Rule path enhancements I\'ve worked on

1. I100-04-02 RulePath Enhancements
User Interface Functionality
Overview
This project was intended to sole a specific problem with rulepath generation in
ArtiosCAD. Terry Schroeder sent us some examples and the project expanded to fix all
the problems illustrated by these examples. Terry Schroeder also said that his company
spends 20 to 25 minutes making scrap knives for rotary dies, but only 10 to 15 minutes
fixing rule paths. Visy said the same thing so we decided to address chop knives as well,
see project ChopKnives. My intention is to spend about a week on rulepaths and a week
rewriting chop knives.
Rule Path Fixes
This project fixes several rule path problems. There are no user interface changes. Terry's
example files, special rule and bridge table defaults are in the folder
ludfps01TestingTest_Plans_and_Test_FilesA100-04-02 Rule pathTerry Rule Path
Each of Terry's files has text and arrows pointing out the problem. The version I saved
however is the fixed version, use ArtiosCAD 7.35 or 7.40 to recreate the original
problem. Terry's defaults need to be loaded to define the special rule types and bridging
formulas referenced in his examples.
Congruence problem, Rotary Sample 01
Description: Open rotary sample 01.mfg in ArtiosCAD 7.35 or 7.40. Build Rule Path, and
select the internal slot indicated by the arrow. 5 of the slots are selected, and the other 10
are not.
Analysis: The slots may look the same, but the arcs at the end of the slots are not exactly
the same if you measure them.
Fixes: Merged the arcs with a 0.1mm tolerance, bigger than the 0.015mm tolerance for
straight lines.
Rule path start, Rotary Sample 01
Description: The internal slots need to be a single rulepath, but the start point of the rule
path should not be in the center where it meets another rule.

2. Can't have 3 rules meeting at a point
Bridging Inconsistent, Rotary Sample 03
Description: Open rotary sample 03.mfg in ArtiosCAD 7.35 or 7.40. Build Rule Path, and
look at the bridging on the holes in the areas indicated. The bridging is different on
congruent holes.
Analysis: The bridging was calculated on each hole separately; the rule path segment
where the bridge went is one inch long and the bridging formula has a step at one inch.
So rounding errors caused random segments slightly shorter than one inch to not get a
bridge, and segments slightly longer to get a bridge.
Fixes: Find the rule path congruences first, and apply bridging to each set of rulepaths in
each congruence. Plus, if after applying the bridging formulas, an entire hole has no
bridges, one bridge is added to one of the flat rules, which is then copied to the other
congruent rules.
Internal waste should have a continuous outline, Rotary Sample 04

3. Description: In ArtiosCAD 7.40, the rulepath for the diamond hole goes outside the hole.
This creates a weakness where it joins another rulepath.
Wrong Right
Fixes:
a) Interior waste areas are given priority when creating rule paths, so rule paths form a
continuous path around the edge of the waste.
b) The rule path starts halfway between two intersections
c) The bridge start mark is at the end of the slot for a symetrical hole like this one
d) There should be a bridge on each segment longer than the "minimum tooth count",
except for the rule start point
Internal waste should have at least one bridge, Rotary Sample 04
Description: Look at the waste hole to the left of the diamond. In ArtiosCAD 7.40 this
rulepath has the start point in the wrong place, and it has no bridges, and the scrap knives
inside have no bridges either, so it will fall out.
Fixes:
a) Rule path forms a continuous path around the edge of the waste
b) The rule path starts halfway between two intersections

4. c) For an asymmetrical hole like this one, the bridge start is the rule path start
d) There are no good places to put a bridge on this rulepath, so one was added in the
middle
e) Each segment of the chop knife longer than the "minimum tooth count" gets a bridge
Holes have no bridges, Rotary Sample 06
Description: In ArtiosCAD 7.40, the rulepath for the two holes shown have no bridges, so
will fall out. And the split (wrap) point for the D shaped hole is in the wrong place.
ArtiosCAD 7.40, wrong, has no bridges
Better, has bridges. The bad bridge is considered acceptable because the two rule paths are congruent
Fixes:
a) make sure holes have at least one bridge
b) Put the wrap point in a better place

5. The user may merge the 2 short L-shaped pieces; this doesn't happen automatically.
Congruent holes not the same, Rotary Sample 08
In ArtiosCAD 7.40, the diagonal slot shaped holes are not the same
Fix: Make the rule path start consistent for holes like this
Internal waste should have a continuous outline, Rotary Sample 08
In ArtiosCAD 7.40, the rulepath is not continuous around the hole
Wrong, rulepath goes outside the hole Right: 4 rulepaths around the hole
Fixes:
a) Give priority to waste holes
b) Hole has at least one bridge
c) Join (wrap) points along straight rule, not at an intersection
Bridging not on a tooth, Rotary Sample 09
Description: ArtiosCAD 7.40 makes a bridge that is not on a tooth in the external slot
Internal waste should have a continuous outline, Rotary Sample 11

6. In ArtiosCAD 7.40, there are 2 rulepaths with a weak join. And there are segments with
no bridges
Wrong, ArtiosCAD 7.40 Right, one rulepath, bridges on each segment
Fixes:
a) Join into one rulepath, with the bridge start at the top
b) Add a bridge to each segment