topic Part lightening or pocketing script or tool in Inventor? in Inventor Forum

Part lightening or pocketing script or tool in Inventor?

rajdude2 — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 04:59:35 GMT

With OnShape, there are a few scripts and tools available for automatically lightening (reduce weight of an object by adding pocketing also known as cutouts). You just hit a button and it automatically adds hex/circles/triangle shaped holes. It is very easy to use.

I cannot find anything similar for Inventor.

Do you know anything in inventor which can do that?

PS: Shape generator is not the same thing, although it is meant to do something similar.

Re: Part lightening or pocketing script or tool in Inventor?

James_Willo — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 07:17:51 GMT

Yes, Shape Generator is intended to do that, but you have to draw the cut outs yourself. The only other tool is to use generative design in Fusion which I assume is similar to OnShape command.

You can use the send to fusion workflow on the Fusion ribbon and then run generative design once you're in there.

Re: Part lightening or pocketing script or tool in Inventor?

James_Willo — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 07:23:23 GMT

In fact you can go direct to generative design from the Fusion ribbon.

Just be aware that all send to fusion workflows kill the feature history so you'll just get a lightweight solid afterwards, but you can still download that result and edit with Inventor. Also the geometry you send to fusion is associative, so if you update it in Inventor you can push the updates to Fusion.

Re: Part lightening or pocketing script or tool in Inventor?

rajdude2 — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 15:44:22 GMT

Hmm, thanks for your reply. I checked generative design it is not the same thing as what is available in OnShape as add on script. It looks like it will change dimensions/shapes in 3D.

My team is looking for an easy way to like add (for example) hexagonal holes or maybe a mesh type look, for making a large flat plate lighter and also look nice.

I wish there was a script or tool inside Inventor to do that easily.