To specify the region for the electrode

Use the Select Region to Make Electrode page to specify the region on the workpiece that you want to make the electrode for, and the direction of electrode extraction. The specified region will define the burn region on the electrode.

The initial direction of electrode extraction is in the direction of the +Z axis. To change the extraction direction, you can select a different workplane on the Status bar. You can also define the extraction direction using the Extraction Vector options on this page of the wizard. As you progress through the wizard, the electrode, base, and holder are created along the vector you select. To specify electrode settings, click the button to open the Electrode page of the Options dialog.

1. To specify the type of region you want to select, choose a method from the Selection method list:
   • Single Face
   • Concave Region
   • Convex Region
   Note: The surface normal of the solid workpiece is important in determining whether a region is concave or convex. By convention, the surface normal points away from the solid material.
2. If you want to reverse the active solid, select Reverse Solid.
3. Specify how to define the extraction vector:
   • Use an existing, principal axis:
     • +Z
     • +X
     • +Y
     • -X
     • -Y
   • Select Manual to create a vector-burn electrode, where the vector is not aligned to a principal axis. To create the vector, either:
     • Enter values in A and B to define the angle of rotation of the extraction vector in XY, and the angle from the vertical, respectively. 0 degrees is down the Z axis and 90 degrees is a side-sparking operation.
     • Click to use position-entry tools to specify the extraction vector.
     • Click to define the vector by selecting a surface, whose normal is in the required direction.
     Note: If you create vector-burn or side-sparking electrodes, the following vector information is included in the GA setup sheet:
     • A, B, C — The rotation values that define the vector.
     • X, Y, Z — The X, Y and Z positions at which the electrode changes from moving in the Z direction, to moving along the manually-created vector.
4. Hover over the workpiece to highlight the specified region types. Click to select the region where you want to create an electrode.
   Note: Any regions already selected are removed from the selection. Use the Shift and Ctrl key controls, and/or box selection, to add and remove regions to and from the selection. Only whole faces within a box are selected, making it easier to select groups of faces. To include an embossed feature, select its surrounding faces when selecting the region.

   If geometry is missing that is required for the electrode to burn the selected region, the wizard automatically creates the required geometry.

5. To refine your region selection, use the following options:
   • — These buttons appear when you select a region. Use these buttons to display a different view of the region in the display window.
   • Trace Region — Traces a closed curve on the workpiece to define the region.

     You can use the Create Composite Curve toolbar to define the curve, or use existing curves created and preselected before you started the Electrode Wizard.

     Tip: The Trace Region option is intended to be used if selection using one of specified selection methods doesn't work, for example if the workpiece model is linked badly, or the region is complex. This option takes longer to compute the burn region, so try a selection method first if possible.
   • Divide face — Lets you select a portion of a solid face on the workpiece. Use the Divide Face in Solid dialog to divide a face of a solid into two pieces. You can also divide multiple faces.
   Surfaces and composite curves are created from the selected regions and shown as selected. You can use these objects in the following ways:

   • If you restart the wizard, these objects represent a preselected region and are used to create the electrode. You can add other regions to these.
   • Exit the wizard and use these objects to create a solid representing the electrode. You can then register the solid as an electrode and add the electrode to the EDM setup sheet.
   • Continue using these objects in the current wizard session to create an electrode.