ProNest Bend Line Scribing from Inventor ipt.

[wendtcorp]

I'm using ProNest to generate burn profiles from my Inventor .ipt parts. When I have a plate that is bent in two directions, ProNest will only recognize a bend line in one direction, because technically the other bend line should be scribed on the other side of the plate. I want both bend lines to be scribed on the same side. I know how to fix this using AutoCad, but that takes several steps that I am trying to eliminate. I need to go directly from .ipt's to a successful burn profile. There is an example below. Thank you in advance for any help. 

[Mark_Wigan · Accepted solution]

i am not sure how you get your data into your pronest but if you are saving flat patterns out manually then your results may depend somewhat on your method used to export the dxf.

i like to right click on the flat pattern node in the browser > save copy as > (setup export options in the next window & save a config file for future use).

i generally like to setup different layers (with different colours) for each type of geometry, eg top of sheet or bottom of sheet, edges, surface geometry etc. i also setup to convert continuous entities to polylines at this export stage too. it makes for neater flat patterns.

hopefully this will help you to sort your challenge.

[wendtcorp]

Thanks for the input Mark. 

While I was hoping there was a way to get everything to work directly from the .ipt file without opening the part, your solution seems to be the quickest. I have to do several hundred of these a week so eliminating steps is very important. Would you mind sending me your configuration files? I'd like to see exactly how you set it up. I am very good at using Inventor, but I know almost nothing about AutoCad. Thanks again.

[Mark_Wigan]

no problem, i will score it for you this week. i am away from my own machine today...

you should do this particular method from the .ipt file on the flat pattern browser node. some people like to export face, and some like to export the 2d geometry from the idw. i prefer to do it the way i mentioned, & i guess that there are pros and cons for each.

also, after you have exported the geometry to dxf, you can open it and clean it up a little further with autocad using old commands like "overkill". it will delete little overlaps etc, convert some things to polylines, close gaps etc...

ps- there is possibly an app on the exchange site that can batch process the export function if you are doing heaps of these...

https://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/en

cheers.

[Mark_Wigan]

here is my config file.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/aw5x2ucofobdq8z/saveas%20dxf%20out%20config%201.ini?dl=0

just save it to a local folder (eg i use "_dxf in tray" on c drive). when you are exporting your next file, make sure you look at the option to use a config file, then choose this one, then save it over the top of itself from within the export window, that way it will think you made it yourself, and you will always see it there in future as the default export config.