Sheet Metal Export Etch Layer

[garyl]

We have standard parametric models that we use to export to flatpatterns for laser cutting. Our metal comes with a PVC layer to protect the metal. We are in the process of getting a new laser machine that will have to ability to to use etch to make cuts to just the PVC layer without marking the metal. The reason this is good for us is that we typically strip 1"-2" inches off of the edge of the parts for forming while leaving the center of the part still covered and protected by the PVC. Currently cutting the PVC and stripping it is a manual process, the new laser will give us the ability have the laser cut the PVC.

My problem is getting a closed profile on the flatpattern that can be exported to a DWG layer that can be used for etching. The closest I have gotten is to have a unconsumed sketch on the flatpattern and map that layer to an etch layer, however this process leaves some unwanted edge lines which are required to constrain the etched profile. I'm looking for any ideas on how to accomplish this.  

Include a sample part with my etch profile on the flatpattern and a dwg that results from the export.

The DWG file would work by removing the orange dashed construction lines, but I would like to fully automate this process.

I had trouble posting the parts so I zipped them into a single file

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Gary,

Could you tell me what exact workflow you used to export the flat pattern? Did you right-click on the flat pattern face -> Export Face As? Or you right-click on Flat Pattern node in the browser -> Save Copy As?

The former does not give you much control over what geometry to export. It is a quick way to export a flat face (or a sketch). The latter allows you to enable and disable certain layers. You can just export the exterior and interior profiles. Is this what you are looking for?

Many thanks!

[garyl]

I use the "save copy as"  from the flatpattern method, we use the add-in iFlatpattern Export to export assemblies efficiently which uses the "save copy as" method to do its export. The other methods don't seem to allow me to map to a particular layer. With "Save copy as" I can set the iner and outer profile layers to be on the CUT layer, just as I have set the Unconsumed Sketch layer to be on the ETCH layer. The DWG is the result of that "save copy as" method, I dont think I could have produced that file to have those features without using "save copy as"

[EMVC · Accepted solution]

Hello

I have a plsma thats have sribe and cut, i played with this line in my vba that i found here, now i export from assambley to dwg with cut and scribe lines, hope this help

sOut = "FLAT PATTERN DWG?AcadVersion=2004&OuterProfileLayer=Cut&OuterProfileLayerColor=0;255;0&featureprofilesdownLayer=Scribe&featureprofilesdownLayerColor=255;0;255&interiorprofilesLayer=Cut&InvisibleLayers=IV_BEND_DOWN;IV_TANGENT;IV_TOOL_CENTER;IV_TOOL_CENTER_DOWN;IV_ARC_CENTERS;IV_ALTREP_FRONT;IV_ALTREP_BACK;IV_UNCONSUMED_SKETCHES;IV_ROLL_TANGENT;IV_ROLL"

[garyl]

What tool (punch or emboss or what) are you using to make your scribe profile that ends up on featureprofilesdownLayer

This looks like it might help me

[garyl]

Thanks, that helped.

What I did was on the folded model I made my etch profile using a .001" emboss, then in my "save copy as" ini file I set IV_Feature_Profile_Down layer to be ETCH. my iFlatpattern Export add in works and my DWG has the etch profile I want without extra lines.

[DeerSpotter]

did you come up with any other solutions since 2019? 

[garyl]

I haven't, but I don't etch very often. I might use it more if I had a better solution.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Folks,

It may have been brought up before. The ability to etch is work-in-progress. It will be for future releases. In the meantime, you may create a text sketch and right-click on the text -> Convert to Geometry. In this way, the sketch text will be converted to sketch lines. Then they can be exported to DXF along with the flat pattern accordingly.

Many thanks!

[jeremymoyer]

We use the unconsumed sketch method that you mentioned but we have to do it in two sketches. The first sketch is used to define the etch lines and constrain them using projected edges. The second sketch contains ONLY the projected lines that you want to etch. Next, you just turn off visibility of the first sketch and the only thing the exports is the second visible sketch.

See attached. Hope this helps!