The BSI Blanker tool is designed to use the data created from the Impact Blanker tool and produce assembly instructions and BSI bender data to help constructing BSI style blankers.
To use this tool it’s expected to have an understanding of Windows and to configure this tool it’s expected to have an understanding of Settings Menus, Property Selectors and Symbol Patterns. For more information on these please follow the hyperlinks.
The tool contains the following functions:
- Control Panel
- Opens the settings dialog.
- Process Full
- Processes both the parts and the bars.
- Process Parts
- Processes just the BSI parts.
- Process Bars
- Process just the BSI bars.
How to use the tool
Standard Processing
This tool uses the results from the built-in blanker tool in Impact.
- Go to the layer where you have output your blanker.
- Start the BSI Blanker control panel.
- Select the required setting from the settings menu or allow the preset menu to select it for you.
- Choose a method that would best suit your need.
This will allow both the parts and the bars to be processed at the same time.
This will process only the parts.
This will process only the bars.
Working with Impact's Blanker tool
When creating blanker bars in the Impact tool there are some rules to follow to allow the BSI module to correctly read the data produced by the tool.
- Ensure that the blanker centre palettes match the palettes listed in the BSI tool; this can be found in the Bars section of the Blanker master tool setting.
- When placing a bar make sure the fillet used is 1.5 times the bar width; for example if you are using a 5mm width bar then the fillet value should be 7.5mm (5x1.5). This allows the BSI bender to choose the correct die set when bending the bar.
Global Setup
Leader
Leader Length
The length of the leader is used when creating a part’s location marks to help locate the parts that are fastened to the rails.
Parts
Parts Tolerance
The maximum distance between an attached part and the rail. If the part is further from the rail than this value then the part is ignored.
Table
Table Gutter
When multiple tables are generated from the parts processing, this is the distance between each separate table.
Table Heading Text Style
The text style used in the headings of the parts tables.
Table Palette
The palette used for the lines within the tables.
Blanker Settings
Not all settings are required. If you are just bending bars, then rails, leaders and table settings can be ignored.
Rails
Also known as the blanker frame, made up of 4 rails.
Parts Table
List of parts that are shown in the generated parts table. This includes all items that are bolted to the outer rails such as joggers and corner blocks.
Grip Rail
The symbol used to represent the grip edge rail.
Rear Rail
The symbol used to represent the rear edge rail.
Left Rail
The symbol used to represent the left edge rail.
Right Rail
The symbol used to represent the right edge rail.
Grip Rail Offset
Offset the origin of the grip rail relative to the zero mark indicated on the rail.
Rear Rail Offset
Offset the origin of the rear rail relative to the zero mark indicated on the rail.
Left Rail Offset
Offset the origin of the left rail relative to the zero mark indicated on the rail.
Right Rail Offset
Offset the origin of the right rail relative to the zero mark indicated on the rail.
Rail Parts
A list of symbols with tags attached to show the position of the part on the rail.
Bars
Bar Palettes
A list of palettes that is used for the centreline of the blanker bars
For each bar palette that is used they need to be added to the list on the right.
To add a palette, select it from the list on the left then click the arrow button pointing to the right. To remove a palette, select it from the grid on the right and click on the arrow button pointing to the left.
The check box named Plot allows this palette to be sent to the post processor to be output for bar bending machines such as the BSI bender.
The check box named Table allows this palette to be sent to the table of bars and summary information.
The Description and Material Part are required for output to a BSI bender. This information can be saved with the palette or within the BSI Tool. To change these values go to the Options tab; from here you can choose where the Description and Material Values are from. If you choose Custom then the Description and Material columns allow you to enter a value.
Maximum Bend Radius
The maximum radius of a fillet on a bar. For infinite set to 0.
Minimum Bend Radius
The minimum radius of a fillet on a bar. For infinite set to 0.
Bend radius check
Define what type of message to display if the bars fall out of range.
- Ignore - No warnings are shown to the user.
- Warning - The user is notified of the out of range bar, but the output will continue.
- Error - The user is notified of the out of range bar and will be prevented from continuing to output.
Generate Identification Numbers
Generate numeric ID numbers on the blanker layer that match the output bars.
Bar ID Block Name
The name of the block into which the bar IDs will go.
Bar ID Text Style
The text style that is used for the identification text entities.
Bar ID Palette
The palette used for the ID numbers.
Notches
Output Notches
When enabled, bar plot includes the notches’ data. Notches are made in the bar for interlocking with joining bars or for other similar items.
Bar Clearance
Reverse the bar if a notch is found within this clearance. This will allow for any hardware limits with the bender.
Restrict Notch Sizes
Restrict the sizes of notches that are output. For example, if you only have a cutting wheel for 3mm and 4mm, do not allow the user to output 3.5mm.
Restricted Notch Tolerance
The tolerance of the restricted notch sizes.
Overlapping Notch Tolerance
When overlapping notches are required, this is the minimum distance the notches should overlap.
Figure 85 When the distance 'A' is smaller than ‘Overlapping Notch Tolerance’, then the next size up notching blade is used. A smaller tolerance here will allow less overlap.
Notch Sizes
List of valid sizes that can be output, for example a list of cutting wheel sizes available in the plotting machine.
Leaders Palette
The palette used for leaders such as indicating the location of parts attached to a rail.
Leaders Text Format
The format of the text within the leaders. Use {0} for the part description and {1} for the distance along.
Leaders Block Name
The name of the block into which the leaders are placed.
Leaders Text Style
The text style used in the leaders.
Zero Symbol
An optional symbol that is inserted at the zero positions on the rails and attached parts.
Distance Format
The format of the value contained within the part location text entities inserted on the canvas. This can be customised so it’s different from the user’s environment settings. It uses the same properties as Impact's environment unit settings.
Decimal Places
Enter the required number of decimal places to be displayed for distances.
Denominator
Enter the denominator to be used for fractions.
Display Fractions
Switch this option on if you want to display fractions rather than decimal values or reduce the quantity of decimal numbers to the lowest amount.
Reduce Denominator/Decimals
Only applicable when displaying fractions. Switch the option on if you want fractions displayed with the lowest possible denominator. For instance, display 5/10 as 1/2 or 1.500 as 1.5.
Abbreviation
Enter the required distance unit abbreviation such as mm, cm etc.
Unit Type
The type of unit used in the inserted text on the canvas.
Parts Table
Generate Parts Table
Creates a table listing all parts in the blanker. This can be used to aid assembly and stock picking.
Parts Output layer Name
The name of the layer in which to output the parts table.
Parts Output Layer Type
The layer type used for the parts list.
Parts Output Layer Cleaning
Clears out any geometry in the parts table layer before creating a new table.
Bars Table
Generate Bars Table
Creates a table listing all the bars in the blanker. This can be used to aid assembly and stock picking.
Generate Bar Notch Tables
Creates a table for each bar that contains details about the notches.
Generate Bar Bend Tables
Creates a table for each bar that contains details about the bends.
Bars Output Layer Name
The name of the layer in which to output the bars table.
Bars Output Layer Type
The layer type used for the bars list.
Bars Output Override
Clears out any geometry in the bars table layer before creating a new table.
Show bar Preview
Display a preview of the bar next to the bar table.
Bar Preview Scale
Scale of the preview of the bar.
Plot
Generate Plot
Plot the bar data to a bar bending machine.
Plot Driver
The plotting driver for the bars output.
Plot File Name
The name of the plot file generated.
Plot Directory
The location where the plot file is saved.
Bend Table Mode
The mode of the current bend table calculations.
- Disabled - Disregard and bend calculations when plotting.
- Enabled - Use the bend table within this setting.
- Use Global - Use the bend table within the global settings.
Plot Bend Table
A collection of transformations applied to bars when being plotted to allow for distortion when bending.
Figure 86 Settings bend table showing a single bend calculation adjustment for a 5mm wide bar
Advanced
Enable Milling Detection
Check the blanker for areas that may be milled down.
Milling Detections
Settings for detecting milled areas on the bars that are used for drops, inserts or other no bar intersections. Please see Milling Detection Settings for more details.
Milling Detection Settings
General
Include Symbols
If enabled, then palettes within symbols will be scanned for, otherwise it will just be blocks. See the symbols list to define the symbols to detect.
Name
The name of this setting.
Depth
Depth Mode
Define the mode used to calculate the depth of the notch.
- Distance - Cut the notch a set distance from the top of the rail.
- Percentage - Cut the notch to a depth based on the height of the rail. For example, a value of 50% could cut a notch 10mm deep for a rail 20mm rail high.
Distance
The depth of the notch at a fixed distance. This is only used when the depth mode is set to distance.
Percentage
The depth of the notch as a percentage. This is only used when the depth mode is set to percentage.
Database
Palettes
A list of palettes to use for the notch detection.
Symbols
A list of symbols to scan for when using Include Symbols option.