Inventor punch tools

[swordmaster]

Guys,

We predominately plasma cut our  flat pattern sheetmetal parts .

So I would have a folded sheetmetal part modeled as a face with flanges added. Then add cutouts to the folded part . Final step is create the flat pattern and a drawing. 

I now have a requirement to use a punch machine for the cut outs in the flat pattern.

Goal is to add a identifier for the punch tool  used  and export this identifierAND the X,Y coordinates of the punch tool from a origin point on the flat pattern. This information needs to be written to a txt file.

I should add this is all without producing a drawing.

So my initial questions are:

Are Inventor punch tools the way to go to achieve this?

Can i export the coordinates of the punch from the Inventor model to a text file?

How to set the origin point for the XY coordinates?

How to control the orientation of the flat pattern

Any help and/or recommendations on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated

thanks in advance

[CCarreiras]

HI!

1. Are Inventor punch tools the way to go to achieve this?
2. Can i export the coordinates of the punch from the Inventor model to a text file?
3. How to set the origin point for the XY coordinates?
4. How to control the orientation of the flat pattern

2. Yes, you can see in the image one txt file with punch coordinates. (export the table values)

3. Yes, in the drawing you can create a table with "Hole by selection" and select all the punch marks. Also you have to chose one base point.

4 yes, you can control the orientation of the flat pattenr editing the 3D in "Flat pattern" mode. Use "Edit Flat pattern Defenition" by RMB hover"Flat pattern" in the browser.

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[CCarreiras]

To control orientation:

Dont forget to chose "center mark only" in punch representation tab.

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[swordmaster]

Carlos,

Thank you for the reply, this looks very promising.

How are you accessing that text file for the hole table? Looks like you are using a later version of Inventor than me. I am on 2009

[CCarreiras]

HI!

Select the table, and RMB it:

I'm using 2014, but I believe your version as it...

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[swordmaster]

Hi Carlos,

Yes i found the export option right after i posted the question!

I am going to look at writing a external ilogic rule to export the information to a text file, that way i can configure the information in the format i need

thanks