To Define Parameters
Click Project ▶ Image Edit Parameters. The Parameter dialog box opens.
  1. Enter Name in 1st column.
  2. Enter Belongs to in 2nd column. Belongs to describes the owner of the parameter. Following values are valid:
    • PROJECT
      Parameter saved to assembly and electrodes. Value saved at assembly automatically sets electrode parameter unless it’s unlocked.
    • ASSEMBLY
      Parameter saved to assembly.
    • PART
      Parameter saved to electrode part. For values that are the same for all positions of the electrode model.
    • COMPONENT
      Parameter saved to component feature in assembly. For values that differ from position to position.
    • CORE
      Parameter saved to workpiece component.
  3. Enter Type in 3rd column. Following values are valid:
    • Integer
    • String
    • Double
    • Boolean
  4. Enter Burnsheet Table visibility in 4th column. This controls the visibility of parameters in assembly drawing tables and Burnsheet UI.
  5. Enter associated Filter in 5th column. Available filters can be used in Properties UI and Base UI. Any custom filter can be added or set by changing the value. Default filter:
    • All Shows all parameters defined for object.
    • Default Shows all parameters set visible in column Show GUI.
    • Position Shows all parameters representing a position or angle.
    • Technology Shows all parameters that are specific settings for EDM.
  6. Enter Format in 6th column to set the parameter format. This print-format defines the column width and number of decimal places in drawing tables and export. Enter one number for STRING- and INTEGER-parameters or two numbers separated with "." for DOUBLE.For example use 8.3 to set the column width to 8 and the number of decimal places to 3.
  7. Enter Designate in 7th column to set or unset designation for PDMLink.
  8. Enter Show GUI in 8th column to control visibility of parameters in Properties dialog box.
  9. Enter Default in 9th column. This can be:
    • A fixed value for STRING, INTEGER or DOUBLE-parameters.
    • A value from a selection list. Open <configuration directory>/sel_list.txt to add or edit a list for a parameter. List begins with #<parameter name> and is followed by the values, which are specified line by line. In this case the user can only select one of this values when modifying the parameter in the electrode dialog box or the burn sheet dialog box.
    • Default rule. The defaults provide access to values calculated by SMARTElectrode. All this internal values are identified by a "&". The list of available internal rules can be found below.
Click Add to insert a copy of selected parameter below.
Click Remove to remove selected parameter from list.
Click Up to move selected parameter upwards.
Click Down to move selected parameter downwards.
Click OK to save changes to configuration.
Click Cancel to discard changes and close UI.
List of Parameter Defaults
  • &<parameter name>
    To reuse any parameter add “&” to the parameter name and set this as default. SMARTElectrode tries to find the parameter inside the main assembly, the electrode part and the electrode component.
  • <fixed value>
    Input any value that should be assigned to the parameter.
  • &inherit
    Read the value from a parameter with the same name from parent. Assemblies get the value from selection list or original ref-part. Cores inherit from original ref-part. Electrodes inherit from assembly.
  • &projectid
    Project name. Used to set a superior project name that differs from assembly name.
  • &projectdir
    Shows the absolute path of the assembly.
  • &electrode_count
    Number of unique electrode models in assembly.
  • &position_count
    Number of active electrode positions in assembly.
  • &locked
    Make a parameter known to SMARTElectrode.
  • &partname
    Partname of the electrode.
  • &qty
    Quantity of identical models in the assembly.
  • &id
    Unique SMARTElectrode-id.
  • &seq
    Index of electrode position.
  • &x_pos:<feature_name>
    X-position of the electrode. To get X position of any named coordinate system inside electrode (for example STARTPOS or SECUREPOS) with respect to the operation origin.Electrode zero is with respect to operation zero is used without definition of a feature name.
  • &y_pos:<feature_name>
    Y-position of the electrode. To get Y position of any named coordinate system inside operation or electrode (for example STARTPOS or SECUREPOS) with respect to the operation origin. Electrode zero is with respect to operation zero is used without definition of a feature name.
  • &z_pos:<feature_name>
    Z-position of the electrode. Z-position of the electrode. To get Z position of any named coordinate system inside operation or electrode (for example STARTPOS or SECUREPOS) with respect to the operation origin.Electrode zero is with respect to operation zero is used without definition of a feature name.
  • &x_angle
    Rotation about x-axis
  • &y_angle
    Rotation about y-axis
  • &z_angle
    Rotation about z-axis
  • &x_dist:<feature_name>
    To get X distance of any named coordinate system to another coordinate system based on operation origin. Electrode zero is with respect to operation zero is used without definition of a feature name.
  • &xy_dist:<feature_name>
    To calculate distance from start position to electrode's end position in XY-plane of operation. This parameter can be used to ouput the length of the vector for lateral machinings.Electrode zero is with respect to operation zero is used without definition of a feature name.
  • &y_dist:<feature_name>
    To get X distance of any named coordinate system to another coordinate system based on operation origin.Electrode zero is with respect to operation zero is used without definition of a feature name.
  • &z_dist:<feature_name>
    To get X distance of any named coordinate system to another coordinate system based on operation origin.Electrode zero is with respect to operation zero is used without definition of a feature name.
  • &material
    Material that was selected in definition dialog box
  • &supplier
    Supplier of electrode blank.
  • &type
    Type of electrode blank. Rectangular, cylindric, ...
  • &instance
    Selected size from list. This value is not changed even if dimensions are edited in Electrode > Modify.
  • &size
    Size (max. bounding box) of the electrode.
  • &x_size
    X-dimension of the electrode.
  • &y_size
    Y-dimension of the electrode.
  • &z_size
    Z-dimension of the electrode. Reads electrode’s blank length defined by datum plane “LENGTH”.
  • &z_size_solid
    Shows the overall length of electrode geometry.
  • &blank_area
    Cross section area of electrode blank.
  • &holdername
    Name of the holder that is placed on an electrode.
  • &processor
    Kind of erode-processor to be used for manufacturing, i.e. AGIE, FANUK.
  • &orbit
    Type of orbit, i.e. linear, rectangular...
  • &overburn1
    First overburn-value.
  • &overburn2
    Second overburn-value.
  • &overburn3
    Third overburn-value.
  • &overburn4
    Fourth overburn-value.
  • &overburn1_qty
    Number of steps/electrodes for roughing.
  • &overburn2_qty
    Number of steps/electrodes for semi-finishing.
  • &overburn3_qty
    Number of steps/electrodes for finishing.
  • &overburn4_qty
    Number of steps/electrodes for fine-finishing/polishing.
  • &burnarea
    Total area of all faces in the burning face quilt.
  • &burnarea_xy
    Effective burn-area. This is the projected area of the contact surfaces in z-direction.
  • &burnarea_max
    Maximum side projection of the burning face quilt.
  • &burnarea_max_angle
    Z-angle where this maximum projection can be found.
  • &burnarea_min
    Minimum side projection of the burning face quilt.
  • &burnarea_min_angle
    Z-angle where this minimum projection can be found.
  • &current_date
    Current date. Date format is defined by option DATE_FORMAT.
  • &initial_date
    Date of creation. Date format is defined by option DATE_FORMAT.
  • &user_name
    User name of designer.
  • &location
    Shows the absolute path of the electrode.
  • &surf_class
    Quality standard (Ra, VDI, Rz, ...).
  • &surf_quality
    Surface quality.
  • &priority
    Priority of machining. Control specific selection list of values.
  • &machining_dir
    To output direction of machining. The vector from start position to end position are used for calculation. Current values are: +X, -X, +Y, -Y, +Z, -Z. The default is -Z. A 3d-Vector will be showed as combination of values. Example: -X-Z.
  • &core_material
    Workpiece material.
  • &core_name
    Extract name electrode is placed on.
  • &core_length
    Overall length of workpieces.
  • &core_width
    Overall width of workpieces.
  • &core_height
    Overall height of workpieces.
  • &assembly_name
    Name of electrode assembly.
  • &operation_name
    Name of operation subassembly.
  • &operation_id
    Id of operation.
  • &qm_...
    Parameters carrying additional information for quality measuring:
    • &qm_tol_min
      Allowed lower tolerance for quality measuring.
    • &qm_tol_max
      Allowed upper tolerance for quality measuring.
    • &qm_stylus
      Stylus name for measuring.
    • &qm_tip
      Tip name for measuring.
    • &qm_prehit
      Prehit distance during measuring.
    • &qm_retract
      Retract distance during measuring.
    • &qm_preset_stylus
      Stylus name for preset.
    • &qm_preset_tip
      Tip name for preset.
    • &qm_preset_prehit
      Prehit distance during preset.
    • &qm_preset_retract
      Retract distance during preset.
Related Topics
To Set Properties
Custom Selection Lists