Plot coordinates from table

[tawrus80]

We have rod-type parts that have a surface treatment that varies in thickness along the length per a table.  The .ipt doesn't need to reflect this, but I need a X-Y plot on the .idw to be generated from the data in the table (also on the .idw).  Currently these types of drawings are handled in AutoCAD so the plot's are rather cumbersome and don't speak to the table.

There will be dimensions to particular points along the X and Y so an embedded Excel chart won't work.

Hope that's enough info and is clear.  Thanks in advance.

[PaulMunford]

Can you provide an example?

My first though it a hole table. You can use a hole table with sheet metal iFeatures. So, i'm thinking that you could create an iFeature that only consists of a sketch point and then read these points into a hole table...

Does that help?

Paul

[tawrus80]

Here is a screenshot of a current AutoCAD table and plot with some things removed to avoid potential trouble.

When it comes to iFeatures, I'm somewhat clueless.  We just recently started using table-driven iParts when a feature could have multiple dimensions.  I know Inventor has neat capabilities with iLogic and things that we haven't tapped into yet.  If you could show me how to generate the plot derived from an iPart table (or otherwise), then I could probably figure out the rest.  Thanks, Paul (or anyone else).

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi! If I understood the requirement correctly, the closest workflow in Inventor is to import points from an Excel table and fit a spline along the points. What you need to prepare is an Excel table with two (X and Y) or three (X, Y, and Z) columns of coordinates. Keep in mind Inventor is unit sensitive. 1 in always equals to 25.4 mm. Th length of 1 in is always the same as the length of 25.4mm. Then follow the steps in the below link. In the option dialog, you can set if you want to create a spline or polyline automatically.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcartic...

Many thanks!

[tawrus80]

Thanks, Johnson.  This solution does fulfill a couple of the requirements;  plot points are generated from an Excel file which I am also able to generate a table on the .idw from.  So the table and plot will, more or less, speak to each other.  The excel file would be vaulted along with the part and drawing.

Where this solution is lacking is the fact that the points are not associated with the excel data after they're inserted.  When values in the excel file are changed, the existing sketch points and spline will have to be deleted and new points inserted, locked down, and new spline(s) generated.

That said, this still beats out the fully-manual AutoCAD method.  I will mark it as a solution once I'm confident no one else will come forward with a better one.

Related side question;  Is it possible to have sketch points be visible?  I need to have dimensions to some of the inserted points and, short of sketching small circles or crosses at each one, I can't find a way to do that.

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi Karl,

I knew you would ask about associative import. Here is a document about the topic with a few options.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticle...

Many thanks!

[PaulMunford]

Hi @tawrus80,

'make spline fit points in drawing sketches visible for dimensionless'

This a great idea, maybe you should add it to the ideastaion?

I just checked, and Inventor will dimension to the spline fit points, even though you can't see them. If you hover over the point that you know is there, a green dot indicating the snap point will highlight and the dimension will be created - sometimes!

It is quite inconsistent - @johnsonshiue maybe you could take a look at this?

Paul

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Paul,

I just tried a simple fitpoint spline in a draft view. There is a point in the middle of the spline highlighting when i try dimensioning. However, the point isn't located at where an existing fitpoint is at. I am not sure what point that was. Regardless, dinensioning fitpoints may not make much sense, because these dimensions along are not enough to replicate the exact spline. Local tangency, curvature, and fit algorithm all can influence the resultant spline.

Many thanks!