Inventor 2012 Sheet metal

[mmistry]

having trouble creating dimples using punch I created in the 0.005" sheet metal.  the punch is 90° to the plate?  can anybody help?

[JDMather]

Seems like this has been covered here very recently?

The key to a Punch feature like this is to get a workplane perpendicular to the placement plane.

The way I start out is with a sketch circle placed at a sketch point (the first sketch has to have the sketch point.
Then I create a line bisecting the circle.

Add a coincident constraint at the midpoint to the sketch point.
Exit sketch.
Now you have the needed geometry to create the perpendicular workplane - simply click the sketch point and the sketch line.

Use that dependent child workplane to create all geometry for the Punch tool.

I'll try to post an example on Monday - meantime a search back a week or three should turn up links to a tutorial (I think by Curtis, I do mine slightly different).

[JDMather]

I want to emphasize - only the first sketch of the Punch should be on the face of the part - all other geometry should be totally dependent on this first sketch rather than dependent on the part face for really robust punch tools.  That way when placing - there is only one placement reference (other than the sketch centerpoint) the face of the part.  When authoring if it indicates multiple references will be needed - there might be a better way to create the punch.

[mmistry]

thank you I will try it out.

[JDMather]

Here is a start -

Note: if you have AutoProject Origin turned on (you should) - delete the projected origin as you don't want that in a punch sketch.

Note: that the line in the circle does not have a horizontal or vertical constraint and that the Workplane is only dependent on the sketch line and the sketch point - it is not dependent on any other part geometry.

[mmistry]

I have tired to create the shape I require but cannot create a punch feature from it, please see attached.  I am doing somthing wrong, please advise.  I have seen the tutorial on sheet metal by Daryl Corelli but his punches are for louvers.