topic Re: Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing in Inventor Forum

Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 19:36:31 GMT

Hey guys,

We are primarly a stainless sheet metal shop that works with 99% polished material and I would like to use the A-Side definition to illustrate in the drawing file what side is the "pretty" (polished) side. WE commonly bend the part the wrong direction and put the polished side on the wrong side. Any ideas on how to use the new A-Side definition? It would be nice if I could find some way to pass the a-side parameter as a custom property and add it to my bend note so that it would say something like:

BEND 90 Deg UP R 0.25

PAPER DOWN

The PAPER DOWN would be the <ASIDE DEF PARAMETER>

Any ideas on how to get that parameter from the sheet metal .ipt template file?

Thanks in advance!!

Ben

Re: Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing

Hochenauer — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 14:23:31 GMT

Hi Ben,

the A-Side defines the coordinate system for the flat pattern itself. The A-Side Faces will have a normal pointing to positive Z.

In drawings, we currently do not have a way to call out the A-Side of the FP. The default camera view should get you to look at the A-Side.

Some of our users have come up with a system to use a cosmetic punch tool, that just modifies the top face slightly so it is shown in drawings. They also use such a tool to designate grain direction, or in your case polish direction to feed to their nesting solution.

Ideally we would offer such a symbol natively in Inventor, so it is clear which way to bend when looking at a drawing - we do have plans to implement that.

Up/Down in a drawing is tricky without a reference to the model faces, as the camera view can be both ways. It should be in relation to the A-Side as you also describe. For a bend Note the Up bend direction in a drawing view should be independent from the camera view, it is always towards the A-Side (is that your "paper Up" side? - meaning the re is a foil attached to the sheet?).

What version of Inventor are you using? I do remember an issue with the bend table directions in a previous release.

I am forwarding your question to Dan Szymanski and Johnson Shuie, who are part of the Inventor Sheetmetal planning and QA team.

Kind regards,

Gerald

Re: Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 07:02:18 GMT

HI ALL ,

I AM NEWBIE HERE , I HAVE ONE DOUBT , I HAVE TWO DIFFERENT C CHANNEL PROFILE IN SINGLE PART CREATED BY USING CONTOUR FLANGE FEATURE AND I WANT TO CREATE A FLAT PATTERN OF BOTH THE CHANNELS , IS IT POSSIBLE .....?

IF SO,PLEASE GUIDE ME , THANKS IN ADVANCE.

PLEASE THE ATTACH PDF FOR MORE INFORMATION.

MACK

Re: Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing

johnsonshiue — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 08:23:56 GMT

Hi! Mack,

Based on the image you attached, it looks like the two channels are two separate lumps. On Inventor 2015 and earlier, only one solid body is allowed within a sheet metal part. What you can do is to derive the part as a new sheet metal part. Make sure the thickness is set consistently. Then use Delete Face -> Lump selection -> to remove one disjoint lump within the derived body. You can make a flat pattern in the derived part. Repeat the process for the other lump.

Starting from 2016, two solid bodies are allowed. However, flat pattern cannot be created within a multi-solid body sheet metal part. You will need to use Make Components command to push each solid out as an individual part. Then create flat pattern within the pushed (derived) part.

BTW, please refrain from typing in all caps. This is a professional forum. People here should be treated professionally. "All caps" is considered offensive. I don't think you would write an email this way.

Many thanks!

Re: Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 11:58:28 GMT

many thanks for your prompt response , it would be highly appreciable if
you attach a video showing how you gonna develop it into flat pattern.

Re: Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 18:25:33 GMT

Thanks for the response Gerald. Yes I figured it would be in upcoming releases. I am running 2019 Pro. Yes the "paper-up" annotation would be the side with the foil or protective film or what I would define as the a-side in the model.

Do you have any links to the cosmetic punch tool idea you mentioned? That is really interesting to me. Especially if it would list grain direction.

Thanks again!

Ben

Re: Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing

liminma8458 — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 04:32:34 GMT

Hi, Johnson, I am curious what function A-Side is?

1. what is the purpose of A-side normally for sheet metal? can I use A-side to trace a face in sheet metal?

2. does A-side only work with flat pattern of sheet panel?

3. where is the button in ribbon to define A-side? Do you have a file or video to show how to do it?

Re: Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing

IgorMir — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 06:15:07 GMT

A simple leader text in the drawing should sort it out. Works for me perfectly for years anyway.

Cheers,

Igor.

Re: Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing

JDMather — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 12:42:01 GMT

@liminma8458 wrote:

3. where is the button in ribbon to define A-side?

You have to been in a Sheet Metal part...

Inventor 2024 Help | To Work with Flat Pattern in Sheet Metal | Autodesk

@liminma8458 wrote:

1. ...can I use A-side to trace a face in sheet metal?

@liminma8458

Can you Attach your *.ipt file here. Perhaps the actual geometry will illustrate your issue.

Do you have a picture of something similar that already exists in the real world?

Re: Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing

johnsonshiue — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 22:27:55 GMT

Hi Limin,

The A-Side command is enabled when the Flat Pattern is not yet created. Once it has been created, A-Side command is disabled. With A-Side definition, Inventor can persist the side of faces in a flat pattern to look at. There are a few limitations though. Once the A-Side is defined, it cannot be redefined. You will need to delete it and recreate it. The same is true to the Flat Pattern based on the A-Side.

Many thanks!

Re: Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing

liminma8458 — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 01:09:30 GMT

Thank everyone so much. Now I understand it!

Re: Inventor A-side Definition in a drawing

sof_olgn — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:06:51 GMT

How can I check whether a STEP file has an A-side defined?