Rectangular Pattern Problem

[janelson33]

I am trying to make a zig-zag sheet metal file and have ran into an absurd issue, which is hopefully caused by user error.

The rectangular pattern's dimension values match the ones from the sketch as they should, but the stupid end points don't connect after the pattern is created. If I choose override the pattern using the Sketch Doctor to make them coincident (and thus lose the pattern) then it works, but then you're still going to have to dimension it by hand. You can also see that the line's end-points DO CONNECT if I use the mirror command as I have on the right side.

Why am I having this issue? Is the software simply not capable of this type of pattern?

[Mark.Lancaster]

@janelson33

When you post especially when sharing files, you need to specify what version of Inventor you used to last save this file.  In your case its Inventor 2018.  In addition I'm not a sheet metal expert and right now I don't have a good grasp on what the overall design would look like or if the software is capable of doing it.   Can you share an image (finished product) of what your design is supposed to look like?

[janelson33]

My apologies on forgetting the specs:

Inventor 2018 Product Suite

Dell XPS Tower with i7, 16 GB RAM, Windows 10 Pro, 64-bit

This is what I'm looking to make essentially, however I want control over the width for different models of products that it's intended to work with.

[IgorMir · Accepted solution]

Well, I wouldn't say it is a trivial task.  But maybe I am overlooking a simpler way of modeling it too. Anyway - here is a part file for you to evaluate.

Cheers,

Igor.

---

@jarott22BHN wrote:

My apologies on forgetting the specs:

Inventor 2018 Product Suite

Dell XPS Tower with i7, 16 GB RAM, Windows 10 Pro, 64-bit

This is what I'm looking to make essentially, however I want control over the width for different models of products that it's intended to work with.

[MikeKovacik4928 · Accepted solution]

Here we go

You can go into the parameters and control pitch, height, width, thickness and number of loops.

I have labelled everything clearly for you.

The inner radius is set at the material thickness,

so will change accordingly if you change the material thickness.

Michael Kovacik

Draughting/Designing (Manufacturing) (31 yrs)
-Drawing Board (3 yrs)
-Cad (28 yrs)
--Cadkey (4 yrs)
--AutoCAD 2d & 3d (16 yrs)
--Inventor (4 yrs)
--Autocad and Inventor Simultaneously (4 years)
--(and recently Autocad/Inventor Customisation)

Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate 2018
Autocad 2018, Inventor Pro 2018

Johannesburg, South Africa

(Impossible only means you haven't
found the solution yet)

[janelson33]

Thank you for your help! Looks like there's a few things I could've done differently to accomplish this. At least I feel better knowing it's still a challenge for the pros even.

[janelson33]

Thanks for this interactive and creatively done file. It seems as if it's better to try the patterns from a solid model state and perhaps isn't as easy to accomplish using the sketch pattern feature like I was trying to do.

[MikeKovacik4928]

Glad to be of help.

Patterns definitely much easier to modify, manipulate, from the feature rather than the sketch.

Also when it comes to customisation and linking to excel spreadsheets, feature patterns rather

than sketch patterns are really the only way to go.

Michael Kovacik

Draughting/Designing (Manufacturing) (31 yrs)
-Drawing Board (3 yrs)
-Cad (28 yrs)
--Cadkey (4 yrs)
--AutoCAD 2d & 3d (16 yrs)
--Inventor (4 yrs)
--Autocad and Inventor Simultaneously (4 years)
--(and recently Autocad/Inventor Customisation)

Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate 2018
Autocad 2018, Inventor Pro 2018

(including own personal licensed copy)

Johannesburg, South Africa

(Impossible only means you haven't
found the solution yet)