Chapter1: Getting started.

For drawing mould or progressive die it is good idea to know how to use Hasco standard component module in AutoCAD. Other ways are to draw screws, pins e.t.c. itself or create even your own standard component cataloque with "Define Cylinder" command. So if you look on Figure 1. then you see five steps how to insert Hasco standard screw into the SteelAce's mould or die block.

Figure 1. This is one way, how to insert Hasco's screw into SteelAce's block. Download

Step 1) Draw screw top and side views using Hasco standard component module . (There side view is Hasco's front view and top view is Hasco's side view).

Step 2) Edit screw side view's outer boundary so, that it becomes closed boundary (Do not create polyline), also it is imortant that screws boundary both sides must be symmetrical according with screw axis.

Step 3) Use SteelAce's "Dynamicbox" command to create simple block consisting of two boxes.

Step 4) Create crosscut of that block using SteelAce's "Cc" command (use horizontal centerline as crossline).

Step 5) Use "Replace" command to make new "anonymous cylinder" from top view objects of screw and after that use "Cylinder" command that associates the side view objects of the screw with the top view objects. After associating the "anonymous cylinder" becomes "associated cylinder".

Notes:

1) You can get information about the state of any objects (inc. anon..., asso...) with "Ch" command, what can be evoked on command line.

2) Block data generated with "Dynamicbox" is always saved and you can see it also with "Dynamicbox" command, so if you download Figure 1.dwg and evoke command "Dynamicbox" you can see what data (length, width e.t.c.) was used to create block in Figure 1.dwg.

3) Crosscut base points are saved, so if you erase crosscut the default new crosscut (command "Cc" ) will be generated at old base point. Regeneration crosscuts is sometimes neccessary and can be done evoking "Cc" command and selecting old crossline.

Chapter 2: Modifying boxes, moving, copying, associating and arraying cylinder top views, creating detail drawings.

Step 6) With "Dynamicbox" command the old boxes can be replaced with longer,wider or higher ones, just replace in table the values of length, width or height with new values, see Figure 2.

Figure 2. "Dynamicbox" boxes gabarites are easy to change. Download

Step 7) Using "Ace_array" command is easy to make arrays of "anonymous or associated cylinder" views. After regenerating crosscut with "Cc" command you can see arrayed Hasco screws in crosscut also as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Arraying Hasco screw. Download

Notes:

1) You can use command "Replace" for replacing "associated cylinders" with simple circles. It can be done just with single click on "associated cylinder", then copy similar circles where ever they must be or erase where they must not be. Now use "Assoc" command on one of circles what was "associated cylinder" before. That command makes all circles (with same colour and layer) being as "associated cylinders", but you can see them correctly again after changing them back with "Replace" and single-click on circle again. So this way you can make not only arrays but whatever is needed.

2) SteelAce saves command "Ace_array" parameters and they can be always edited with "Cds" or command. If you switch the Array Aligment Origin to bottom left "BT" case the "Ace_array" command works exactly as AutoCAD "Array" command. "Ace_array" command work principe is similar to "Create_rectangle" command. Rectangle created with "Create_rectangle" can also be edited with "Cds" command.

3) "Masstranslate" command works as "Ace_translate" command , but selecting "anonymous or associated cylinder" view can be done with single click and in case copying the copyed set is also corresponding "... cylinder".

4) If you want unassociate side view of the screw from top view or views, use "Masserase" command and select screws side view on crosscut. After that "associated cylinder" top views are changed back to "anonymous cylinder" top views. You can associate new side view to "anonymous cylinders" now with "Cylinder" command and so on. If you want to erase all the cylinder from block, then use "Masserase" command but select the top view of "associated cylinder".

5) With "Masstranslate" command you can now extract boxes out of block for creating detail drawings. Just pick the needed box on crosscut and show the base point you want detail top view created. If yo want to move that top view, then use "Masstranslate" command again, but pick now top view.(If you move detail with AutoCAD "Move" command or "Ace_translate" command, then in future "SteelAce" cannot create crosscuts of that detail correctly). You can now create crosscuts of that detail with "Cut detail" command. Crosscut can be created using zig-zag crossline through detail or just picking holes or threads on top view of detail. (Don't pick one hole twice!). You can see, that SteelAce counts holes and writes numbers with corresponding dimensions. You can edit these dimensions with "Cds" command.

Chapter 3: Creating more complicated details.

So SteelAce works well with boxes placed one on another, but usually dies and moulds are more complicated. Actually SteelAce has no limit with complexity of details, because whatever detail can be added to SteelAce's block with "Unique" command. But AutoCAD-s power of regenerating complicated solids is limited, also number of the solids used must be reasonable or else SteelAces block regeneration time grows up drastically. Some most used details can be generated using "Dynamicbox" -> "Add" -> "Pick" option (drafted solids) or "Wrap" command (intersected solids). Use "Dynamicbox" -> "Add" -> "Pick" option when you want use more complicated outer boundary for box or boxes. The same command can be used creating holes within that box or boxes. Also can be created more complicated holes or inserts using "Wrap" command.

1) When you want use one or more complicated drafted solids instead of one box then select their defining contours (Closed polylines or circles) with "Dynamicbox" -> "Add" -> "Pick" and switch main box off with toggle before its name in "Dynamicbox" main table. In Figure 4. is shown block consisting of three main (gray) boxes and one drafted (blue) solid, which defining contour (blue) you can see under it. If you want to delete drafted solid, then do it with "Dynamicbox" -> "Delete" command. You can move back or forward within same box level with "<" and ">" buttons in "Dynamicbox" main table. If you want to replace old defining contour of drafted solid then draw new one and replace old with command. After that you can erase old unneccessary defining contour with simple AutoCAD "Erase" command.

Figure 4. Drafted solid (blue contour is defining contour).

When you want create complicated or just round holes in one of boxes created by "Dynamicbox", then go to corresponding row, select "Add" -> "Pick", select contours you want to create, but switch radio button instead of being "body" to "space". That creates holes in corresponding box. If you forgot to switch radio button you can change body to space in "Dynamicbox" main table switching corresponding toggle off.

2) Intersected solid can be created using up to three defining contours (Closed polylines or circles) as shown in Figure 5. using "Wrap" command. Defining contours must lay on existing plan and crosscuts.

Figure 5. Using three defining contours (blues) for making intersected solid. Download

Figure 6. Space created in SteelAce's block with "Wrap" command.

Figure 7. That is"Wrap" command result ("space" option was switched on). Download

3) "Unique" command simply inserts existing solid to SteelAce's block. Three options are available: body, space and union. If you switch radio button to "union" then SteelAce asks body to what "Unique" solid must be unioned (Select body on crosscut).

Notes:

1) You can erase drafted and intersected solids from SteelAce's block with "Masserase" command, but of course you can do it only when corresponding layers "Ext Solids" or "Ext Spaces" are turned on (use "Layers Properties Manager" and switch on "SteelAce" layers group filter).

2) When you created intersected solid with "Wrap" command, but erased crosscuts with "Masserase" command after that, then all data for regenerating intersected solid is still saved. It lays on "Ext defining" layer and you can edit that or even replace them with new defining contours using "Replace" command.

3) SteelAce regenerates block in same queue how user adds details to SteelAces block, but associated cylinders are always generated after boxes (or other solids) regeneration, so solids cannot "cut away" associated cylinders. You can change regeneration queue of two boxes (or other solids) with "Replace" command, if you select two details on crosscut.

4) In "Dynamicbox" main dialoque (and other dialoques also) you can see "Primary solids" toggle option. That option unfortunately don't work yet. Meaning of that option is to avoid SteelAce's boxes and drafted solids regeneration. If regeneration is switched off, then user can just add new solid to block, but all block stays the same as it was. For example user chamfers block boxes e.t.c., but without that option working every regeneration removes again all chamfers.

Chapter 4: Drawing just one detail.

Drawing just one detail is very similar after extracting boxes (or other solids) out of SteelAce's block with "Masstranslate" command. But in this case you must have solid of that detail be ready. Easiest solids can be done with "Create_rectangle" or "Cds" commands (circle case), when you add "Height" value in dialoque. After that when solid is ready it must be projected with "Project" command. Now you can add simple holes or threads to that projected top view with "Counterbore" command. When it is ready you can make crosscut of that detail with "Cut detail" command. Of course it is good idea to place dimensions using SteelAce's mass dimensioning system. Unfortunately every adding hole needs projection of detail be regenerated, but AutoCAD is able make only 3 projections within one work session. To make that problem less painful you can place whole set of circles as markers on detail top view and when using "Counterbore" command place them associatively to circles. Remember, that already projected detail can be moved with "Masstranslate" command.

Chapter 5: Using bill of materials.

1) Probably one of the best features of SteelAce's bill of materials is, that SteelAce can read bill of materials generated by "Hasco standard component module" and convert it being ediable in SteelAce's bill of materials with "Hasco convert" command . To make that conversion you must place both positions to Hasco standard components with and generate also Hasco bill of materials. After that you can use "Hasco convert" command.

2)In case you are not using "Hasco standard component module" or want add new positions to SteelAce's bill of materials you can do it with "Position" command.

3) You can always edit SteelAce's bill of materials with "Bill of mateials" command and generate it on drawing with "Generate" command. After editing and accepting changes bill of materials table in drawing will be also regenerated. In bill of materials editing dialogue you can change positions queue using "Delete" and "Insert" keys on keyboard. When you press "Delete", the whole position is deleted (but pressed to memory). Now go with cursor to row, where yoy want the position being placed and press "Insert" key.Whole position is restored (and deleted from memory). If you accept changes, then bill of materials on drawing will be regenerated in case it exists.

4) It is easy to array SteelAces positions with and commands.

Chapter 6: Some more useful features of "Cylinder" command.

1) When you select objects with "Cylinder" command, whose axis is not parallel with z-axis of SteelAce's block, then you can associate that side view to axis of that cylinder (horizontal or vertical line(s)) on top view instead of "anonymous cylinder".

When you use "Cylinder" command, you usually must NOT select polylines for associating cylinder, but there are some certain other cases:

2) If you draw three contours, one as outer boundary for hole and two as two-sided mirrors about its axis you can make "flange-like" cylindrical solids, what can be also associated to circles or to anonymous cylinders. Inside that "flange" you can add usual cylinders as "Hasco standard component screws" for example. That three defining contours must be closed polylines and you must select them hole defining contour first.You can delete these cylinders with "Masserase" command selecting associative objects on top view. That "flange" is not associative to it's defining contours, so if you change the defining contours, the "flange" do not change.

3) If you draw two contours, one for defining hole and another for defining cylinder, then you have two cases. First, when cylinder is placed with angle like anglepin used in moulds. Then you must associate it with line(s) on top view of block what is oriented as cylinder axis. Then you cannot use "Assoc" command afterward. Second when cylinder axis is parallel to z-axis. then it's behavior is almost as usual cylinder described before, but it is solid and you can place other cylinders inside that cylinder with "Cylinder" command like in "flange-like" case. That two defining contours must be closed polylines and you must select them hole defining contour first.You can delete these cylinders with "Masserase" command selecting defining axes or associative objects on top view. You can change regenerating queue between cylindrical solids and other SteelAce block solids with "Replace" command, so it is possible to "cut away" the protruding part of anglepin in moulds. When using "Replace" command you must select defining axis of cylinder and "cutting" detail on crosscut. That cylinders are not associative to their defining contours, so if you change the defining contours, the cylinders do not change.

Chapter 7: Mirrored view.

Usually designers create two views of mould or die block, in SteelAce it is also possible. You must select on crosscut which details you want to see on mirrored view of block with Replace" command, then change radio button in dialoque box to "upper" and use "Mirror Layout" command. You can change them back switching radio button to "lower" of course. In case mirrored view don't exist SteelAce asks mirrored view base point. All solids you turned before being "upper" are generated in new base point after regeneration with Dynamicbox" command."Associated cylinders" (what better belong to mirrored view) can be also easily mirrored with "Mirror Layout" command. If you want erase mirrored view do it with "Masserase" command, but before that all mirrored "associated cylinders" must be mirrored back or deleted (also "Masserase" command), if you don't need them more. SteelAce don't delete mirrored view, when there is at least one "associated cylinder".