With XMD-S, you can now work in the 3D model to make changes even as XMD-S automates updating related parts of the design. This post explains how to work with XMD-S in 3D.
Understanding What’s What
Before you rush in and start changing things, you need to know what you’re looking at, as the recommended approach varies. XMD distinguishes these kinds of 3D geometry:
- Surface models for part and parting line
- XMD plates: main mold plates or user plates
- XMD Smart Patterns
- Standard XMD components
- User geometry
If in looking at your 3D model you know already what data types you are working with, just go ahead and treat it accordingly. If you don’t know, use the XMD-S Tools/Verify Component command to find out. If it can’t be picked, it’s not an XMD component. Otherwise, the dialog will tell you at the top what kind of component it is.
Modifying Plates
XMD-S mold plates can be edited with the mold parameters dialog. User plates can be edited using resize-component. In addition, either may be modified using any KeyCreator solid modeling commands you like. Only be careful of a few things:
1) Before editing, activate the Master model for the plate, i.e. the version without solid holes. (Instructions here)
2) The plate should remain a manifold, closed solid. If something you do breaks this, you should fix it.
3) When using Boolean commands, always pick the plate first. Otherwise XMD-S may lose track of the plate. (If this happens, XMD-S will ask, and you can bring it back.)
4) If you divide the plate in two, the second half won’t be recognized as a plate. (But you can add it as a new plate.)
5) The Core and Cavity blocks can only handle a size change in the X or Y axis. Changes to their thickness must be done through the parting line editor.
XMD-S will catch up to your edits the next time you use any XMD-S command. Specifically, XMD-S will:
1) Notice the changes.
2) Remeasure the plate and update the BOM.
3) Update section and plan drawings for the plate.
4) Backup the plate model to an SAT file. (This means if you ever need to go back for any reason, you have a backup of every change that’s been made, and you can easily recover!)
5) Automatically put the solid holes back in if you switch to Finished mode. Note: XMD will not recalculate the holes in response to user edits. If this is needed, use the XMD-S Modify/Hole Management command to regenerate them.
6) Use this solid model in detail drawings.
Moving Plates
You are free to move plates using either the XMD move commands or the KeyCreator move commands (with the exception of the Core and Cavity blocks). If you are looking for more radical changes, you may use KeyCreator Transform commands to tip or rotate a plate, BUT: Remember that XMD re-measures plates after every change. If the plate changes alignment, XMD will give an inaccurate measurement. In this event, use the Plate Management command “Redefine Plate Axis” to correct the directions XMD-S uses for calculating the plate size.
Modifying Smart Patterns
Smart Patterns are created by copying in geometry from a separate .SPD file. To edit these, you should use the XMD Modify Size command. This brings up the smart pattern browser, which shows:
1) Other smart patterns in the job. You can replace yours with a different one already present.
2) The catalog. You can browse your company’s smart pattern catalog to replace your component with an alternate option.
3) An Edit button. If you want to customize your smart pattern for this job, choose Edit.
Edit will open a new file. Make your changes here. (Both solid and section levels if you have them.) When done, Save and Close the smart pattern. Back in the job, click Redraw and pick your smart pattern again to get it updated to match the file.
Modifying Mold Components
Normally you want to modify a component using the Modify Size dialog and picking a different size. We don’t recommend you modify the component solid directly. If this situation comes up, we recommend instead copying the solid into a new file, creating a smart pattern, and using that instead.
If you do edit the component solid, XMD-S will not remember such edits and they will be lost if the component is moved or resized. Additionally, the changes are not associative with BOM or sections which means that they will have to be updated manually.
That’s a Wrap
Thank you for reading. I hope it’s proved informative and useful. Once you understand the rules and methods of editing the 3D with XMD-S, you will have a solid basis for working in 3D. After that, it’s mainly a matter of technique with KeyCreator and experience with the best ways of modeling. Remember all the work XMD-S does for you in updating everything following your edits, and you can very quickly develop design prowess, and start running circles around the older design systems.
Stay tuned for next time as we cover drawings with XMD-S.