Changelog

14.1.0.0

Enhancements

• Enhance calculation of default start and secure position. Result was depended on position of EDM_ORIGIN csys. This led to disadvantageous or even wrong start positions for electrodes. Now the contour height of electrode is taken into account when positions are calculated. Adjustment of operation default planes may be necessary to respond appropriately to the new behavior. The new behavior is available for all assemblies from current versions. [RM-13762]
• Option UI: introduce new option #Electrode #LATERAL_KEEPOUT_DISTANCE to define the minimum distance in XY direction from the base that must not be disturbed by workpiece geometry. Option value will be added to electrode's base outline in XY direction before Z position of a new base is adjusted. The Z position will be increased to avoid an interference of workpiece geometry with keepout volume. Default: 0 [RM-13766]
• Option UI: introduce new option #Electrode #SOLID_CONTOUR_CLEARANCE to define minimum XY clearance from solid contour in XY direction. Option value will be added to electrode's solid contour before blank size selection and defines the minimum blank size. Default: 0 [RM-13765]
• Allow export of Creo View files. Use keywords 'SE_EDM_BACKUP_PVS' or 'SE_EDM_BACKUP_PVZ' in export template to create a file structure for Creo View (PVS) or a zipped archieve of the files (PVZ). PVS creates a *.pvs for the file structure and numerated *.ol files containing viewable geometry. Outdated formats ED and EDZ are not supported. [RM-13699]

Improvements

• Base UI: prefer template without rotation (C=0°) if several templates with same blank dimensions are available. [RM-10543]
• Operation UI: usage of option DEFAULT_START_DATUM=-1 sets workpiece height as offset for selected csys. This is not necessary anymore. With RM-13762 calculation of default start position takes contour height of electrode into account and therefore avoids collisions with workpiece geometry. Option value can be adjusted in #Options #Operation #DEFAULT_START_DATUM. [RM-13877]
• Base UI: allow locking/unlocking of automatic calculation of free blank dimensions. After unlocking automtic calculation the default behavior for inputs will be activated. Locked blank size changes Z-position of base on input. With the blank size unlocked, the Z position of the blank length stays fixed on input. [RM-13672]
• Allow usage of option files for export of 3d files. Save custom option files to export/{type} or processor/{type}. Type Option file name =========================================== VDA def_profile.dep_vda STEP def_profile.dep_step IGES def_profile.dep_iges CATIA def_profile.dep_catv5 SAT def_profile.dep_acis (Acis) NEUTRAL def_profile.dep_neu X_T def_profile.dep_para (Parasolid) UG def_profile.dep_nx (NX) JT def_profile.dep_jt [RM-13681]

Bugfixes

• Allow renaming of manufacturing assembly and workpiece in Manufacturing UI and Rename UI. In some cases a renamed electrode may not meet the naming format anymore. The new functionality addresses this issue. [RM-13988]
• Don't automatically delete failed cutout features in electrode model. Size of cutout or model accuracy can be adjusted by user manually to fix feature. [RM-13948]
• Adjust mapkeys to create wireframe styles for electrodes and workpieces. [RM-13966]
• Fix error when calculating the free base size if no sufficiently large blank was found in the blank list. New default value for SOLID_CONTOUR_CLEARANCE (1.0 mm or 0.05 in) makes sure that calculated blank is always larger than electrode contour. Furthermore a fix blank length from blank list won't be overwritten during calculation if its size is sufficient. [RM-10219]
• Definition of start and secure position: in some cases a rotated EDM origin is useful. (1) for definition of a user-defined start position or (2) if EDM origin uses an iverted Z-direction (NC setup). In those cases either the display of start and secure or calculated parameters have been wrong. This error is fixed. Csys SE_EDM_BASE will be considered for calculation of rotation angles ignoring any rotations applied to EDM origin. EDM origin is only used to evaluate position of electrode. For legacy electrodes from version prior SMARTElectrode 8.0 EDM_ORIGIN will be used instead of EDM_ORIGIN_TOP. [RM-13878]
• Drawing UI: drawings of newly added electrodes are not created if assembly drawing with position sheets already exists. Retrieval of assembly drawing with positions sheet activates the simplified representation of last sheet. All other electrodes are then suppressed by simplified representation and skipped during drawing creation. Changed behavior to activate previously used simplified representation again after retrieval of assembly drawing. [RM-13905]

14.0.3.0

Enhancements

• Add frequently used commands to mini toolbar. Commands are context specific available in assembly mode, active component mode and modeltree. [RM-13293]

Improvements

• Calculate simplified contact area by using intersected outline of EDM and workpiece. This avoids too big results caused by supporting geometry. [RM-13575]
• Improve performance when reading data from assembly with many workpieces. [RM-13516]
• Avoid flushing of undo/redo buffer while running SMARTElectrode. [RM-12560]

Bugfixes

• Burnsheet UI: tree does not reflect structure of modeltree. Models are only grouped by name not considering assembly level. Fix: tree now shows assembly structure and groups same models taking assembly level into account. [RM-13514]
• Check UI: allow interference check in active component mode in Creo Parametric 8.0.4.0 and later. [RM-13123][RM-12837]
• Fix wrong calculation of electrode contour outline if features intersect base. [RM-11387]
• Fix wrong caluculation of frontal distance D1 on adjustment of base position. [RM-11091]
• Reset temporary Creo options when Drawing UI is closed with setting for combined electrode and position drawing (MERGE_EDM_POSITIONING_SHEETS=4). Skipped reset leads to a changed value for START_MODEL_DIR which prevents creation of new electrodes and assemblies. Necessary options will be temporary set when assembly views are copied to electrode drawing.
• Fix problem when Base UI is opened if working in a different electrode assembly before.

14.0.2.0

Enhancements

• Allows editing of parameters from several selected objects. Properties UI can be accessed from ribbon, modeltree and Burnsheet UI. Different values will be shown as bold Status quo. Changes values will be set for all selected objects on confirmation. Consider different behavior for part and component parameters. To change a part parameter for all positions it sufficient to select only one appearance. To change a component parameter for all positions its necessary to select all positions. [RM-12842]
• Replaced outdated options dialog in SMARTElectrode with new standard. [RM-12059]
• Added custom functionality for customer Besi. [RM-12086]

Improvements

• Measuring points can be added to template now. Use general datum points or field points to add measuring points to template. Each point feature has to carry a parameter "SE_QMM_POINTS". General datum point features may include multiple points. Measuring points from general point features can't be edited in UI. Please note that deleting in UI deletes the whole feature without further notification. [RM-11335]
• Allow creation of dimensions when manufacturing drawing is created from template. Additional rows can be added to my_drawing_format.cfg using template name in column 1. Please refer to Getting Started document to learn more about my_drawing_format.cfg. [RM-12475]
• Export to Zimmer&Kreim Alphamoduli: introduced additional parameters for quality measuring for logical electrode. TolMin: Allowed lower tolerance for the quality measuring TolMax: Allowed upper tolerance for the quality measuring PresetStylus: Stylus name for preset PresetTip: Tip name for preset PresetPrehitDistance: Prehit distance during preset PresetRetractDistance: Retract distance during preset QMStylus: Stylus name for measuring QMTip: Tip name for measuring QMPrehitDistance: Prehit distance during measuring QMRetractDistance: Retract distance during measuring Please refer to "Alphamoduli CAD/CAM Interface" to learn more about the features of the XML-export. [RM-12839]
• Introduced export of models as STL file. Add keyword #SE_EDM_BACKUP_STL# in template to save models as STL in selected directory. Example line: "STL: #SE_EDM_BACKUP_DIR##partname#.#SE_EDM_BACKUP_STL#"
• Adjusted behavior to calculate variable dimension only on change of supplier/type/size. Use normal behavior when only dimensions are edited. (A) Workpiece unlocked: Keep absolute Z position of blank length. Change of D2 changes LENGTH accordingly to keep position of DTM_LENGTH fixed. Change of Z position changes LENGTH accordingly to keep position of DTM_LENGTH fixed. Change of LENGTH changes D3(top offset) accordingly to keep position of DTM_LENGTH fixed. (B) Workpiece locked: Workpiece dimensions (A_BASE, B_BASE, LENGTH and D2) are locked and can't be changed. Changes to D1, D3 or Z position change the other two dependent values accordingly. D1 and D3 are measured dimensions and therefore change if position of base changes. [RM-12517]
• Adjusted behavior of parameter rule &z_size to show same length as parameter &size. Value of blank length datum will only be used if bigger than size of solid. Otherwise the value of the size calculation is used.
• Improved automatic attach in Base UI. Attach groups will be automatically removed if faces have been removed from electrode contour. User will be asked whether SMARTElectrode should continue with automatic attach if a mixed state is found. A mixed state consists of surfaces already attached to FREE_FACE and unattached surfaces. [RM-12500]
• All interfaces: SMARTElectrode determines necessary parameter values on-the-fly, if these are not part of parameter.cfg.
• Export to AC Form: added output of 'PrepSurfaceFinishingCH' (&surf_quality), 'PrepElectMaterialSymb' (&material), 'PrepPieceMaterialSymb' (&core_material) and 'PrepWearSpeedPriority' (&priority) to XMLJ. Introduced counter for shapes (electrodes) instead of usage of electrode id. [RM-12469]
• Export to Zimmer&Kreim Alphamoduli: introduced new option "SE_CORE_NAME_FORMAT" to allow generation of short workpiece names that remain below the limit of 32 characters. Full CAD model name is displayed in "Remark". CAD model name will be used and truncated if necessary if "SE_CORE_NAME_FORMAT" is undefined or empty. [RM-12324]
• Drawing UI: new option to add positioning sheet to NC drawing sheet. NC drawing sheet can be part of manufacturing template assigned in manufacturing UI and is copied during creation of new manufacturing assembly. [RM-11270]
• Allow modification of CMM point in UI. Select table entry and start edit with double-click or press button "Edit". Point will be automatically moved to new position or reachable coordinates are suggested if point is out of bounds. Original coordinates are restored on cancel. [RM-12392]
• Allow CMM points also in workpieces. Measuring points UI is available for activated workpieces. Functionality and workflow is the same as for electrode models. [RM-12327]

Bugfixes

• Check UI: Creo Parametric versions 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 currently don't support interference check in active component mode. A bug fix is planned by PTC for Creo Parametric 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0. Please activate main assembly before an interference check is executed for now. [RM-12837]
• Additional parameters from orbit files may be reset when included in parameter.cfg. Internal value can't be set correctly if parameters doesn't have a default rule (&). In this case the default value always comes from parameter.cfg or sel_list.txt. [RM-12805]
• In releases before Creo 4.0 modeltree was automatically expanded on several SMARTElectrode commands. Since introduction of option and checkbox "Auto Locate in Tree" this did not work anymore. Updated behavior to expand active component automatically and collapse all other items in modeltree. This applies to following commands: activate component via ribbon command, create new electrode model, create new electrode model with base, create smart electrode. [RM-12630]
• Base UI: increase too small value for base heigth D2 automatically if base won't be created because of negative value or too small height for frame. Length must be controlled and adjusted afterwards. [RM-11387]
• Export to Zimmer&Kreim Alphamoduli: improved recognition of measuring frame for imported electrodes. Important to correctly output MeasProgType, MeasSizeX, MeasSizeY and MeasSizeZ. [RM-12388]

14.0.1.0

Improvements

• Output and Postprocessor UI: STEP/IGES export of assembly or workpieces uses selected operation coordinate system as reference by default.

Bugfixes

• Export to Zimmer&Kreim Alphamoduli: allow file names for STEP export with more than 32 characters.
• Drawing UI: temporary set Creo options need to be retained if views are moved from position sheet to electrode drawing sheet. This applies especially to Creo option "drawing_warn_if_flex_feature" which may break process if set to "yes".
• Adds named view orientations to legacy models from SMARTElectrode 7.0 to allow correct drawing creation.

14.0.0.0

Improvements

• Disabled commands to convert electrode assemblies into Inseparable Assemblies. A warning appears if user executes >RMB >Inseparable Assemblies >Embed or >Model >Operations >Inseparable Assemblies >Make Inseparable. SMARTElectrode does not process components already embedded in electrode assembly. Embedded components are not listed in burnsheet nor exported. A warning will be displayed in message window. [RM-11929]
• Added new command to save userdefined feature (UDF) and data file for electrode blank. Use command "Open Configuration" to browse to "electrode\supplier\base_templates" and select part to customize. All variable dimensions to be controlled in data file need a custom symbol name. Select "Save Base Template" to create UDF and data file. Add additional rows of sizes or parameters to data file and copy both UDF and data file to parent folder with supplier name. [RM-12001]
• Electrode data files: allow additional columns for variable dimensions and parameters. An addtional line "VALUETYPES" has to be added between "INSTANCE" and sizes to define data types. Use "DIM" for variable dimensions, "INTEGER" for integer paramters, "DOUBLE" for double parameters and "STRING" for string parameters. Additional variable dimension have to be saved to UDF file before. [RM-9953][RM-9034]
• Adjusted behavior for default values from parameter configuration. In both cases - (a) default value defined in parameter.cfg and (b) default value defined in sel_list.txt - the value from SMARTElectrode configuration will be used now. The value will be set regardless whether the parameter already exists in template for new electrodes or not. [RM-12025]

Bugfixes

• Fixed problem with unreadable operation definition if group was changed. SMARTElectrode tries now to identify features in group, but it's still recommended to keep the group unchanged. [RM-12010]