Cold Storage Machine Selection

For the Cold Storage process, the cost model selects the feasible machine with the smallest length (specified by the machine property Usable Length).

If the part uses a single stretch cycle, the stock is assumed to be coiled before annealing and cooling (see Routing for Stretch Forming). In this case, a machine is considered feasible if it can accommodate the dimensions of the coiled stock (with the stock oriented so that its width dimension is perpendicular to the ceiling). In particular, the machine is feasible if both the following hold:

• Machine property Usable Height is greater than the coil height (which is the stock width).

• Machine properties Usable Length and Usable Width are both greater than the coil diameter (specified by the Sheet Metal cost model variable defaultCoilDiameter (300mm in starting point VPEs).

If the part uses multiple stretch cycles (see Number of Stretch Form Cycles), the stock is assumed to be uncoiled. In this case, a machine is considered feasible if it can accommodate the dimensions of the selected stock (with the stock oriented so that its width dimension is perpendicular to the ceiling). In particular, the machine is feasible if both the following hold:

• Machine property Usable Height is greater than or equal to the stock width.

• Machine property Usable Length is greater than the stock length.

See Material Stock Selection for Stretch Forming for information about stock length and width.

Note that aPriori selects only from preferred machines, if there is a feasible preferred machine and the cost model variable usePreferredMachines is set to true (the default in starting point VPEs). If there is no feasible preferred machine, or if the cost model variable usePreferredMachines is set to false, aPriori selects from all machines. A machine is preferred if the machine property isPreferred (typically displayed as Is Preferred) is true.