Flat pattern error; A-Side Definition and splits

[Lars_Greft]

Hello, I'm working on a parametric part including splits and I'm having an issue with the flat pattern.

Within the assembly form I can change the parameter "AANTDELBREEDTE", if the value is higher than 0 it will add one or more splits to the part. After that I get the following error: "A-Side Definition : Sheetmetal A-Side compute error. None of the selected faces can be found on the body. Please fix the A-Side definition."

The problem is that the alignment in the flat pattern is lost, but I don't have a single line in the flat pattern that always exists, see image. It's a bit hard to explain so the easiest way is to open the assembly file (attached) and change the value of "AANTDELBREEDTE".

I hope someone can help me out with this so I don't get an error.

I think it would be really helpful if you have the option to choose an origin axis as alignment, because that will always exist. But this is not possible (yet), I will also post an idea for this.

Idea post: "link to idea post" 

Inventor 2021.3.1

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi Lars,

This is actually quite tricky. I don't have a good solution. The issue here is that the A-Side is based on a face but the face has been split into multiple pieces. The face defining the A-Side originally may be gone. Once it becomes sick, there isn't a workflow to redefine A-Side unfortunately.

I guess the only way to avoid the error is not to use A-Side. But, the trouble could be that the Flat Pattern direction and orientation may not be stable.

Many thanks!

[Lars_Greft · Accepted solution]

Hello @johnsonshiue, thank you for your answer.

We really need the Flat Pattern direction and orientation to be stable. I've tried multiple possible workarounds/solutions, but unfortunately it didn't solve the problem.

The last option for me is to make two seperate parts, instead of one part that include all features. Both parts will then always have an existing edge that I can use. I've already tested this and it takes a little more work and time, but luckily it works.