KeyCreator Lesson KC5107 Graft The Graft Function is a powerful partner to the Prune Function that we used earlier. You will typically use the Graft Function immediately after performing a pruning operation on a feature or features. While the results obtained by using the Graft Function can also be realized with a combination of traditional Xform and Boolean Operations, the compact execution provided by grafting makes mastering this tool well worth the effort. In this lesson, we ll prune a pattern of six cutouts on the horizontal leg of the L-shaped solid and then use the Graft Function to transfer these tool bodies to the vertical leg where we will reposition them and create new cutouts. We ll start with a new file in View 1. (The Top View.) Click on the CREATE BLOCK Icon. A Dialog Box appears. We ll use the Keyin Option. Type 8 for the Width and Length and 9 for the Height. Hit the ENTER Key. Using the Cursor Option, click anywhere on the screen to place the block. KUBOTEK Freedom and Precision www.kubotekusa.com 1
Switch to the Isometric View. (View 7.) Now, click on the CONSTANT RADIUS BLEND Icon. Type 2 for the Radius and select the bottom, rear edge of the block. Hit the ENTER Key. Your part should look like this: Click on the SHELL Icon. A Dialog Box appears. Type 0.15 for the shell thickness and hit the ENTER Key. Select the top face, front face, right face, and hidden left face of the part. (Use the SPACEBAR or TAB Key to select the hidden face.) KUBOTEK Freedom and Precision www.kubotekusa.com 2
Your part should now look like this: Now, establish a construction plane on the broad, top horizontal surface of the part. Select a new construction color. Click on the CREATE ROUNDED RECTANGLE BY WIDTH HEIGHT Icon. Type 0.125 for the corner radius. Click on the MidCtr Anchor Option. Type 1 for the Width and Height. Click on the Offset Option and using the EndEnt Option, click on the top, front, left corner of the part to establish the offset reference position. Type 1 for dxc and 1 for dyc. The dzc value is zero. You will now have a rounded rectangular profile on the top surface of the part. KUBOTEK Freedom and Precision www.kubotekusa.com 3
Click on the CUT Icon. A Dialog Box appears. Click on the Forward and Back Option. Use the Through All settings for both directions and hit the ENTER Key. Select the solid body and then select the rounded rectangle that you just created. Hit the ENTER Key. You now have a rounded rectangular cutout in the part. Click on the LINEAR PATTERN Icon. KUBOTEK Freedom and Precision www.kubotekusa.com 4
A Dialog Box appears. Use the Bump Features Option. Type 2 for the Number in the First Direction and 1 for the Number in the Second Direction. Make both spacings 1.25 and hit the ENTER Key. Now, move the cursor over the cutout and click on it when it highlights. Hit the ENTER Key. Click on the left end of the top, front edge of the part for the first direction and the front end of the top, left edge of the part for the second direction. You will now have a pattern of six cutouts that look like this: Select a new construction color. Now, click on the PRUNE Icon. Click on the COPY Option on the Conversation Bar. KUBOTEK Freedom and Precision www.kubotekusa.com 5
Next, click on the Feature Option on the Conversation Bar and then on the Pattern Option. Move the cursor over the pattern and click on it when it highlights. Hit the ENTER Key three times. Notice that you now have six tooling bodies nested in the cutouts. Now, click on the GRAFT Icon. A Dialog Box appears. We ll use the Cut Option. Click on Select Solid. We ll also use the Orient Graft By Face Normal and Extend Graft Body Options. Hit the ENTER Key. KUBOTEK Freedom and Precision www.kubotekusa.com 6
3 2 1 You are prompted to select the face of the target. Click on the broad, top horizontal face of the part. Next, click on the top face of one of the tooling bodies. Using the EndEnt Option, click on the top, left, front corner of the part. Now, click on the Chain Option on the Conversation Bar and then on the Pattern Option. Move the cursor over the six tooling bodies and click on them when the pattern of six highlights. Then, hit the ENTER Key twice. Notice that a manipulation axis appears at the reference point. Position the cursor over the yellow anchor and depress the left mouse button. Now, drag the manipulation axis and the tool bodies follow. Go across the horizontal surface and along the blend radius, continuing up the vertical surface. KUBOTEK Freedom and Precision www.kubotekusa.com 7
Notice that the ghost bodies track on the surface, hugging it as you move the cursor. If you position your cursor over the Blue Rotation Vector and depress and drag it, you can rotate the ghost tooling bodies. You will notice that the current angle appears as a tool tip near the manipulation axes. At any point you can click on the Angle Option on the Conversation Bar. Let s do this and type 270 for the Angle. Hit the ENTER Key to confirm. Notice that the tooling bodies snap to a 270 degree orientation. Next, click on the Position Option. Using the CtrMid Option, click on the top, front edge of the vertical leg of the part. Hit the ENTER Key to confirm the selection. Then, click on the DONE Button. You now have a pattern of cutouts rotated 270 degree on the vertical leg of the part. KUBOTEK Freedom and Precision www.kubotekusa.com 8