Nesting in 3D space

[Anonymous]

Looking for ideas.

I have a need to start nesting parts into boxes to determine best fit for shipping.  Does anyone know of any tools or processes that would assist with taking parts in an assembly and organizing them into pre-defined shipping containers?

I can manually place and move them around.  Just looking for an idea that would be less tedious.

Thanks,

Mark

[cbenner]

@Anonymous

Can you share an image of what you're trying to do?

[Anonymous]

@cbenner

Say I have a structure built out of structural tubing.

I would like to quickly re-orient them as if they are laid out in an area that would fit into shipping containers.

This is a simple example.

Hope this makes sense for you.

Thanks

[swalton]

Could you re-purpose 3D nesting software from the Laser Sintering 3d printing industry?

See:

http://www.materialise.com/en/system/files/resources/Materialise%20Magics%20-%20Sinter%20Module%20-%...

Edited to add:

It looks like there are several vendors of 3d packing software.  One of those might be what you need.

See:

https://www.google.com/search?q=3d+nesting+software&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=3d+packing+software

[kelly.young]

Have you ever tried using iMates?

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2014...

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2014...

[kelly.young]

Hello @Anonymous did you ever figure out a good way to position your tubes into a box for shipping?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Kelly,

At this time, I have not spent much time with it.  Things have gotten busier and I have not had the time to devote to it.  This is still something I am looking to get into and would definitely appreciate any thoughts.  Being that the structures are custom, it seems that iMates would be more involved to setup each time.

Thanks,
Mark Lautenbach

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi! Another low-tech technique is probably using Contact Set. So, you could make those rods contact set (right-click on the components -> check Contact Set). Then go to Inspect tab -> turn on Contact Solver. In this mode, the components become real solid. They cannot interfere with one another. You could try to pack rods in the box in real world.

Many thanks!