Inventor Nesting Solids Flip top side of the parts bug

[m_atzmunske]

Hello, 

I tried nesting but I am struggling with major but simple issue. It seems to define the top side of a part automatically. Most times it is correct because it chooses the side with more negativ extrusions to the top. 

But sometimes I need the other side of the part to be the top side. 

The only option I found so far is 'Nest Authoring' and click on 'extrusion direction'

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/how-to-define-the-...

This changes the top side in the nesting file but the part are on different Z hights then. What is absolutely stupid and senseless for nesting.

So is there any other way for solids to choose which side or surface is the top side? I mean this should be a absolute basic function for nesting milling parts!?

General Workflow:

Mulitsolid.ipt->make parts assembly.iam->create nest-> nesting sheet-> create 3d model -> do CAM on it

[m_atzmunske]

Is there anyone here who can help with nesting?:)

[WillsonLeng]

Hi @m_atzmunske, for the case of using other sides for nesting, you may try to create a sketch on that side, and project the geometry on that sketch. Then in nest authoring, select the sketch as the "Feature used for nesting", then it will use that face as the top face.

[m_atzmunske]

@WillsonLeng thank you for the reply. I tried this already but this way you don't have any 3d information of the real part on your nesting part. The reason I want to flip the parts is that I have pockets or holes with a defined depth on one side of the part.

I know inventor nesting is primary used for 2d laser cuttings but how can you design a 3d software (inventor) to analyze which side it defines at top automatically but give no option to set it manually. And then there is no working workaround at all for such a basic function in a 3d software?

There must be a solution. Like just create a layer with a special name or something like this.

[WillsonLeng]

@m_atzmunske got your point for the pocket case. By now to customize the nesting top side, we can only leverage the "Feature used for nesting" from nest authoring.

Is that possible to use create a sketch to the bottom side which doesn't have the pocket there? And use this sketch and check on the flip? 

[m_atzmunske]

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I don't get what you mean or it doesn't solve the problem. Whenever I select a sketch instead of the 3d solid by nest authoring I loose everything except the contour of the part. How can it help me flipping this 2d sketch when I need a 3d part to be nested?

I mean on the first hand I don't understand why this simple thing to select the side is so complicated and 2nd why it is nearly impossible? I mean everyone using this feature for milling would need to define the top side from time to time. Hast this been coded without any practice testing?

[kacper.suchomski]

Hi

Perhaps too trivial - Have you defined side A of the component?

[m_atzmunske]

Since we are talking here about Solid Parts and not Metal Sheet there is not such an Option for Side A as far as I know.

[kacper.suchomski]

What's stopping you from converting a part to sheet metal?

[m_atzmunske]

Did you make it working this way or is it just brainstorming? 

I converted to sheet metal by pressing the button and defined side A but it does not affect which side is on top. Did you get it working that way? If you find a way to flip the top side in nesting please let me have some screenshots and videos. Because what ever I try does not affect it. 

The only thing that affects what is top side seems to be the amount of negative extrusions on the real part what leads to a couple of other problems.

Hope there is a solution out there

[kacper.suchomski]

It should work. 🤔

[m_atzmunske]

I posted my workflow on the first post:

General Workflow:

Mulitsolid.ipt->make parts assembly.iam->create nest-> nesting sheet-> create 3d model -> do CAM on it

What I did now is opened one of the 8 solids in my test file and converted it to sheet metal and then defined side A. I saved it and the nesting file als me then to update but the top side doesn't change. So I selected the other side of the part to countertest and nesting asked me to refresh but again no change in orientation.

I saw you made some inventor videos. Do have a short clip with a assembly of solids you bring to nesting and then convert one of the parts in the assembly to change the top side in nesting.

As far as I tried I don't get it working. A tried a lot the last couple of days.

[m_atzmunske]

@WillsonLeng @kacper.suchomski any advice for me what I can try?:)

[kacper.suchomski]

Which side appears on the single part flat pattern?
What happens in nesting when you redefine a flat part pattern?

[WillsonLeng]

Hi @m_atzmunske, I just create a video to show using "default" side and different side of nesting. To use different side of nesting, I created a new sketch on the face which doesn't have the pocket. And use this sketch in nest authoring.

Please take a look and see if this can work for you.