topic Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length in Inventor Programming Forum

sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 15:44:28 GMT

Is there anyway to return this value using Ilogic or other non manual method? I can do it manually with the measure tool but ideally would like it to appear in the BOM.

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

WCrihfield — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 17:16:09 GMT

To clarify...you are wanting the total perimeter length of the outside edges of the flat pattern, right? (not including any interior holes or cutouts?)

The Flat Pattern Width, Flat Pattern Length, and Flat Pattern Area (items 44,45, & 46) are all available in the iProperties, under the "Design Tracking Properties" set. But I don't think there is a pre-existing iProperty for the Perimeter.

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 17:33:19 GMT

Hi. No, all internal profiles also.

When you flat pattern a part and select measure, when you then click the
face it gives a Total Loop Length. It's this I want to read.

Thanks

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

WCrihfield — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 18:16:05 GMT

Here's some iLogic code you can use. In the MsgBox, I'm dividing by 2.54 to convert centimeters to inches.

To just get the Perimeter, you can change the loop, to simply checking if the oEdgeLoop.IsOuterEdgeLoop, then use that one in your MsgBox. You could also put checks at the top to check DocumentTypeEnum and SubType, if you wanted.

Dim oSMDoc As PartDocument = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument Dim oSMDef As SheetMetalComponentDefinition = oSMDoc.ComponentDefinition If oSMDef.HasFlatPattern = False Then MsgBox("There is no Flat Pattern yet.", vbOKOnly, "NO FLAT PATTERN") Return End If Dim oTopFace As Face = oSMDef.FlatPattern.TopFace Dim oMeasureTools As MeasureTools = ThisApplication.MeasureTools Dim oLoopLength As Double = 0 For Each oEdgeLoop As EdgeLoop In oTopFace.EdgeLoops oLoopLength = oLoopLength + oMeasureTools.GetLoopLength(oEdgeLoop) Next MsgBox("Loop Length = " & oLoopLength/2.54)

I hope this helps.
If this solves your problem, or answers your questions, please click 'Accept As Solution".
Or, if this helps you reach your goal, please click 'LIKES" 👍.

Also, if you're interested, here are a few of the 'Ideas' I'd like to get implemented.
If you agree with any of them, please vote for them.

Add more capabilities to the 'Customize' dialog box (exe. Add Tab & Add Panel) Click Here
MessageBox, InputBox, and InputListBox Size & Format Options Click Here
Constrain & Dimension Images In Assembly Sketches & Drawing Sketches (TitleBlocks & SketchedSymbols) Click Here
Save Section View Status In DesignViewRepresentation (So It Can Be Used In The Drawing) Click Here
Add SolidBodies Folder In iLogic Rule Editor Model Tab Click Here
Convert All Views To Raster Before Autosave Stores To 'OldVersions' Folder Click Here
SetDesignViewRepresentation - Fix limitations for DrawingView of a Part Click Here
Create DocumentSubTypeEnum Click Here

Inventor 2020 Help | Inventor Forum | Inventor Customization Forum | Inventor Ideas Forum

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

k14348 — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 18:38:54 GMT

Hi,

Hope this will work.

Sub LoopLength() Dim oDoc As PartDocument Set oDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument Dim oCmpDef As SheetMetalComponentDefinition Set oCmpDef = oDoc.ComponentDefinition Dim oFp As FlatPattern Set oFp = oCmpDef.FlatPattern Dim oBf As Face Set oBf = oFp.BaseFace Dim i As Integer Dim Result As Single Result = 0 For i = 1 To oBf.EdgeLoops.Count Dim oEl As EdgeLoop Set oEl = oBf.EdgeLoops.Item(i) Result = (ThisApplication.MeasureTools.GetLoopLength(oEl) * 10) + Result Next MsgBox (Result) Dim textValue As Single textValue = Result Dim oName As String oName = "LoopLength" Dim oCProp As PropertySet Set oCProp = oDoc.PropertySets.Item("Inventor User Defined Properties") Dim oProp As Property Set oProp = oCProp.Add(textValue, oName) End Sub

-Karth

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 08:35:54 GMT

Hi, the below works really well adapting it to write to Custom Iproperties. Is there a way to drive this from assembly level so I don't have to manually add a rule to each part?

Dim oSMDoc As PartDocument = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
Dim oSMDef As SheetMetalComponentDefinition = oSMDoc.ComponentDefinition
If oSMDef.HasFlatPattern = False Then
MsgBox("There is no Flat Pattern yet.", vbOKOnly, "NO FLAT PATTERN")
Return
End If
Dim oTopFace As Face = oSMDef.FlatPattern.TopFace
Dim oMeasureTools As MeasureTools = ThisApplication.MeasureTools
Dim oLoopLength As Double = 0
For Each oEdgeLoop As EdgeLoop In oTopFace.EdgeLoops
oLoopLength = oLoopLength + oMeasureTools.GetLoopLength(oEdgeLoop)
Next

iProperties.Value("Custom", "TOTAL_LOOP_LENGTH") = Round(oLoopLength*10)

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

k14348 — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 09:05:21 GMT

Sub Assyupdate()

Dim openDoc As AssemblyDocument
Set openDoc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
Dim doc As PartDocument
For Each doc In openDoc.AllReferencedDocuments
If doc.SubType = "{9C464203-9BAE-11D3-8BAD-0060B0CE6BB4}" Then

Dim oCmpDef As SheetMetalComponentDefinition
Set oCmpDef = doc.ComponentDefinition

Dim oFp As FlatPattern
Set oFp = oCmpDef.FlatPattern

Dim oBf As Face
Set oBf = oFp.BaseFace

Dim i As Integer
Dim Result As Single
Result = 0
For i = 1 To oBf.EdgeLoops.Count

Dim oEl As EdgeLoop
Set oEl = oBf.EdgeLoops.Item(i)

Result = (ThisApplication.MeasureTools.GetLoopLength(oEl) * 10) + Result
Next

Dim textValue As Single
textValue = Result
Dim oName As String
oName = "LoopLength"

Dim oCProp As PropertySet
Set oCProp = doc.PropertySets.Item("Inventor User Defined Properties")

Dim oProp As Property
Set oProp = oCProp.Add(textValue, oName)
End If
Next

End Sub

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 09:13:25 GMT

Hi, thanks but I'm getting the following error message:

Error in rule program format:

All other sub's or functions must be after Sub Main()

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

WCrihfield — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 11:02:48 GMT

Try this.

Dim oADoc As AssemblyDocument = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument Dim oSMDoc As PartDocument Dim oSMDef As SheetMetalComponentDefinition Dim oTopFace As Face Dim oMeasureTools As MeasureTools = ThisApplication.MeasureTools Dim oLoopLength As Double Dim oEdgeLoop As EdgeLoop Dim oCustPropSet As PropertySet Dim oProp As [Property] Dim oPropName As String = "TOTAL_LOOP_LENGTH" Dim oPropValue As Double Dim oExists As Boolean = False For Each oRefDoc As Document In oADoc.AllReferencedDocuments If oRefDoc.DocumentType = DocumentTypeEnum.kPartDocumentObject Then If oRefDoc.PropertySets.Item("Design Tracking Properties").Item("Document SubType Name").Value = "Autodesk Inventor Sheet Metal Part" Then oSMDoc = oRefDoc oSMDef = oSMDoc.ComponentDefinition If oSMDef.HasFlatPattern = False Then MsgBox("There is no Flat Pattern yet.", vbOKOnly, "NO FLAT PATTERN") Return End If oTopFace = oSMDef.FlatPattern.TopFace oLoopLength = 0 For Each oEdgeLoop In oTopFace.EdgeLoops oLoopLength = oLoopLength + oMeasureTools.GetLoopLength(oEdgeLoop) Next oPropValue = Round(oLoopLength * 10) oCustPropSet = oSMDoc.PropertySets.Item("Inventor User Defined Properties") For Each oProp In oCustPropSet If oProp.Name = oPropName Then oExists = True oProp.Value = oPropValue End If Next If oExists = False Then oCustPropSet.Add(oPropValue, oPropName) End If End If End If Next

I hope this helps.
If this solves your problem, or answers your questions, please click 'Accept As Solution".
Or, if this helps you reach your goal, please click 'LIKES" 👍.

Also, if you're interested, here are a few of the 'Ideas' I'd like to get implemented.
If you agree with any of them, please vote for them.

Add more capabilities to the 'Customize' dialog box (exe. Add Tab & Add Panel) Click Here
MessageBox, InputBox, and InputListBox Size & Format Options Click Here
Constrain & Dimension Images In Assembly Sketches & Drawing Sketches (TitleBlocks & SketchedSymbols) Click Here
Save Section View Status In DesignViewRepresentation (So It Can Be Used In The Drawing) Click Here
Add SolidBodies Folder In iLogic Rule Editor Model Tab Click Here
Convert All Views To Raster Before Autosave Stores To 'OldVersions' Folder Click Here
SetDesignViewRepresentation - Fix limitations for DrawingView of a Part Click Here
Create DocumentSubTypeEnum Click Here

Inventor 2020 Help | Inventor Forum | Inventor Customization Forum | Inventor Ideas Forum

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 10:05:37 GMT

Sorry no can't get this to work. Rule runs with no errors but nothing is written to any sheet metal parts.

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 10:12:44 GMT

A message box placed below this line doesn't appear when the rule is run but does when placed above.

If oRefDoc.PropertySets.Item("Design Tracking Properties").Item("Document SubType Name").Value = "Autodesk Inventor Sheet Metal Part" Then

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

JhoelForshav — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 10:35:34 GMT

@Anonymous

try changing it to:

If oRefDoc.PropertySets.Item("Design Tracking Properties").Item("Document SubType Name").Value = "Sheet Metal" Then

If oRefDoc.DocumentSubType.DocumentSubTypeID = "{9C464203-9BAE-11D3-8BAD-0060B0CE6BB4}" Then

That should work 🙂

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 11:29:09 GMT

Hi ,

The first suggestion works thanks.

However, if there is a sheet metal part without a flat pattern then the process fails and ideally id like it to then flat pattern the relevant part and continue instead of returning a message.

If oSMDef.HasFlatPattern = False Then
MsgBox("There is no Flat Pattern yet.", vbOKOnly, "NO FLAT PATTERN")
Return
End If

I have the below but not sure how to incorporate it into your rule?

If oCompDef.HasFlatPattern = False Then
oCompDef.Unfold
oDoc.Save
oDoc.Close
End If

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

JhoelForshav — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 11:47:46 GMT

Hi @Anonymous

Try this 🙂

I also turned off screen updating in the application while unfolding the part so you dont have to see it open the part and unfold it. Also reactivated the assembly document after.

Dim oADoc As AssemblyDocument = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
Dim oSMDoc As PartDocument
Dim oSMDef As SheetMetalComponentDefinition
Dim oTopFace As Face
Dim oMeasureTools As MeasureTools = ThisApplication.MeasureTools
Dim oLoopLength As Double
Dim oEdgeLoop As EdgeLoop
Dim oCustPropSet As PropertySet
Dim oProp As [Property]
Dim oPropName As String = "TOTAL_LOOP_LENGTH"
Dim oPropValue As Double
Dim oExists As Boolean = False

For Each oRefDoc As Document In oADoc.AllReferencedDocuments
	If oRefDoc.DocumentType = DocumentTypeEnum.kPartDocumentObject Then
		If oRefDoc.PropertySets.Item("Design Tracking Properties").Item("Document SubType Name").Value = "Sheet Metal" Then
			oSMDoc = oRefDoc
			oSMDef = oSMDoc.ComponentDefinition
			If oSMDef.HasFlatPattern = False Then
				Try
					ThisApplication.ScreenUpdating = False
					oSMDef.Unfold
					ThisApplication.ScreenUpdating = True
				Catch
					ThisApplication.ScreenUpdating = True
				End Try
				ThisDoc.Document.Activate
			End If
			oTopFace = oSMDef.FlatPattern.TopFace
			oLoopLength = 0
			For Each oEdgeLoop In oTopFace.EdgeLoops
				oLoopLength = oLoopLength + oMeasureTools.GetLoopLength(oEdgeLoop)
			Next
			oPropValue = Round(oLoopLength * 10)
			oCustPropSet = oSMDoc.PropertySets.Item("Inventor User Defined Properties")
			For Each oProp In oCustPropSet
				If oProp.Name = oPropName Then
					oExists = True
					oProp.Value = oPropValue
				End If
			Next
			If oExists = False Then
				oCustPropSet.Add(oPropValue, oPropName)
			End If
		End If
	End If
Next
iLogicVb.UpdateWhenDone = True

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

JhoelForshav — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 12:12:06 GMT

This is better. Doesnt leave the document that we had to unfold open...

Dim oADoc As AssemblyDocument = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
Dim oSMDoc As PartDocument
Dim oSMDef As SheetMetalComponentDefinition
Dim oTopFace As Face
Dim oMeasureTools As MeasureTools = ThisApplication.MeasureTools
Dim oLoopLength As Double
Dim oEdgeLoop As EdgeLoop
Dim oCustPropSet As PropertySet
Dim oProp As [Property]
Dim oPropName As String = "TOTAL_LOOP_LENGTH"
Dim oPropValue As Double
Dim oExists As Boolean = False

For Each oRefDoc As Document In oADoc.AllReferencedDocuments
	If oRefDoc.DocumentType = DocumentTypeEnum.kPartDocumentObject Then
		If oRefDoc.PropertySets.Item("Design Tracking Properties").Item("Document SubType Name").Value = "Sheet Metal" Then
			oSMDoc = oRefDoc
			oSMDef = oSMDoc.ComponentDefinition
			If oSMDef.HasFlatPattern = False Then
				Try
					ThisApplication.ScreenUpdating = False
					oSMDef.Unfold
					cDef = ThisApplication.CommandManager.ControlDefinitions.Item("PartSwitchRepresentationCmd")
					cDef.Execute
					ThisApplication.ScreenUpdating = True
				Catch
					ThisApplication.ScreenUpdating = True
				End Try
				ThisDoc.Document.Activate
				oSMDoc.Close
			End If
			oTopFace = oSMDef.FlatPattern.TopFace
			oLoopLength = 0
			For Each oEdgeLoop In oTopFace.EdgeLoops
				oLoopLength = oLoopLength + oMeasureTools.GetLoopLength(oEdgeLoop)
			Next
			oPropValue = Round(oLoopLength * 10)
			oCustPropSet = oSMDoc.PropertySets.Item("Inventor User Defined Properties")
			For Each oProp In oCustPropSet
				If oProp.Name = oPropName Then
					oExists = True
					oProp.Value = oPropValue
				End If
			Next
			If oExists = False Then
				oCustPropSet.Add(oPropValue, oPropName)
			End If
		End If
	End If
Next
iLogicVb.UpdateWhenDone = True

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

Donna_Fleming — Fri, 21 May 2021 22:43:25 GMT

Sorry. I meant to reply to Jhoel Forshav.

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

Donna_Fleming — Fri, 21 May 2021 22:42:36 GMT

I know it's been a year, but thank you for providing this code. It gets me a long way to where we need to be. We are asked to provide the total cutting inches required for the assembly. Would you be willing to add to this code so it totals the loop lengths for each piece to create a custom property in the assembly?

Re: sheet metal flat pattern total loop length

Donna_Fleming — Tue, 25 May 2021 17:13:33 GMT

I found some code by Curtis W. in another forum that worked for me to get a total of all the values created by the code @JhoelForshav wrote. This is my complete rule combining the code of these two fine gentlemen:

Dim oADoc As AssemblyDocument = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
Dim oSMDoc As PartDocument
Dim oSMDef As SheetMetalComponentDefinition
Dim oTopFace As Face
Dim oMeasureTools As MeasureTools = ThisApplication.MeasureTools
Dim oLoopLength As Double
Dim oEdgeLoop As EdgeLoop
Dim oCustPropSet As PropertySet
Dim oProp As [Property]
Dim oPropName As String = "LOOP_LENGTH"
Dim oPropValue As Double
Dim oExists As Boolean = False

For Each oRefDoc As Document In oADoc.AllReferencedDocuments
	If oRefDoc.DocumentType = DocumentTypeEnum.kPartDocumentObject Then
		If oRefDoc.PropertySets.Item("Design Tracking Properties").Item("Document SubType Name").Value = "Sheet Metal" Then
			oSMDoc = oRefDoc
			oSMDef = oSMDoc.ComponentDefinition
			If oSMDef.HasFlatPattern = False Then
				Try
					ThisApplication.ScreenUpdating = False
					oSMDef.Unfold
					cDef = ThisApplication.CommandManager.ControlDefinitions.Item("PartSwitchRepresentationCmd")
					cDef.Execute
					ThisApplication.ScreenUpdating = True
				Catch
					ThisApplication.ScreenUpdating = True
				End Try
				ThisDoc.Document.Activate
				oSMDoc.Close
			End If
			oTopFace = oSMDef.FlatPattern.TopFace
			oLoopLength = 0
			For Each oEdgeLoop In oTopFace.EdgeLoops
				oLoopLength = oLoopLength + oMeasureTools.GetLoopLength(oEdgeLoop)
			Next
			oPropValue = oLoopLength/2.54
			oCustPropSet = oSMDoc.PropertySets.Item("Inventor User Defined Properties")
			For Each oProp In oCustPropSet
				If oProp.Name = oPropName Then
					oExists = True
					oProp.Value = oPropValue
				End If
			Next
			If oExists = False Then
				oCustPropSet.Add(oPropValue, oPropName)
			End If
		End If
	End If
Next
iLogicVb.UpdateWhenDone = True
'clear the custom property in the assembly 
iProperties.Value("Custom", "TOTAL_LOOP_LENGTH") = 0
'set a reference to the assembly component definintion.
'This assumes an assembly document is open.
Dim oAsmCompDef As AssemblyComponentDefinition
oAsmCompDef = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument.ComponentDefinition
'Iterate through all of the occurrences
Dim oOccurrence As ComponentOccurrence
For Each oOccurrence In oAsmCompDef.Occurrences
'check for and skip virtual components
'(in case a virtual component trips things up)
If Not TypeOf oOccurrence.Definition Is VirtualComponentDefinition Then
'custom property in the assembly 
xNumber = iProperties.Value("Custom", "TOTAL_LOOP_LENGTH") 
'custom property in the parts
yNumber = iProperties.Value(oOccurrence.Name, "Custom", "LOOP_LENGTH")
sumNumber = xNumber + yNumber
'set custom property values
iProperties.Value("Custom", "TOTAL_LOOP_LENGTH") = sumNumber 
Else
End If
Next

It works for me. If you have problems with it, I am sorry but my skills are not good enough
to solve your issue. I'm pretty much just a borrower of code at this stage and rely heavily
 on gracious people who share their skills.