Top-level Process Setup Options

The top-level Sheet Metal node provides the following options:

Manufacturing Operation for Form Stamp GCDs

By default in starting point Digital Factories, the cost model assumes that small-depth features, such as identing, lettering, or usage symbols, are created by a punching process, while larger-depth flats, pockets, and recesses are created by milling (in the Machining process group).

Administrators can change the default with the cost model variable defaultManufacturingOperationForFormStampGCDs. If this variable is set to Punching, Forms of type STAMP are created with punching operations, by default; if the variable is set to Milling, Forms of type STAMP are routed to secondary Machining and assigned milling operations, by default. In starting point Digital Factories, the variable is set to Let aPriori Decide.

With this setup option, you can override the default on a part-by-part basis. Specify one of the following:

  • Let aPriori Decide (the default in starting point Digital Factories): a Form of type STAMP is created by a Sheet Metal punching process if its depth is less than the value of the cost model variable maxStampingDepthThreshold (0.3mm in starting point Digital Factories). Deeper STAMP Forms are routed to milling operations.

  • Punching: all Forms of type STAMP are created by a Sheet Metal punching process.

  • Milling: Forms of type STAMP are routed to secondary Machining and assigned milling operations.

Note: A feature assigned to milling may be assigned both roughing and finishing; if it is, a single tool is used for both.

Note: You can also manually include Chemical Milling in your routing, and STAMP Forms will be assigned to Chemical Milling.

Enable Scrap Material Credit

By default in starting point Digital Factories, the cost model assumes that material scrap (such as trim scrap) is not sold for credit. Administrators can customize the default with the cost model variable enableScrapMaterialCredit (false in starting point Digital Factories). With this setup option, users can override the default on a per-part basis.

Enabling scrap material credit increases material utilization and decreases material cost. The credit rate is specified as a percentage of the material rate by the material property Scrap Cost Percent. See Formulas.

Enable Scrap Part Credit

By default in starting point Digital Factories, the cost model assumes that the material from scrapped parts is not sold for credit. Administrators can customize the default with the cost model variable enableScrapPartCredit (false in starting point Digital Factories). With this setup option, users can override the default on a per-part basis.

Enabling scrap part credit increases material utilization and decreases material cost. This includes credit for parts scrapped by this process as well as by downstream processes. The credit rate is specified as a percentage of the material rate by the material property Scrap Cost Percent. See Formulas.

Partial Sheet Material Utilization Behavior

The last (or only) stock sheet used in a production batch might have a large unoccupied portion (for example, if the batch size is so small that a batch does not cover an entire stock sheet).  By default in starting point Digital Factories, aPriori calculates material utilization under the assumption that such an unoccupied portion can nevertheless be used (for other batches of the same part or for different parts).

Administrators can customize the default with the cost model variable partialSheetUsageUtilization. Possible values are Assume Full Sheet Utilization (the default—assume unoccupied portions of a batch’s last sheet are utlized) and Average Batch Utilization (assume unoccupied portions of a batch’s last sheet are not utlized).

Users can override the default on a per-part basis with the setup option Panel Sheet Material Utilization Behavior (defined on the Sheet Metal node of the Process Options Editor). Select one of the following options:

  • Assume Full Sheet Utilization: assume unoccupied portions of a batch’s last sheet are utilized.

  • Average Batch Utilization: assume unoccupied portions of a batch’s last sheet are not utlized.