Extrude sheet metal face in both directions

[ccamara01]

As the subject states, it would be great to be able to extrude a sheet metal face in both directions, so that one of the origin planes can be centered in the part.

I did a quick search and did not see this "idea" posted.  If it already has been, I apologize.

Curtis

[guido_66]

Currently, the only option is to the front or the back of the sketch plane. Whenever I need the face to be symmetrical to the sketch plane, I have to use a workaround (extrude symmetric with the distance set to "Thickness")

[mrattray]

I would like to see a mid plane option added to the face feature in the sheet metal environment. Right now you're forced to have the origin plane on one of the faces of the part, which makes centering a part along it's thickness rather non-parametric.

In fact, I may go a step further and suggest that the first feature of every part should default to mid plane. This would encourage proper use of the origin planes in general.

The current face feature dialog doesn't even resemble other, similar dialogs:

This is annoying, error prone, and non-parametric:

[guido_66]

This idea was already posted by me:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Inventor-IdeaStation/create-sheet-metal-face-symmetrical-to-both-sides...

As a workaround I avoid the use of the face command, and use extrude with the distance set to "Thickness"

[mrattray]

I looked for it already posted somewhere, but didn't find it. I just gave yours a kudos.

[kenjacques8585]

For this type of feature I normally create a line in a sketch with projected geometries and dims controlling the line. Then I create the work feature off of the sketch (not necessarily always a straight line). I later turn visibility of the sketch off. I find it easier to find and select a sketch in browser and change parameters than right clicking random geometry, perusing through pulldowns, and trying to trace how I made it in the past. You may even consider extruding the line as a surface instead...

[dan_szymanski]

Hello Guido66,

Even though your Idea was authored before mrattray's I am going to use his as the Master Idea as it currently has 45 kudos & has some really nice imagry attached.  Typically I use the author date to determine which Idea is the Master but these reasons were compelling enough to do otherwise.  If you subscribe to the other Idea you should get notified when others comment on it or when it's status changes.  Likewise please be sure to cast your kudo to the other Idea as to not split the votes.  Thanks for understanding.  -Dan

Master Idea

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideastation/add-mid-plane-option-to-face-feature/idi-p/434151...

[stuartmp]

Please, Please add this. Its a real pain without it.

However there is no point adding it unless you add the ability to be able to create holes features from a mid-plane.

[DecRa_Design]

Hello,

Would it not be possible to add a extra option in the sheetmetal => face => offset?

Now you have the option to choose from one side or the other side. It would be very easy to have the option both sides.

Now when you use the derive option you always have to create a workplane with a offest of thickness/2.

Friendly regards

Randy Decloedt

[brendan.henderson]

I'd really, really like to see the Face command in a Sheet metal part to have a Symmetric option (and possibly Asymmetric) so that the Face extends either side of the plane. When assembling this part I could use the plane to centre the part on the assy instead of having to measure the part thickness and constrain it based on half the thickness. Would save a lot of time (and frustration) as changing the part thickness then means I need to manually update the assembly constraint. Grrrr....

[r_lehmann79]

Hello Brendan

good idea - Kudo!

I've posted a similar case regarding Contour Flanges a few days ago:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideastation/sheet-metal-contour-flanges-width-extent-asymetri...

Regards

Ralf

[Anonymous]

Autodesk really needs to add this option in the next servicepack. It should be easy as the option is already available with the "Contour Flange". This is a change that would make working with sheetmetal part so much easier!

[guido_66]

I posted this 3 years ago: http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideastation/create-sheet-metal-face-symmetrical-to-both-sides... and back then it was already classified as duplicate to this idea:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideastation/add-mid-plane-option-to-face-feature/idi-p/434151...

My workaround: use extrude instead of face and set the thickness to the sheet metal Thickness parameter

[brendan.henderson]

Thanks guido66.

I have thought about that but it breaks some rules I use for teaching others, specifically use the Sheet Metal tools for sheet metal modelling and only deviate from that in extreme circumstances. I know it works and I know it follows changes in the Sheet Metal Defaults for Thickness, it just isn't a workflow I want to use or teach.

[r_lehmann79]

Hello Dan

there is another idea regarding this theme:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideastation/sheet-metal-part-face-command-to-have-a-symmetric...

Would you please mark this also as duplicate?

For all the other guys liking this idea: Please give your Kudos there!

Thanks

Ralf

[r_lehmann79]

Hello guys

everyone who likes to have this: Please give your Kudos also to the "master-idea" posted from guido66!

Here again the link:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideastation/add-mid-plane-option-to-face-feature/idi-p/434151...

Thanks

Ralf

[DRoam]

Hi @ccamara01, there is in fact an older version of this Idea which has several Kudos (68 at the moment). You can vote for it here: Add mid plane option to face feature.

[dan_szymanski]

Accepted idea [US-136906]. Thanks!

[Wowbagger2]

YES! Please make this function! It really shouldn't be any difficulty implementing this, extrude has Symmetric (and Asymmetric..) offset already, why doesn't Face got it as well?

Is there any reason not to have this function?

Best,

Fredrik

[steve_lindley]

Agreed! When creating contour flange, there are three options for offset, (flip side for each direction and both sides). Why is this not possible with face yet?