The Hand Layup process provides the following options:

By default in starting point VPEs, the first placement cycle (before the first Debulk) consists of a single occurrence of the Ply Placing operation. Administrators can customize this default with the cost model variable defaultNumPliesBeforeFirstDebulk (1 in starting point VPEs). Users can override the default on a per-part basis with this setup option. See also Routing and Feasibility for Composites.

Subsequent to the first ply placement cycle, each ply placement cycles consists of three occurrences of the Ply Placing operation, by default in starting point VPEs. Administrators can customize this default with the cost model variable defaultNumPliesPerDebulkCycle (3 in starting point VPEs). Users can override the default on a per-part basis with this setup option. See also Routing and Feasibility for Composites.

By default, the number of operators is specified by the machine property Number of Operators. With this setup option, users can override the default on a per-part basis. Number of operators drives cycle time—see Hand Layup Process.

By default, hard tooling cost is calculated based on the following:

With this setup option, users can override the default on a per-part basis, and specify the tool cost explicitly. See also Tooling for Composites.

By default, tool material is specified by the tool shop variable Default Tool Material Name. Users can override the default on a per-part basis with this setup option. The following options are available:

The options are taken from the tool shop Tool Materials table for this process.

This value drives tool cost—see Tooling for Composites.

Potting is required for core regions that contain fastener holes. Potting stiffens such core regions by injecting low-density material, which hardens during curing, and prevents crushing during fastening. Fastener holes are not typically modeled in CAD.

By default in starting point VPEs, the total number of the part’s fastener holes is assumed to be 0. Administrators can customize the default with the cost model variable defaultNumCorePottingRequired. Users can override the default on a per-part basis with this setup option.

This value drives times and consumable material costs for Hand Layup—see Core Potting Operation for Hand Layup.

This setup option specifies the total length of the butt joints formed by core splicing for the whole part. This value drives times and consumable material costs for Hand Layup—see Core Splicing Operation for Hand Layup. By default in starting point VPEs, this is assumed to be 0. Administrators can customize the default with the cost model variable defaultCoreSpliceLength. Users can override the default on a per-part basis with this setup option.

Core splicing is required when a core must be formed by splicing together two or more other cores (which may not be individually modeled in CAD). Splicing uses foaming adhesive to form butt joints.

By default, the part rough mass is assumed to be the same as the finish mass—the sum of the ply masses (excluding holes) and core masses (if any). If secondary machining will remove significant mass for a particular part, you can specify the mass prior to removal with this setup option. This can increase the accuracy of handling time estimates for machining.