mm/1/20 (rate)
      35.56mm/<125> (ramp length)
    • Other parallel types:
      (CP) 35.56mm/3.5mm (Chained Parallels)
      (FF) 35.56mm/3.5mm (Parallel from First)
    • Offset/Offset:
      O-O 35.56mm/3.5mm
    • Offset/Parallel:
      O-P 35.56mm/3.5mm
      O-P (CP) 35.56mm/3.5mm
      O-P (FF) 35.56mm/3.5mm
    • Angle to curve:
      /_(Curve.1) 35.56mm/3.5mm
    • Between two curves:
      I I (Curve.1-Curve.2)
    • Custom: Custom#1

    11. A Ramp definitions node is created under Composites Parameters.
    It contains the ramp definitions, under nodes indicating their type.
    For example:

    Note: Ramp definitions created by cut angle commands are stored in a dedicated node, also under Ramp definitions.