program flat parts in cam

[Anonymous]

I am very frustrated with the inability to make a layout of various flat parts on a sheet, program and cut in the cam interface. The best we can do is unfold parts temporarily and save them as a copy. I don't think the K factor is figured properly for this. Also you cannot do any programming on an unfolded part without first exiting the unfold configuration of the part.  The same goes for the flat pattern. The software assumes that the only thing one would want to do is send to a laser or something ( I honestly don't know what we are expected to do with our flat patterns, if we cannot save them or utilize them in the cam interface.

We do a lot of plastic fabrication and we are constantly using sheet metal design function to create heat bent plastic parts. We then flatten and cut on our cnc routers. There is no good way to get a flat pattern instance of the part that can be layed-out on a sheet and programmed in the cam interface. Why not?

[daniel_lyall]

You cant do nesting yet and yes it's very much needed. you have to do it by hand

You can toolpath a sheetmetal part in the Cam work spaces you have to turn the flat pattern on to do it.

You can also put out a dxf of the flat pattern that's correct when you turn the flat pattern on.

[JYZMT]

A similar thing would be useful for arranging any parts for CNC. Currently I'm using nester add-inn for assemblies with loads of components, like a staircase (or manually making a planar joint with stock material) to layout flat parts before going to CAM workspace. But, this involves making a instance of the built up Assembly then, laying out in model space.

Really what is needed is a flat part layout workspace, not dissimilar to the animation space, where you can arrange the parts for CAM, while the model remains assembled in the model workspace.

If I'm missing a trick here, can some one let me know? Thanks

(and in this flat layout workspace, would be a good point to add the dog bone fillets, and dare I say even automatically nest the parts efficiently)

[daniel_lyall]

@JYZMT Thats called nesting, it's comeing

[JYZMT]

When? any idea?

 Thanks