Sheet Metal Issues and Bugs

[CLmoss]

I am starting a new thread that concerns possible Bugs or Issues with Fusion Sheet Metal that we find, or think we find, as we use it.  

We were going out of scope on this other thread below. 

Auto 2D Drawing dimensioning function

[daniel_lyall]

Hopefully it's near 0 with the release being done very soon, If it's just that fail to flange that's good so far, the other bug I found they new about it.

[HughesTooling]

This should be in the Preview forum.

Edit thinking about it, not sure if the release will still be a preview we have to enable.

[CLmoss]

Mark,

that is a bad idea.  Preview ends in 7 days.  

I want this thread to last awhile.  A place people can go to look for or talk about issues. 

Jim

[HughesTooling]

Maybe OK for talk but not a good idea for bug reports. Bug reports should have their own thread so they're visible, if you make a thread that has no replies it's tagged with the red arrow and support know it needs looking at. A report on page six in this thread might go unnoticed unless someone tags support to look.

Also not sure about a single thread for general discussions is a good idea what if someone thinks something not doable when it is, it'll get lots in all the other posts. Your other post on 2d dimensioning is not a general all 2d drawing thread so if someone's interested they'll read through it. If this thread turns into 10 pages of general sheetmetal I'd lose interest after 2, not the end of the world I know and someone else will help eventually just I think people will get more help if they make there own threads.

Mark

[CLmoss]

Look Mark, this can be a thread where Fusion Sheet Metal users like myself can talk about what might at some point be listed as a bug.  When a bug is discovered, then we can go list it in a new thread.  This is a place where we can chew-the-fat on what we are noticing in the function of the program.  It might rise to a bug or not.  Here is where we compare notes.  A lot of issues might be the result of poor documentation. It might be cockpit error.  I wouldn't get worked up over this.  It is just a place to explore issues we might be facing that pertain to Sheet Metal and Bugs or other issues.  A free movement of information.  What is needed for a program to be functional and adoptable is 1) the clean function, and then 2) the documentation/instructions on how to use that clean function.   When we find that there is an issue, we can post it in a thread of it's own.   Simple. 

Listen, I write software, design electronics, play music, engineer in recording studios, plan business systems, to list just a few things.  I gain a lot by having discussions with others in each of these areas.  The free flow of ideas is a good thing.  If you don't find this interesting at any point, go away and come back later.  It is only as good as it's contributors.  

Jim

[CLmoss]

So I am facing a dilemma. The shop can open the 3-D STEP file in Solidworks but they cannot convert it to Sheet Metal in Solidworks.  I am not sure about their k factor which controls the Bend Deduction and Bend Allowance.  So I, and they, want to leave it to their shop, but since they cannot do this in Solidworks, they want to use MetalSoft VS AP100 to flatten the 3-D solid to a flat metal output that they can feed into their laser cutter and bending machines.  I made them quote that they would be responsible for matching these 3-D solid STEP files.  However, if I can avoid a mess it would be much better.  I think they are using a Amada system.  

I can still convert to sheet metal then give that over to them.  It doesn't take long, but then I would need to guess at the k factor. If things don't turn out right then I will eat it. Is it always like this with sheet metal shops?  

Jim

[CLmoss]

Does anyone know how the STEP file code indicates if it is a Solid or Sheet Metal?  The programs know the difference.  It bust be a code within the file.  I should take a look.  

Jim

[TrippyLighting]

I don't think the different programs "know the difference". A STEP file in essence is really just contains dumb solids, surfaces or meshes, so no application specific data, such as feature trees, timelines, sheet metal intelligence, animations etc.

I might be possible that the one or the other application employs feature recognition algorithms that can help "detect" sheet metal features. Solid Works can do some of that. Here is a post on the SW forum that explains how this might work. I believe sometimes certain geometry has to be de-featured, e.g. fillets and chamfers removed in order for the algorithm to work properly.

[CLmoss]

I will check out the SW link. 

Have ever looked at a STEP file in text mode?   

A STEP file is a very old form of object description used 

Make a STEP file of both a solid and then of a sheet metal component.  

Then add to the end of the name .txt and open it in notepad.  

It is a simple text tile with code. 

If we look up the specs on STEP files I bet we will find a tag that indicates the object type.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_10303-21

jim

[TrippyLighting]

No I've not looked this way at a step file but a thousand other files. I my Linux C programming days I usually used some form of diff for that. On my Mac I use the filemerge utility that is part of the Xcode installation The link to the wikipedia page for the STEP file description I've posted many times here on the forum so I am familiar with it.

Whatever might there be in the specs does not seem to affect Fusion 360's STEP output. I created 2 identical pieces of geometry, one as a normally modeled BRep, the other as a sheet metal part.

I don't see any difference in the output that would indicate that one of them is a sheet metal part and the other is a BRep. Both seem to be fairly identical

I've attached the files.

Maybe your experienced coders eyes can detect an appreciable difference. Nowadays I only occasionally write embedded code so I am a bit rusty.

[CLmoss]

Daniel,

are you having any problems with Flange function right now?  I am having trouble getting the edge so to flange. 

Jim

[daniel_lyall]

Nup when I was playing with it earlier it was fine, I was doing what is shown in this vid at the 40 min mark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLiEpkWUp0k&t=0s

[CLmoss]

Not here.   I am having that problem again.  Can't grab the edge of the sheet metal to create a flange.  

This is an ongoing problem as far as I can see.   

1) In Sheet Metal create an offset from a solid object and give it thickness.

2)  In Sheet Metal, try to grab an edge to create a flange. It is not working for me. 

Is there another way besides flange to copy a 3-D solid object into sheet metal?  

Can I make offsets of each of the three sides of this component, give them 0.063" thickness and then join them somehow?  

Jim

[CLmoss]

Sheet Metal Flange command is not working here for me.  It worked for a little yesterday, but then stopped.  It is the same old problem of clicking on the edges of a sheet of aluminum and then clicking on the Flange command.  Here is where the flange command should bring up each flange areas in a dialog box.  It doesn't.  It locks up.  They only way out is CANCEL.  See the attached.

I restarted Fusion.  I restarted my computer.  Nothing helps. 

Jim

[daniel_lyall]

Can you do a screencast of your steps

[CLmoss]

I don't know how.  

Just repeat what I did.  

1) make an offset from a solid form.

2) give it thickness (0.063" here) 

3) try to use Flange.  

That is it. That is all I did. 

It is the same problem we had before. 

I can highlight the two edges I need to make flanges on, but when I push the Flange button, the dialog you see above.  That is the end of the road.  I cannot select the edges again, which is what it looks like it is asking me to do. The only way out is Cancel. 

IF YOU ARE MAKING A PRODUCT THAT YOU INTEND TO SELL,

THAT YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO PAY FOR,

YOU JUST CAN'T HAVE THIS KIND OF UNPREDICTABLE BEHAVIOR.

I am running WIndows 7 Pro. 

Jim

[daniel_lyall]

Did you make this bit from a flange 

[daniel_lyall]

Did you look at that vid I posted it was done by Wayne Griffenberg one of the very talented ADSK guys. There is another one coming up on the 24th on sheet metal in fusion as well.

This topic is on doing a screencast https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/tutorial-how-to-create-a-screencast/td-p/6...

[CLmoss]

No...

I want to make a Sheet Metal copy of a solid form that I made in Fusion.  Just like the deck part you converted for me sometime back.  

1) made an offset from a solid form.

2) I gave it thickness 0.063" using Push Pull, in Sheet Metal

3) Then I tried to use Flange to make the flanges.  

I cannot get Flange to work.  I did this kind of thing in the past if you remember.  There was an intermittent problem at that time. 

So, no I did not make this item in the jpg file using Flange.  I used Offset, then Push Pull.  

Jim