Where is there a tutorial or information on creating Foam Inserts?

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to create a foam layout for some parts to fit nicely in a pelican case. I've created a 3D layout of my tools in AutoCAD mechanical but I found out thats not the type of drawing I want to send off to the manufacturer to be used as a reference for cutting out the foam inserts. The picture below is what I have now.

The type of drawing I want to create has been done before in AutoCAD as depicted in the following picture. This is exactly what I want to do but I'm having a very hard time finding tutorials on this. Here is the link where I found this picture.

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-general-discussion/cutting-foam-layout-in-several-layers/td-p...

I appreciate any help you might have for me

Thanks,

Shane

[steve216586]

I believe you need the "negative" of your parts.

1. Create the Pelican case as a solid with a case and the lid as two separate parts with thickness.

2. Create two foam forms as two other solids which fit inside the case and lid and join together at the faces where the lid and case meet.

3. Copy your parts twice and place one copy inside the case where you want. Place the second copy in the lid where they would naturally occur while sitting in the case. 

4. Use the 3D command SUBTRACT to remove the space the parts occupy from the foam. 

[Anonymous]

This is very helpful. My friend was doing them in solid works and I was just having a hard time figuring out how to do it in AutoCAD. Thanks for your quick reply.