Time coverage process model
Time coverage
Time coverage or simply Coverage is a standard process model that only calculates the time that a deposition process flow covers a surface.
Process model object
The process model calculates the impact on a surface. The process geometry object is a mesh based representation of that surface, built from nodes and triangular facets.
The mesh generator uses the following attributes:
| Attribute | Description | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Element size | The maximum edge length of a mash element (facet). | The size may be different on each side of the element. |
| Max. sag | The maximum deviation from the associated input geometry. | Applies to both surface and boundary. |
| Max. angle deviation | The maximum angle between adjacent mesh elements. | Applies over the surface and along the boundary tangent. |
With this process model one physical parameter can be analyzed, for which the initial value has to be set here. The initial value is being used when the process simulation starts from scratch.
| Physical parameter | Description | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage time | The impact time on the process geometry. |
Process data flow
Controller process table
The actual spraying state, the operating conditions, of the spraying gun is called a brush profile, of which multiple can exist. In the controller process tables the brushes can be defined. Each brush profile is given the reference dimensions to build the spray cone and its RGB color. The color has no effect on the coverage time simulation, but is only applied to the 3D representation of the brush as a visual aspect.
The process table defines the brushes that can be used for the process simulation.
| Attribute | Description | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Brush number | The brush number. | |
| Nominal cone height | The nominal height of the spray cone. | |
| Nominal cone ellipse diameter in X | The nominal size of the spray cone ellipse in its X direction. | |
| Nominal cone ellipse diameter in Y | The nominal size of the spray cone ellipse in its Y direction. | |
| Cone color | The color of the 3D spray cone representation. |
The theoretical cone is computed from the nominal dimensions. The actual cone in the 3D space is extrapolated from this nominal shape. Its real length is defined in the simulation player settings.
With the Add button, new brushes can be inserted in the list. The list will be ordered automatically according brush number. The brush number is unique; there cannot exist brushes with the same number. A brush can be removed with the pie menu on the specific brush row in the table.
The brush table can also be imported from an external .csv file, like the example below. Existing brushes will be overwritten while importing them.
Tool technology attributes
When the technology that includes the coverage simulation has been assigned to the tool resource, a technology reference frame will be created. This frame represents the origin of the brush. Its properties can be modified and its position can be fine-tuned when necessary. The frame is mandatory, so when it does not exist yet, it needs to be created upfront, otherwise the process simulation will not be executed.
The technology includes the attributes:
| Attribute | Description | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Gun number | The allocated gun number of the technology frame. | A tool resource can have multiple guns (spraying outlets). |
| Tool process model | The available process models for the technology. | The content depends on the technology that has been assigned to the tool resource. |
| Self masking | Option to include the self masking effect during simulation. | When the tool would interfere with the spray cone during simulation, this masking effect will be calculated on the process geometry. |
Tool behavior data set
The process model only calculates the impact time of the brush output on the contact surface. Therefore there is no tool behavior data set to be defined for this model.
OLP events
In the OLP events it has been declared which gun (tool outlet) and which brush (outlet conditions) are applied along the toolpath. Hovering over the brush event will show the details of that brush as being defined in the controller process setup table.
Process imaging
To see the results of the simulation, the physical parameter Coverage time has to be set in the Process imaging dashboard. The dashboard might show parameters of other available process models.
