Punch Tool 2D Sketch Representation Not Working in Multibody Part

[M.Jenaban]

Hi,

I am having a nightmare re-working a lot of parts due to a mysterious issue with punch tool in a multibody part. When I use a punch tool in standard sheet metal part, it works fine so in the flat pattern it will show me the 2D sketch for the punch tool used when I edit the flat pattern and select the option, however when I model a multibody part and then create components to generate my individual parts with flat pattern, the punch tool 2D sketch cannot be retrieved despite selecting the option. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Flat pattern from a sheet metal part:

Flat pattern from a make components multibody part (slots are missing):

[JDMather]

Add Punch features after pushing out derived components.

Zip and Attach your files (including *.ide) here of your current attempt.

[M.Jenaban]

Why does this need to be added after, this is frustrating and defeats the entire point of having a multibody part. For instance if I need to create an iPart using my multibody part, I need to put all the features in the multibody part before making my components. How can you make a template using multibody part if you still need to work after populating your template? Looks like something is missing here, a sheet metal part is a sheet metal part whether made from a multibody part or not so punch tool should work the same.

[Lucas.dolinarVFXZU]

Can you share your files?

Alternativly, you could use the workflow JDMather suggested and create a iAssembly

[JDMather]

---

@M.Jenaban wrote:

Why does this need to be added after, this is frustrating and defeats the entire point of having a multibody part.

---

I don’t know - no example Attached so I am just guessing.

Is there a Punch feature in the History of your derived component?

Should I make up a dummy example and hope I have captured your Design Intent?

[M.Jenaban]

@JDMather 

A dummy example is fine sure, it is the principle that doesn't seem to work. If you make a 3mm 500mmx500mm square and then use a punch tool in the sheet metal part template, then flatten the part and right click edit flat pattern, in the punch representation select  2D sketch representation then you should hopefully get a projected geometry of the punch sketch on the flat pattern as shown below:

If you try the same using make components from a Multibody part, you cannot get it to represent the 2D sketch even when you select the option, please see below:

Thanks.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I am copying my reply to the other thread here.

Hi Mohamed,

When I said adding the punch in the flat pattern, it is in the flat pattern of the derived part. The reason why punch sketch representation isn't available is because the punch sketch isn't derived along the body. It requires special code to handle such cases, which has not been implemented. It is not an omission. It was indeed a technical limitation unfortunately.

Many thanks!

[M.Jenaban]

@johnsonshiue 

Hi John,

If you have a Multibody part template it is really inefficient to create your punch tool again when you make components to flatten the parts, I am not sure why this option even exists in Multibody part mode if it is not going to work? Imagine putting all your punch tools in your template and drive your template via parameters to make changes only then when you are about to flatten the altered parts, you then have to add all your punch tools again in the flat pattern for every single component. This is insane, I wonder how no body actually had a 5 min think about this. It is not just a technical limitation, I think it is something Autodesk developers have missed all together otherwise it doesn't make any sense nor there is any logic behind it whatsoever.

[M.Jenaban]

Hi @JDMather, did you manage to come up with a solution for this, please? 

Thanks.

Regards,

Mo

[JDMather]

---

@M.Jenaban wrote:

Hi @JDMather, did you manage to come up with a solution for this, please? 

@M.Jenaban 

Perhaps my sarcasm in previous response was a little too subtle.

In general, since I retired I don't have time to come up with example files when someone does not bother to Attach their own example files here.  Especially after files were expressly requested. 

[M.Jenaban]

@JDMather 

This doesn’t work even on a flat square, I wasn’t sure if you wanted the example for the punch tool or the square piece of anything. Wouldn’t even take a second to draw a square and put a punch example. The problem isn’t even the punch tool, if you use box standard punch tools you see what I mean.

for the retirement part of it, I appreciate you are trying to help but I never asked anyone specifically so if you haven’t got time go and enjoy your time, this is an Autodesk development issue so I am hoping someone from development team can help. To be honest if we keep getting issues like this and currently Windows 11 compatibility then we might start considering other products out in the market.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I fully understand your frustration. It is indeed a missing functionality in sheet metal multi-solid body workflow. The only way to make it work is to insert the punch tools in the derived part instead (as a secondary process). Putting them in the multi-solid body part does not allow the punch sketch representation to be retrieved from the flat pattern in the derived parts. unfortunately.

Many thanks!

[M.Jenaban]

Thanks Johnson, much appreciated, is this something that will be added to Multibody parts in near future? 

Thanks.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Based on my understanding, the work to make it happen is not trivial. If it was, it would have been done. The issue here is that the Punchtool 2D sketch representation will have to be derived and then participate in the flat pattern generation process.

I don't think this is something on our immediate radar at the moment. But, I can always be wrong. Please feel free to submit it to Inventor Ideas forum (https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideas/idb-p/v1232) and vote for it.

Many thanks!

[M.Jenaban]

Hi Johnson,

Thank you for your update on this. Certainly not what I wanted to hear, my argument is if this is not meant to be there why the option is available etc, it lets you do it but then Inventor ignores your ticked option. I cannot for the life of me see the logic in this specially when Autodesk selling Inventor based on how programmable it is, yet a simple multibody part cannot handle a punchtool sketch. I really liked Inventor and when I was doing the research of modelling software out in the market a few years ago I chose Inventor over anything else at the time however lately I have been constantly disappointed with the missing functions and difficulty in setting it up.