Aluminum Composite Panel creation - Please Help!

[Anonymous]

We fabricate and install aluminum composite panels (ACM). Current process is a combination of  Revit & AutoCAD, but I'm pretty sure that Inventor can do a better job. We've got to have the flat pattern option for fabrication, but these panels need to report the overall dims (including the flange/hem dims) in the parameters so that we can export the BOM to Excel & export the ipt's to DXF format. The stretchout also makes that information not accurate. Additionally - we will create elevation assemblies with the panels for that elevation in place and then place/hang that on the architectural Revit model for representation. That's a whole other issue, but I'll maybe ask that question in a different post after I figure this out, hopefully with y'all's help! If any of you have experience with panel creation that is then used in the CNC fabrication, I'd lover to hear how you did it. 

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! We have quite a few fabrication customers using Inventor to create sheet metal parts and create flat patterns for cutting purpose. I cannot share their files with you. All I can say is that Inventor should be able to do what you want to do. Please share a design you are trying to tackle. Forum experts can help take a look and make suggestions on how to do it in Inventor.

Many thanks!

[S_May]

... please attach pictures + sketches and models + drawings (pack the models per pack and go + zip), create samples for sensitive data (or please create a screencast), thank you.

[NigelHay]

Are these composite panels the ones used in architectural cladding? The type I've used in the past (in pre-Inventor days) consisted of 2 layers of 0.5mm thick aluminium with about 2mm of foam plastic between them. Bends were made by routing a 90° V groove through one aluminium sheet & the foam core so that the bend was made in the outer aluminium sheet. I don't know how you would reproduce that in Inventor but perhaps someone else does.

[Curtis_Waguespack · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous 

Questions about  Aluminum Composite Panels have been asked on this forum a few times over the years....  See this list 

For others, just as an FYI, here are some images that might help understand Aluminum Composite Panels, and the challenges involved in creating bent and flat versions of the composites

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[mdanishishtiaq]

Sorry for replying to existing thread.

Can someone share experience of purchasing and using ACM panels in Canada? I am thinking for my shop renovation and thinking to use ACM panels, but I am confused which one should I select.

Claddingpros 

nortem 

alumtech 

[NigelHay]

My experience in using these panels is all in the UK. Your 1st link looks the same as the panels I have used, your 2nd link goes to a 'domain for sale' page & the 3rd link goes to a 'domain registered' page.

[urvashisinha328]

It's great to hear about your work with aluminum composite panels (ACM) fabrication and installation. Transitioning from a combination of Revit and AutoCAD to Inventor can indeed offer several advantages, especially in terms of precision and efficiency.

For accurate flat patterns and comprehensive reporting in Inventor, consider leveraging its robust parametric capabilities. You can define parameters for overall dimensions, including flange/hem dimensions, and use iProperties to ensure that essential information is embedded for BOM export to Excel. Inventor's sheet metal environment provides advanced tools for accurate flat pattern creation.

Regarding CNC fabrication, Inventor's DXF export capability can streamline the process, ensuring compatibility with your CNC machines. Make sure to validate the exported DXF files for accuracy before sending them to fabrication.

If you encounter challenges with the stretchout feature affecting accuracy, explore the sheet metal rules and settings in Inventor to fine-tune the flat pattern generation.

[trevoraYFQV9]

This is such an interesting topic. 

My knowledge is typically in handling EPS or Urethane Honeycomb Panels, but this is super interesting. 

[trevoraYFQV9]

The image is a great visulization. 

Most of my experience is in working with EPS or Urethane Honeycomb Cores, and I'm thinking showing someone a similar image could really help them see what the material actually is. - There are lots of times when you're making something that, no matter how well you describe it, you never quite get them to understand.