Sheet Metal - Drawing flat pattern - Delete bend lines for Waterjet DXF file

[vmontefusco]

Greetings

I use a Waterjet to cut sheet metal parts, however, the hatched bend lines also are seen in the Waterjet program causing me extra work to clean up.

Example part process: 

1. I created a trapezoid Sheet Metal part that has several bends

2. I create a Drawing and custom size it, delete borders, etc. for a clean sheet

3. I bring in the Sheet Metal part as a Flat Pattern and nest multiples.

The issue is I need to delete the hatched bend lines before Saving As a DXF file so the Waterjet program only sees the lines I want cut and not the hatched bend lines.

Question: In the Drawing environment, if I make the hatched lines "Invisible" will take care of the problem or is it just cosmetic? 

Thanks

Vince

[YannickEnrico]

Hey there.

Just a thought... Does it -have- to be that work flow?

If you right click on the flat pattern and press "Save copy as", you always get a 1:1 dxf file. And in that menu you can choose which lines you want visible, as well as their colors and line type. 

[mcgyvr]

Did you know you can export right from the part file (flat pattern) and that you can select the layers that are exported.?

This would include turning off the bend lines..

When in the part go into the flat pattern "mode".. Then right click on the flat pattern node in the model browser and select "save copy as" then select dxf and you can turn off layers, save that configuration,etc...

[vmontefusco]

Thank you for the info. It seems like I have to go through extra work via a couple of Autodesk Wizards (the first one is a little complex since it's new to me) to get to the end result. Maybe if you have time, you could show me where I can cut out some info?

So here is what I did this morning prior to Waterjet cutting my "nested" parts on the Waterjet machine. Your method is good for one 1:1 part:

1. Imported several parts into a custom sized Drawing dwg file as Flat Patterns (top view)

2. I saw the Sheet Metal bend hatch lines on every part. I held Ctrl and clicked on each of the hatched lines, then R clicked to turn off visibility

2. I Saved the dwg as a DXF file

3. I imported the DXF file into the CNC Waterjet program (FLOW) and the bend line hatches were not there!!  I was able to cut my parts with no issues!

Unless you can show me another simple way to have nested parts with no bend line hatches, I will continue to use my proven technique.

Thanks

Vince

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I cannot say I fully understand the workflow you are using right now. But, I personally think there are better and easier ways to do that in Part or in Drawing.

In a sheet metal part, you can right-click on Flat Pattern node in the browser -> Save Copy As -> select DXF -> in the dialog, go to Layer tab -> you can turn off unwanted layers. You can also save the setting to an ini file and the settings will persist.

In a drawing file containing multiple flat pattern views, you can go to Annotate tab -> go to far right -> Edit Layers -> turn off unwanted layers -> export to DXF.

Are these workflows applicable to you?

Many thanks!

[vmontefusco]

Thank you for your input. I still think my process is easier for me to send the DXF to the Waterjet program. Please try my method!

With respect to Sheet Metal Parts:

I create a drawing dwg file, bring in the parts and nest them within the size of the sheet I create, delete the hatched bend lines (if any), save as DXF and I'm done. I import this DXF to the Waterjet FLOW program and cut my parts. If you are not familiar with the Waterjet FLOW software program then you will NOT understand what the program sees when you import DXF files, so it would be hard for you to give me advise.

Thank you,

Vince

[YannickEnrico · Accepted solution]

If your CNC program doesn't support nesting, it makes sense to do it the way you do. 

If it does, I would use what everyone suggested. I did that for four years working with TruTops. But TruTops does support nesting

[mcgyvr]

Just turn off the "bend centerline" layer vs having to select/hide them all individually.. 

[vmontefusco]

Thank you all
Vince
Film & TV Special Effects

[vmontefusco]

Yannick

My issue is sending complete DXF part files to a Waterjet CNC operator so that he can import into the Waterjet FLOW cutting program as opposed to me sending him parts for him to nest. To save more time, I may buy the Waterjet FLOW program and set everything up then send the file to the operator to simple cut the parts for me.

Thanks

Vince