CAD Preparation Guidelines

Typically, the starting point of analysis for Inspire Extrude is a CAD file of die assembly.

To improve the success of the analysis, the imported files should follow these guidelines:
  1. Solids that have non-zero mass. That is, they enclose a volume and have no holes/defects.
  2. Different components of die assembly that are aligned correctly.
  3. Model has no stray surfaces and lines.
Depending on the software used to create the CAD model, it may not possible be avoid these errors. It is possible to correct these issues in Inspire Extrude. Sliver surfaces are also corrected through automatic geometry cleanup step during background meshing. In this section, guidelines are presented on how to overcome some of these errors. Some overall guidelines include:
  1. Most CAD systems have built in unit systems. It is recommended that you work in metric (mm) or British (in) units. Try to work with the same unit system used for creating die solids. This will avoid rounding off issues. For example, it is easier to specify that the pocket is 8 mm instead of 0.314961 in.
  2. While exporting your CAD model, export only the relevant solids. Do not export surfaces and other irrelevant components.
  3. Typically, the bearing line information is embedded in the die and mandrel solids. There is no need to have separate line components. When this information is not available in the die solids themselves, they can be imported later.

Imported CAD Model has Zero Mass/Volume

When the imported CAD files contain solids with zero mass, it can be corrected by few different techniques.

  1. During import, Inspire Extrude will display this error and try to autocorrect it. Accept that option. Depending on the complexity of the error, these errors can be fixed automatically.
  2. Use the Patch tool to detect and help close the volume by fixing one flaw at a time, manually.
  3. If both attempts fail, export the solids as a step file and import it back. Inspire Extrude will correct it while importing the solid.

If the error remains after these steps, then it has to be corrected in the original CAD software.

Extracted Flow Volume has Zero Mass/Volume

Even when the die solids have non-zero mass, there may be hidden issues that can lead to creation of incomplete flow volume, or flow volume with zero mass.

This can be corrected by few different techniques:
  1. Try to combine die solids before extracting flow volume.
  2. Use the Patch tool.
  3. Export the model (just the flow volume alone) as a step file and import it back. Inspire Extrude will correct it while importing the solid.

Unable to Delete Relief Region after Extracting Bearing

When this error happens, it may be because of internal geometry issues. In such case, you will also find that it is not possible to trim the solid manually at the start of bearing region.

Since Inspire Extrude has extracted both bearing region and bearing curves correctly, the only remaining task is to cut and delete the relief region. You should be able to trim relief region by cutting it manually in two or three attempts. That is, first cut a little bit of solid at the top and delete it, then try cutting at the actual bearing start.