1. System Overview

Key Capabilities

• 14 Detection Modes - From single-sided interior walls to full geometry selection
• Transform-First Approach - Handles compound-angle blades by transforming to axis-aligned orientation
• Topology Walking - Uses face adjacency relationships, not coordinate positions
• Visual Feedback - Color-coded face highlighting for verification
• Open Profile Detection - Automatically detects L-shaped and U-channel profiles

Supported Blade Types

• U-Channel blades (closed pocket)
• L-Shaped blades (open on one side)
• Flat blades (no pocket)
• Compound-angle blades (tilted orientation)
• Blades with fillets, steps, and complex pocket floors

2. Architecture & Algorithm

Transform-First Approach

Algorithm Flow

3. Detection Modes (14 Total)

Category: INSIDE (Pocket Area) - Modes 1-4

Category: OUTSIDE (Perimeter) - Modes 5-11

Category: COMBINATION - Modes 12-14

4. Color Coding Reference

5. API & Parameters

Syntax

call fxBladeEdgeFeatures i_mode i_bladeBody w_radius w_interval w_clearance w_depthOffset $_zone

Parameters

Return Value

Results are stored in VDM set i_VDM_BLADE_EDGE_FACES containing selected face IDs.

6. JSON Schema for Zone Configuration

{
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#",
  "title": "BladeEdgeZoneConfig",
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "bladeId": {
      "type": "integer",
      "description": "Body number of the blade"
    },
    "zones": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
          "name": {
            "type": "string",
            "enum": [
              "left-inside", "right-inside", "bottom-inside", "all-inside",
              "left-outside", "right-outside", "bottom-outside",
              "top-left", "top-right", "all-outside", "all-outside-except-base",
              "all-no-topZFaces", "all-everything", "all-everything-except-base"
            ]
          },
          "enabled": {
            "type": "boolean",
            "default": true
          },
          "toolType": {
            "type": "string",
            "enum": ["gripper", "plunger", "clamp"]
          },
          "parameters": {
            "type": "object",
            "properties": {
              "radius": { "type": "number" },
              "interval": { "type": "number" },
              "clearance": { "type": "number" },
              "depthOffset": { "type": "number" }
            }
          }
        },
        "required": ["name"]
      }
    }
  },
  "required": ["bladeId", "zones"]
}

Example Configuration

{
  "bladeId": 80,
  "zones": [
    {
      "name": "left-inside",
      "enabled": true,
      "toolType": "gripper",
      "parameters": {
        "radius": 5.0,
        "interval": 50.0,
        "clearance": 2.0,
        "depthOffset": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "right-inside",
      "enabled": true,
      "toolType": "gripper",
      "parameters": {
        "radius": 5.0,
        "interval": 50.0,
        "clearance": 2.0,
        "depthOffset": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "bottom-inside",
      "enabled": false
    }
  ]
}

7. Mode Flag Reference

Internal flags control face selection behavior for each mode:

8. Topology Walk Algorithm

Priority-Based Face Selection

When walking from one face to the next, the algorithm uses priority selection:

1. Priority 1: Matching Wall - Face with NormX matching walk direction
2. Priority 2: Fillet/Arc - Face with entity class 4002 (cylindrical)
3. Priority 3: Any Unvisited - Any adjacent face not yet visited

Walk Termination Conditions

• Thickness Face - Reaches blade front/back (NormY > 0.7)
• Top Area (when i_includeTop=FALSE) - Reaches fillet/floor above midZ
• No Unvisited Neighbors - All adjacent faces already visited
• Wrong Extent (single-sided modes) - Reaches opposite side of blade

Face Classification Logic

'*** Face Classification by Normal Direction
if abs( w_faceNormX ) > 0.7 then
   '*** Wall face (left or right facing)
   if w_faceNormX < -0.7 then
      '*** Left-facing wall
   else
      '*** Right-facing wall
   end if
else if w_faceNormZ < -0.7 then
   '*** Downward-facing = Floor or Top surface
   if w_faceZ < w_midZ then
      '*** Interior floor
   else
      '*** Top face
   end if
else if w_faceNormZ > 0.7 then
   '*** Upward-facing = Base face
else if abs( w_faceNormY ) > 0.7 then
   '*** Thickness face (front/back of blade)
end if

9. Troubleshooting & Known Limitations

Common Issues

10. Testing Procedures

Test Macro

call fxTestBladeEdgeModes i_bladeBody

Runs all 14 modes sequentially with visual verification pauses.

Verification Checklist

• ☐ Mode 1-4 (inside): Only pocket surfaces selected
• ☐ Mode 5-7 (outside): Only exterior walls/base selected
• ☐ Mode 8-9 (top): Individual top faces selected
• ☐ Mode 10: All exterior + base selected
• ☐ Mode 11: Exterior walls WITHOUT base (key test)
• ☐ Mode 12: All except top Z faces
• ☐ Mode 13: Everything including base (cyan)
• ☐ Mode 14: Everything except base (new)

Test Blade Geometry

Use a U-channel blade with compound angle for comprehensive testing. Key faces to verify:

• Interior left walls
• Interior right walls
• Pocket floor (multiple levels if stepped)
• Fillets between walls and floor
• Exterior left/right walls
• Base face (upward-facing)
• Top faces (downward-facing at blade top)
• Thickness faces (front/back)