Performing a Cut Analysis

This task shows you how to check that a surface or a 3D curve can be cut out.
Open TrimLineCheck01.CATPart from the samples directory.

  1. Click Cut Analysis    in the Analysis toolbar.
    If the check box Display detailed text in dialog in Tools/Options/Mechanical Design/Die Face Design is cleared, the dialog box looks like this:


  2. Select an axis system (stamping direction).
    Its Z-Axis represents the cutting tool axis.

  3. Select the surface or 3D curve to analyze with respect to a maximum cutout angle.
    If you have selected a 3D curve, select a surface.
    The normal of the 3D curve with respect to this surface are retrieved.

  4. If needed, invert the direction of the normals.

  5. To change the selection, either exit CutAnalysis and restart with another output,
    or edit the mesh surface in the specification tree.

  6. If you have selected a 3D qcurve, select a surface.
    The normals of the 3D curve with respect to this surface are retrieved.

  7. Select an analysis method from the list:.
    • Analyze Normals: Computes the angle between the normals (Of the surface, or of the curve with respect to its support surface) and the Z Axis of the stamping direction.
    • Analyze Shear Angle: Computes the shear angle (Angle between the tangents of the trim line and the tool direction).
    • Analyze 2D Angles
      • Projects the trim line on the plane normal to the stamping direction.
      • Then computes the angle between the tangents of the projected trim lines and the Z Axis of the stamping direction.
    • Analyze 3D Angles: Computes the trim angle (Angle between the normals of the trim line and the tool direction).
    • Analyze Insertion Depth: Checks that the travel of the cutting tool ensures a complete cut of the material. The cam direction can be optimized according to this analysis.

  8. Press Length Over Allowed Cutout Angle to display the list of areas above this value.
    Select one item in the list for more details.

  9. Back in the Definition tab, select more analysis options:
    • Compute Areas:Computes connected areas instead of displaying a number of faces.
    • Fly Analysis: Displays precise analysis values while hovering over the shape.
    • Extract Invalid Edges.
    • Color mode:
      • Smooth: Displays analysis results as a global color gradient applied to the selected shape.
        Allowed values and draft settings are not used.
      • Face/Edge: Displays analysis results as colors, applied face by face on the shapes.
      • Detailed: Displays analysis results as colors, applied precisely on the shapes.
    • View Mode to display the analysis:
      • Mesh
      • Vectors used to compute the cutout angle.
      • Planes used to compute the cutout angle.
      • Dots
      • Acute/Obtuse Dots.

  10. Click OK.

An Analysis set is created.
It contains a Cutout Analysis feature with a mesh of the analyzed element and the cutout analysis.