Input for Bending Templates

Input to the program is created via the general selection tool of the Production Program Interface (PPI). Via the PPI both individual plates and all plates of selected panels may be extracted for template calculation.

The following form will be displayed:

The default side choice is automatic. In this case the side is chosen in the following order.

1. From the plate object attribute 501.

2. From the AUTO_TEMPL_SIDE in the default file.

   Note: If Keep old templates is checked, then the bending templates from the previous run of the program, with the same selection of plates, will be kept. Running the program in this mode will cause the new templates to be numbered with numbers above the ones used in the previous run.

   

   Inside means inside the shell and outside means outside the shell independently of the plate curvature. However, if the curved plate attribute 501 exists, then the side determined in this attribute will be chosen.

   The templates are normally positioned automatically on the selected plates. The orientation and position of the templates may also be controlled by the default file (FRAMETEMPLATES,) and by defining the template plane according to the form below.

   

Configuration

3. Define the template plane with the following criteria in mind:

   • Y means that the templates will be calculated with their planes perpendicular to the Y-axis.

   • The addition PERP will cause the sight plane to be parallel to the Y-axis, that means, it will not intersect the Y-axis. The sight plane and the template planes will thus be perpendicular to each other. This will cause the templates to be larger than if the sight plane is placed as close as possible to the curved plate. (It may be necessary to increase the MINHEIGHTOFTEMPLATE in the default file.)

   • The additions X or Z state that the sight plane should be a plane perpendicular to the X- or Z- axis, respectively. The sight plane and the template planes will be perpendicular to each other. Additionally all the planes are perpendicular to a principal plane (X, Y, or Z). This will cause the templates to be even larger. Z means that the templates will be calculated with their planes perpendicular to the Z-axis.

   • The addition PERP will cause the sight plane to be parallel to the Z-axis, that means, it will not intersect the Z-axis. The sight plane and the template planes will thus be perpendicular to each other. This will cause the templates to be larger than if the sight plane is placed as close as possible to the curved plate. (It may be necessary to increase the MINHEIGHTOFTEMPLATE in the default file.)

   • The additions X or Y state that the sight plane should be a plane perpendicular to the X- or Y- axis, respectively. The sight plane and the template planes will be perpendicular to each other. Additionally all the planes are perpendicular to a principal plane (X, Y or Z). This will cause the templates to be even larger.

4. (Optional) The number of templates may be determined in different ways. If FRAMETEMPLATES is entered in the default file, then the number of templates is given by the number of frame positions within the plate. For other template types the number may be entered in the form above. If not entered in this form, the number will be determined by the values assigned to MIN_TEMPLATES or MAXDISTTOTEMPLATE* in the default file. MIN_TEMPLATES will override MAXDISTTOTEMPLATE if both are entered. If nothing is entered, the default number of templates is 3.

5. (Optional) If the Manual positioning field is checked, the above options are overruled, and the message: Indicate Seam for manual positioning along will appear. A seam may be picked up by pointing at it on the screen, or by selecting option (++). In the latter case a new form will appear, in which you may write the name of a convenient seam. After a seam has been chosen, another form will appear. In this form you should enter the distances to the templates along the selected seam.

6. In the Bending templates dialog, select the Select frame positions checkbox and then click OK. A dialog for selecting frame positions is shown. A template of the type frame templates will be created in the selected position.

7. (Optional) Selecting the checkbox named Marking of curves will show a dialog for entering the name of the curve to be marked in the result sketch and on the template (if the control statement MARKCURVEONTEMPL is set in the control file).

Options for cross bending templates

After the plate parts have been selected using the PPI Hull selection tool, you are presented with a dialog that asks whether to create cross bending templates or not. If the answer is YES, the following dialog for creating cross bending templates will appear.

8. The Template side of the plate for which cross templates should be created must be specified. The choices are Automatic (requires keyword AUTO_TEMPL_SIDE with parameter in IP-file), Inside, or Outside.

9. Select from the following Define base plane dropdown choices for the cross templates:

   • X, Y, Z means that the base plane will be perpendicular to the x-, y-, z-axis, respectively.

   • 3 points means that the base plane will be defined by three points provided by you.

   • Avg through corners means that the corner points of the plate will be used to calculate the base plane, or alternatively the plate midpoints will be used instead.

10. Select the Direction of V-axis (that is, the base plane v-axis), defining the orientation of its local coordinate system, has the following choices: For, Aft, PS, SB, Top, and Bottom.

11. (Optional) If the Edge templates checkbox is checked, the edge template will be created (if possible).

12. Select the Create Base Plane part checkbox to create a template from the base plane definition.

13. (Optional) If the U- and V-templates perpendicular checkbox is checked, the U- and V-templates will be created in a way that they are perpendicular to each other.

14. (Optional) Selecting the Single template in U-axis checkbox will only create one template in the V-direction.

15. (Optional) Selecting the Single template in V-axis checkbox will only create one template in the V-direction.

    The number of cross templates is normally calculated through the use of control information in the IP-file, but it can optionally be set to a minimum number of templates parallel to the base plane v-axis and u-axis, respectively. If the plate is over centre line (CL), then the minimum number of templates on the other side of CL can be specified. Of course, if too small a number is set, for example, 0, then it will have no effect on the actual number of templates being generated.