Blade Generation Macro Reference

Last Updated: 21 January 2026

Legend: PRODUCTION - Ready for production use TEST - Test harness / debugging only UTILITY - Helper / support macro INTERNAL - Called by other macros, not directly DEPRECATED - Do not use

Quick Reference: Primary Entry Points

For Production Use: Start with fxCreateBladeFromIntersect or the JSON workflow via fxIntegrationTest
For Testing: Use fxTestBladeFromIntersect with modes 0-4 to test all orientations

1. Production Macros (Core Pipeline)

Macro	Type	Purpose	Key Parameters	Returns
fxCreateBladeFromIntersect	PRODUCTION	PRIMARY ENTRY POINT Creates complete blade solid from part body. Handles profile extraction, stock creation, pocket cutting, and final positioning.	`i_partBody` - Part to create blade for `w_centerX/Y/Z` - Blade center position `w_normX/Y/Z` - Blade normal vector `w_thickness` - Material thickness `w_stockMargin` - Extra margin around profile	`i_return` = Blade body ID
fxBladeEdgeFeatures	PRODUCTION	BLADE FACE DETECTION Identifies and selects blade faces by topology type: inside pocket faces, outside perimeter faces, top faces, and thickness (reference) faces. Uses transform-first approach for orientation-independent detection.	`i_bladeBody` - Blade solid body ID `$_zone` - Face selection mode (see table below) `i_debug` - Debug output level (0=off, 1=summary, 2=verbose)	`i_return` = Face count Picklist populated with selected faces
fxBladeProfileVector	PRODUCTION	Generates blade profile kurve(s) using vector-based positioning. Supports compound angles.	`i_mode` - 1=TwoPoints, 2=PointNormalLength, 3=PointNormalAuto `p1-p6` - Position/normal values `p7` - Length (mode 2) or unused `i_kurveOut` - Output kurve number	`i_return` = i_OK/i_ERROR `w_return2` = Kurve count
fxBladeProfileIntersect	PRODUCTION	Creates profile sheets by sectioning part at blade thickness boundaries.	`i_partBody` - Part body `w_centerX/Y/Z` - Blade center `w_normX/Y/Z` - Normal vector `w_thickness` - Blade thickness	`i_return` = Sheet count `w_return` = VDM handle
fxMakeWatertight	PRODUCTION	Heals holes in solid bodies using `sld fac rem`. Essential for clean profile extraction.	`i_body` - Body to heal `i_skipGravity` - Skip gravity-facing faces `i_debug` - Debug output level	`i_return` = Healed body ID
fxBuildGravityAwareOffset	PRODUCTION	Applies selective offset based on gravity direction. Contact faces get zero offset, clearance faces get full offset.	`i_kurve` - Input profile kurve `w_offset` - Offset distance `$_gravityDir` - "BOTTOM", "TOP", etc.	`i_return` = Result kurve ID

2. fxBladeEdgeFeatures - Face Selection Modes

Algorithm: Uses topology-based detection with transform-first approach. The blade is temporarily aligned to axis coordinates, face detection is performed in simplified XYZ space, then results are transformed back. This ensures orientation-independent functionality for compound-angle blades.

Face Type Legend

Face Type	Description	Detection Method
Inside Faces	Pocket surfaces (floor and walls) - where grippers contact the part	Edge topology walk from pocket floor, normal direction toward blade center
Outside Faces	External perimeter surfaces of the blade	X position at blade extents (minX/maxX) with outward-facing normals
Top Faces	Upward-facing surfaces at top of blade	Normal pointing +Z, tracked by left/right X position
Thickness Faces	Reference faces on blade thickness sides (Y-facing)	Normal pointing ±Y (perpendicular to blade plane)
Base Face	Bottom outside face of blade	Lowest Z position with downward normal (-Z)

Available Modes (13 Total)

Mode String	Category	Selects	Excludes
LEFT-INSIDE	Inside	Left inside pocket wall	All other faces
RIGHT-INSIDE	Inside	Right inside pocket wall	All other faces
BOTTOM-INSIDE	Inside	Pocket floor (bottom inside)	All other faces
ALL-INSIDE	Inside	Left + Right + Bottom inside faces	Outside, top, thickness faces
LEFT-OUTSIDE	Outside	Left outside perimeter wall	All other faces
RIGHT-OUTSIDE	Outside	Right outside perimeter wall	All other faces
BOTTOM-OUTSIDE	Outside	Blade base (bottom outside)	All other faces
ALL-OUTSIDE	Outside	Left + Right + Bottom outside + Top faces	Inside, thickness faces
ALL-OUTSIDE-EXCEPT-BASE	Outside	Left + Right outside + Top faces	Base, inside, thickness faces
TOP-LEFT	Top	Leftmost top face only	All other faces
TOP-RIGHT	Top	Rightmost top face only	All other faces
ALL-NO-TOPZFACES	Combined	All inside + All outside (no top faces)	Top faces, thickness faces
ALL-EVERYTHING	Everything	Every face on the blade body	Nothing excluded

JSON Schema for fxBladeEdgeFeatures

{ "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#", "title": "fxBladeEdgeFeatures Parameters", "description": "Configuration for blade face detection and selection", "type": "object", "properties": { "bladeBody": { "type": "integer", "description": "Blade solid body ID", "minimum": 1 }, "zone": { "type": "string", "description": "Face selection mode", "enum": [ "LEFT-INSIDE", "RIGHT-INSIDE", "BOTTOM-INSIDE", "ALL-INSIDE", "LEFT-OUTSIDE", "RIGHT-OUTSIDE", "BOTTOM-OUTSIDE", "ALL-OUTSIDE", "ALL-OUTSIDE-EXCEPT-BASE", "TOP-LEFT", "TOP-RIGHT", "ALL-NO-TOPZFACES", "ALL-EVERYTHING" ] }, "debug": { "type": "integer", "description": "Debug output level: 0=off, 1=summary, 2=verbose", "enum": [0, 1, 2], "default": 0 } }, "required": ["bladeBody", "zone"] }

Usage Example

'*** Select all inside pocket faces for gripper placement call fxBladeEdgeFeatures i_bladeBody 'ALL-INSIDE' 1 i_faceCount = i_return '*** Select outside faces except base for trimming operations call fxBladeEdgeFeatures i_bladeBody 'ALL-OUTSIDE-EXCEPT-BASE' 0 '*** Get only the left top face call fxBladeEdgeFeatures i_bladeBody 'TOP-LEFT' 0

3. JSON/IO Macros

Macro	Type	Purpose	Location
fxReadBladeJSON	PRODUCTION	Parses blade parameters from JSON file. Populates FX_JSON_* globals. Supports vector, twoPointsXY, twoPointsXYZ modes.	io\json\fxReadBladeJSON.ovm
fxIntegrationTest	TEST	JSON INTEGRATION TEST End-to-end test: JSON → Parse → Profile → Blade Solid. Uses NucleoSphere progress.	io\json\testing\fxIntegrationTest.ovm
fxTestJSONParsing	TEST	Tests JSON parsing against example files. Validates all blade definition modes.	io\json\fxTestJSONParsing.ovm

4. Test Harness Macros

Macro	Type	Purpose	Modes/Usage
fxTestBladeFromIntersect	TEST	PRIMARY TEST HARNESS Tests blade creation at 5 orientations. Creates hollow test part or reuses existing.	Mode 0: Normal (1,0,0) Mode 1: Normal (0,1,0) Mode 2: Normal (0,0,1) Mode 3: 45° XY compound Mode 4: 3D diagonal
fxTestEdgeFeatures	TEST	EDGE FEATURES TEST Tests all 13 face selection modes on axis-aligned blades.	modeling\blade\testing\fxTestEdgeFeatures.ovm
fxTestEdgeFeaturesCompound	TEST	Tests face selection modes on compound-angle blades.	modeling\blade\testing\fxTestEdgeFeaturesCompound.ovm
fxTestBladeProfileVectorFull	TEST	Tests fxBladeProfileVector on multiple parts. Creates normal + watertight copies in rows.	Mode 0: All tests Mode 1-3: Individual blade modes
fxTestCreateBlade	TEST	Full pipeline test: envelope → mosaic → profile → blade solid.	Uses body 80 as default part
fxTestGravityOffset	TEST	Tests gravity-aware offset in multiple directions. Mode 99=all tests, Mode 100=grid.	modeling\blade\testing\

5. Internal/Helper Macros

Macro	Type	Purpose	Called By
fxxCreateCuttingPlane3D_Compound	INTERNAL	Creates cutting plane sheet at specified position/orientation for sectioning.	fxBladeProfileVector
fxxProfileToKurve3D_Compound	INTERNAL	Extracts kurve from profile body faces. Handles compound angle rotation.	fxBladeProfileVector
fxxGroupKurvesIntoIslands	INTERNAL	Groups kurves by bounding box overlap into disconnected islands.	fxCreateBladeFromIntersect
fxxScanKurveForCorners	INTERNAL	Finds divergence corners requiring cylinder clearance.	fxCreateBladeFromIntersect
fxValidateMosaicKurves	INTERNAL	Validates and scores kurves, selects best (largest area).	fxBladeProfileVector
fxProfileToKurve3D	INTERNAL	Converts 3D profile body edges to 2D kurve.	Various profile macros
fxGetBladeNormalFromBody	INTERNAL	Extracts blade normal vector from thickness face analysis.	fxBladeEdgeFeatures

6. Visualization/Progress Macros

Macro	Type	Purpose	Parameters
fxNucleoSphere	UTILITY	8-shell rotating sphere progress indicator. Rainbow colors, 5 position modes.	`w_progress` - 0-100, -1=init, i_NOT_SET=cleanup `i_displayMode` - 0=overlay, 1=isolated `i_positionMode` - 0-4 corner positions
fxNucleoEventColors	UTILITY	Sets event-based color scheme for NucleoSphere (e.g., red for errors).	`$_eventName` - Event identifier
fxProgressUpdate	UTILITY	Wrapper for progress updates with throttling.	-

7. Deprecated/Backup Files

Do NOT use these files: They are backups or deprecated versions kept for reference only.

*_backup_*.ovm - Point-in-time backups
*_baseline_*.ovm - Working baselines before major changes
*_broken_*.ovm - Known broken versions
_fxMacroName.ovm - Underscore prefix = inactive/backup
fxBladeProfileSolid.ovm - Superseded by fxBladeProfileVector
fxBladeEnvelopeSection.ovm - Superseded by intersection method
fxBladeMosaic.ovm - Superseded by intersection method

8. Workflow Diagram

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                         BLADE GENERATION WORKFLOW                            │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

  +------------------+     +------------------+     +----------------------+
  |   JSON Config    |---->| fxReadBladeJSON  |---->|  FX_JSON_* Globals   |
  | blade_params.json|     |  (parse config)  |     | (position, normal,   |
  +------------------+     +------------------+     |  thickness, etc.)    |
                                                     +----------+-----------+
                                                                |
                           +------------------------------------+
                           |
                           v
  +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
  |                    fxCreateBladeFromIntersect                            |
  |                    ===========================                           |
  |  +-----------------+    +-----------------+    +-----------------+       |
  |  | fxBladeProfile  |--->| fxMakeWatertight|--->| Create Stock    |       |
  |  |   Intersect     |    | (heal holes)    |    | (blade blank)   |       |
  |  +-----------------+    +-----------------+    +--------+--------+       |
  |                                                          |               |
  |  +-----------------+    +-----------------+    +--------v--------+       |
  |  | Subtract        |<---| Thicken Profile |<---| Apply Gravity   |       |
  |  | Cutouts         |    | Sheets          |    | Offset          |       |
  |  +--------+--------+    +-----------------+    +-----------------+       |
  |           |                                                              |
  |  +--------v--------+    +-----------------+                              |
  |  | Edge Blend      |--->| Transform to    |---> BLADE BODY OUTPUT        |
  |  | (optional)      |    | Final Position  |                              |
  |  +-----------------+    +-----------------+                              |
  +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                         POST-PROCESSING WITH EDGE FEATURES
  +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
  |  BLADE BODY ---> fxBladeEdgeFeatures ---> SELECTED FACES (picklist)      |
  |                         |                                                |
  |                         +---> ALL-INSIDE        ---> Gripper placement   |
  |                         +---> ALL-OUTSIDE       ---> Perimeter operations|
  |                         +---> TOP-LEFT/RIGHT    ---> Label positioning   |
  |                         +---> ALL-EVERYTHING    ---> Full body operations|
  +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+

                           TEST ENTRY POINTS
  +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
  |  fxTestBladeFromIntersect     - Tests 5 orientations (modes 0-4)         |
  |  fxTestEdgeFeatures           - Tests all 13 face selection modes        |
  |  fxIntegrationTest            - JSON > Profile > Blade (with progress)   |
  |  fxTestBladeProfileVectorFull - Tests profile generation on many parts   |
  +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+

9. Global Variables Reference

Variable	File	Purpose
`i_FX_DEBUG_LEVEL`	fxGlobals.var	0=OFF, 1=SUMMARY, 2=VERBOSE
`w_FX_PROFILE_CLEARANCE`	fxGlobals.var	Divergence corner cylinder radius / edge blend
`i_FX_CONTACT_ARC_MODE`	fxGlobals.var	0=NONE, 1=GRAVITY, 2=PERPENDICULAR
`i_FX_SHOW_PROGRESS`	fxGlobals.var	Enable/disable NucleoSphere progress
`FX_JSON_*`	fxJSON.var	All JSON-parsed blade parameters (60+ globals)

Generated: 21 January 2026 | Fixture Development Q1 2026