topic Re: sketch lines as mounting aid in Inventor Forum

sketch lines as mounting aid

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 07:32:53 GMT

Our metal plates are lasered and bended by an extrenal company. The pieces are welded together in our shop. Is there a way to have graved lines (markers) on those parts that will help us position/assemble more easely/correctly.

Re: sketch lines as mounting aid

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 08:28:49 GMT

What comes to my mind.

- Sketch lines in a layer, but are there layers in STEP files or even in Inventor?

- Sketchlines extruded as very small cuts?

Re: sketch lines as mounting aid

Sergio.D.Suárez — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 09:03:08 GMT

Hello, have you tried to create a sketch in your sheet file and export to step add sketckhes?

I hope this helps

Re: sketch lines as mounting aid

Sergio.D.Suárez — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 09:15:52 GMT

If you create a sketch on the metal sheet, you will not get it on the flatpattern
As it is a part of laser cutting, its method of small extrusion is valid, but will have for example 4 cutting edges in a rectangle, you must specify in the CNC only a longitudinal edge (by default I think the program will select the loop edge).
On the other hand, if it is an assembly mark, it could make a cut in the thickness of, for example, a small semicircle in outline of the figure in a certain place, in this way the cut will be represented in the flatpattern, and will not affect the automatic configuration of your cutting program (select full contour)

Re: sketch lines as mounting aid

CadManagerMoffatNZ — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 09:25:37 GMT

Hi i see you are asking about STEP files.

Does your subcontractor use these to generate the code for laser cutting?

Could they use dxf?

If you use dxf as the export file you can add a sketch to the flat pattern.

This "unconsumed sketch" will then be available for export in the dxf export options dialogue.

You can define its color, line type and line weight.

Once you have defined a "standard" you can save the configuration for future use.

The only draw back i can see with this is that your bend table would need to match that of your subcontractor so the blank developed by inventor matches the software they use.

Re: sketch lines as mounting aid

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 09:30:36 GMT

"Include Sketches" in the STEP export options was checked by default, so no this will not solve it. I now send them a STEP with a sketch and small material removal of 0.1mm.

Re: sketch lines as mounting aid

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 09:33:51 GMT

DXF are flat patterns, right? We don't send flat patterns to external companies. They need to make them theirselves.

We just send drawings of the pieces as they should be in the end. If they want, they can have a STEP too.

Re: sketch lines as mounting aid

Sergio.D.Suárez — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 09:48:29 GMT

If you do not send the flatpattern I think the task is easier, I attach a small video. Regards!

Re: sketch lines as mounting aid

CadManagerMoffatNZ — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 10:04:26 GMT

I just tried an example step file export / import and teh sketch showed up for me.

It could be something in the import options not being ticked.

if you don't check the wires option in the import dialogue the sketch will not import.

Here is a simple step file with the sketch line showing

Re: sketch lines as mounting aid

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 13:38:17 GMT

Great. Does that radtube software comes for free?

@CadManagerMoffatNZ

If I import the STEP I just created myself, OK it works, I do see the sketch lines, but it is the external company that doesn't see it. So no good solution for me. Thanks anyway.

Re: sketch lines as mounting aid

johnsonshiue — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 21:32:59 GMT

Hi! An often overlooked workflow is called "Copy Sketch to Flat Pattern" in Folded model. Go to Folded mode and right-click on any face-based sketch -> "Copy to Flat Pattern." Then the sketch will be copied to the flat pattern.

Many thanks!