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We need an wizard that will allow the user to create a feature on the part that the software will translate on a different layer, that will allow the laser programer to see that there is an etch and not a cut.
this text should be programmable and populatable with iproperties. also it would be nice to run this inside the assembly environment also, and then just specify where you want this feature. the software should know when this is placed on the part or inside a hole on the part - which should then be relocated or resized automatically.
It would be nice to emboss lines on sheet metal parts, so that when modeling i can create line or arc based etch features, that will aid assembly downstream in the process.
You can't "emboss" a line because a line has no thickness. You wouldn't actually be removing any material.
What is the purpose of this etched feature? How does it aid in assembly? Is it intended to be used for CNC'ing? Or assembly constraining? Or just visual?
Please take a look at the image below. At ever "+" sign I need to stud weld a headed stud - now in order to portray that to the laser I need that line, so that laser cutter know s where to etch, otherwise I need to export flat to AutoCAD and then modify the Sketch. And from my perspective AutoCAD has no place in normal running production environments with 3D CAD - although it does have to enter sometimes, when you 3D CAD system is not man-enough to get the job done. So basically I need to create a line profile that will allow me to implant Symbols onto my parts that speed things up in our production environment, and the software should give me the flexibility to do whatever I need to do, but at the same time produce real result that do not require unnecessary rework.
Paul Waldner | TaraCon Precast | Conceptual Design - Development
Not sure if this helps (don't know what nesting software you're using for your laser cutter). We don't have a laser, but we do have a burn table that has marking capabilities. In our software (SigmaNEST), we are able to create a sketch on the Inventor part file (if sheet metal, the sketch has to be in the Flat Pattern), and give it a particular name.
Then in the nesting software, we set it to look for that sketch name for the Marking process, similar to how layers would be used in an AutoCAD-based pattern. We don't have to actually emboss the features (and in fact it causes problems with detecting the plate thickness if we try to). But we achieve what you're trying to get, without taking the patterns into AutoCAD.
You might want to look into whether something similar is possible with your software. I'm not necessarily saying your idea is inherently bad, but depending on what your software's capabilities are, you may already be able to get what you want without the requested new feature.
(Side note: You might not be aware, but all of the comments that you make via email are coming through with LOTS of white space (extra line breaks), and they're all coming through as double-posts. For all our sanity, you might look into fixing this )
Also, like I said on the other post, images don't come through in email replies, unfortunately; unfortunately, you have to get on and add them in a comment using the website. Could you post that image so we can see what you're talking about?
I also would like to see the ability to be able to emboss a line to a thickness.
We create a lot of engraved plaques for our machines. These plaques are outsourced.
To get the plaques to display in 3D models, they need to be an closed looped line and then embossed, or simply embossed text which then creates an closed looped line on the drawings depicting the text.
To send these to the engravers a DXF needs to be created. These plaques need to be redrawn as single lines so the engraver can run their program via dxf. Similar with laser cutting when we require etch lines.
Maybe a work around would be to allow lines created in the part sketch to be used in the drawing? Or is this already possible?
Was wondering if a request could be made to improve Inventor if possible or if a feature exists that I might be overlooking.
When laser cutting our sheet metal parts we often want to “etch” a line or circle on the part to locate another part for welding. In the model we do a small cut (less than the material thickness) which shows where the etching should be but when exporting the DXF file for our laser programmer it is difficult to differentiate which is a through hole and which is a partial cut. We found a work around that requires an extra step involving us going to the flat pattern, creating a sketch on the front of the flat pattern and projecting the partial cuts then when saving the DXF we use the filters in “Flat Pattern DXF Export Options” we choose IV_UNCONSUMED SKETCHES and change the color and linet ype to differentiate between through holes and etched holes. This works but requires a sketch in the flat pattern be created and the geometry projected.
It would be really nice if in the “Flat Pattern DXF Export Options” Inventor could recognize non through cuts as well and export them as a different feature/layer/line type.
I may put this on the forum at Autodesk as well just wanted to see if I am missing anything currently. I am sure many others would find this feature useful as well.
I have been going through the same problem with creating an etch that Paul is describing. The nesting software that I've used has been sigma nest but sigma nest offers different modules so we have the basic module because of the cost.There are other nesting software such as PEP. Cincinnati Incorporated offers their own nesting program.Also Mazak has their nesting program to. The purpose of etching is to identify second processes such as machining holes or locating we're parts would be welded together.Sometimes it's for artistic purposes.
DRoam
I have below a few shared YouTube videos that may help you.
The first is called "Inventor Etch" which explains what Paul is talking about exporting parts out into AutoCAD and then identifying the etch function by creating an AutoCAD layer for etching.The reason why it is necessary to export the inventor file out this way is because all commands that inventor uses are identified by the nesting software as a cut command.
The second video that I have shared shows you how etching is being used on metal.
The third and fourth shared video shows your competitors solid edge in SolidWorks on how they have an edge function within their software
@pkettering, you are correct that there are different modules for SigmaNEST which affect the availability of the method I described previously.
If you have the Inventor module for SigmaNEST, it's as simple as making a sketch with a particular name (we use "MARKING"), then setting SigmaNEST to look for that sketch name and import it as marking geometry. Using current tools, it's definitely going to be extra work to get marking geometry if you don't have this SigmaNEST module.
One possible workaround would be to create a sketch in the part to draw the marking geometry, just as I described for my company's method. Then place a view in a blank drawing and retrieve the sketch into the drawing view. You could then do your import using a DXF exported from the drawing. This doesn't eliminate the need to do some extra work, but at least it keeps it all in Inventor.
I've been able to create scribes by using the punch tool feature. It takes some setup in making the punch tool and sadly you cannot use the punch tool for much else once you do it. It involves setting up a simplified sketch representation, then using the Inventor Dwg format to create a drawing with the burn & scribe layers added, then changing the layer of the object default styles. With this setup it turns all internal bends or cosmetic center lines into scribes along with any punch tool with a simplified sketch. Once the flat pattern view is inserted into the model space of the drawing it can be inserted into a nest with the correct layer settings. This is all within the .dwg format as we use ProNest 2020 along with Inventor 2020. It should still be able to export to a .dxf fairly well though. My thoughts on how Autodesk could integrate this into sheet metal is to copy the punch tool to a new scribe (function or module?) add in an additional selection box at the flat pattern definition. Another method would be a scribe feature similar to cosmetic centerlines that allows for more complex geometry. I'd love to see text data included to be able to label the part also.
Yes! Possibly the ability to defined a new layer using a tool in the flat pattern environment before exporting to dxf??? Is there no way to do something similar currently?
This idea has been implemented within Autodesk Inventor 2023. Please review the Inventor 2023 What's New article here, for more information regarding how you may leverage the new Mark feature. Special thanks to everyone who cast a vote for it.
For some reason, this Idea was not updated to "Implemented" at the time of the Inventor 2023 release. Sorry for the delay.
@dan_szymanski gracias por la información. Actualmente estoy usando la versión 2022 y uso el comando de pliegue ficticio para crear marcas. Actualizare a la versión 2023 y veré como usar el nuevo comando Mark.
