topic Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface in Inventor Forum

Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

robin_vandeneynde — Tue, 14 May 2024 08:11:44 GMT

Hi all,

I essentially would like to know if its is possible to 'stamp' a very variable surface (different extrusion spacing, heights, widths, ...) into the face of a block. I thought it would be possible to extrude the block to next face/body, but it seems to not be that easy.

I am looking to make a box (3D printer) to fit in a PCB. As you can see from the image the PCB has lots of pins and I would like to make a somewhat tight fit around these pins. I believe this entails making a floorboard (in Inventor) that has holes in these exact positions. Is this possible?

Since the pins are soldered on myself, they can be a bit tilted and on a different height as I have in the CAD file. Can I also have this floorboard with holes that go all the way through and that are slightly bigger than the pins themselves?

Thank you alot!!

Best,
Robin

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

kacper.suchomski — Tue, 14 May 2024 08:59:52 GMT

Do all pins have to have individual caves, or can they just be larger areas with empty space?

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

robin_vandeneynde — Tue, 14 May 2024 09:17:58 GMT

This does not have to be the case, no. Some of the pins 'grouped' in a square shaped hole, for example, is perfectly fine.

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

kacper.suchomski — Tue, 14 May 2024 09:22:00 GMT

So just sketch a few areas and extrude them to the appropriate heights.

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

robin_vandeneynde — Tue, 14 May 2024 09:45:02 GMT

Thank you!

Indeed this is an option, but I am not sure if my methodology is correct. I tried to do this in the following way:
1. I have the PCB and the custom block overlaid (without holes) in an assembly.
2. I draw squares where I want them to be (negatively) extruded.
3. I remove the PCB and keep this block with holes. This I can now export as a step file.

Does it matter that it is an .iam and not an .ipt (part)?

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

NigelHay — Tue, 14 May 2024 09:52:47 GMT

You could just improve your soldering skills😀

If you have a CAD file of the PCB, you could create a block then subtract the shape of the PCB & use extrusions to open up the areas around the pins.

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

robin_vandeneynde — Tue, 14 May 2024 10:08:44 GMT

Hi Nigel,

Working on the soldering 😉

How do you do this 'subtraction'?

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

NigelHay — Tue, 14 May 2024 10:26:01 GMT

Have a look at the video here.

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

robin_vandeneynde — Tue, 14 May 2024 10:46:47 GMT

Great, thanks!

A final question then. You talk about extrusions to open up the area around the pins; do you mean manually sketching and then extruding? Or is there a 'smart' way.

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

NigelHay — Tue, 14 May 2024 10:49:44 GMT

No, I'm not that smart.

I would just sketch & extrude, then you can group pins as you see fit.

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

SBix26 — Wed, 15 May 2024 01:02:46 GMT

Another method is to derive the PCB as a composite surface into a new part file, then design the box around it in that file. You can reference various edges and faces of the PCB within that file so as to create the cavities you want.

If you can post your PCB file, or something similar, I or someone else can show you how that works.

Sam B

Inventor Pro 2025 | Windows 11 Home 23H2

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

robin_vandeneynde — Wed, 15 May 2024 06:35:33 GMT

Hey Sam,

It would be great if you could show it with a short movie!
I attached a PCB (not mine) so you can use it as an example.

Thanks a lot!

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

SBix26 — Wed, 15 May 2024 14:28:39 GMT

The part file you attached is Inventor 2017 version-- is that the version of Inventor that you're using?

Sam B

Inventor Pro 2025 | Windows 11 Home 23H2

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

robin_vandeneynde — Tue, 28 May 2024 06:59:36 GMT

Hi Sam,

Sorry for the delayed response. The PC where I send you the file from has a 2017 version. However, I also use the 2024 version.

Re: Making a box for a PCB: Extrude/stamp a block following the target surface

SBix26 — Thu, 30 May 2024 02:29:10 GMT

Here are two files for you, both Inventor 2024 format. One is just the PCB with the two components repaired which were surfaces, not solid bodies. The other is the beginnings of the design of a box for it, in which I first derived the PCB as surfaces, then constructed two separate solid bodies around it. It is by no means complete, but you can go through it and figure out what I did so far.

Derived Part dialog:

Partially completed box design with the Derived Part feature highlighted:

At any point in the process, you can use Make Components to derive these solid bodies into separate parts and place them into an assembly, in which you also place the PCB, along with fasteners and other components. The parts are defined in the master model, and that's where you make changes as you refine your design, then update the assembly to see the results.

Hope that gives you some ideas.

Sam B

Inventor Pro 2025.0.1 | Windows 11 Home 23H2