Best way to detect if part is flat

[Anonymous]

Hello, 

I need to check if a sheet metal is flat or if it hase some bends..

I was thinking to compare the thickness with Z-value of it s bounding box.. if it is the same then it is flat..

is there a better way?

If this is the best way, how can i retrieve the thickness in code?

thank you! 

[basnederveen]

I am looking for the same thing, I was worried about using the rangebox when the plate is not in one of the (XY,YZ etc) workplanes.

[Anonymous]

me too, but on the otherhand i run my code on the IPT file, and on that file the thickness is always aligned to one of the axes.. (at least should be if you dont make a mess while drawing.. 😄 )

[basnederveen]

We use skeleton parts so it is not guaranteed that the part is parallel to one of the planes... And if I'm correct the 'rangebox' is parallel to the coordinate system

[Anonymous]

well, that makes ONE good exception.. 😄 but does not apply to my case...

[AlexFielder]

In your case @basnederveen I guess you could prompt the user to select the longest, flattest face (for those parts which aren't parallel to the major axes) and work from that?

I guess it depends on whether you would want the rule to function manually or not.

[marcin_otręba]

Dim doc As PartDocument

Set doc = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument

Dim oFlatPattern As FlatPattern
Dim ocompdefs As SheetMetalComponentDefinition

Set ocompdefs  = doc.Componentdefinition

Set oFlatPattern = ocompdefs.FlatPattern
if oFlatPattern.FlatBendResults.Count>0 then

Msgbox "Part is not flat"

endif

[Anonymous]

thank you,. will this work also for files that do not have bends but maybe use contoure?

[marcin_otręba · Accepted solution]

yes, for all kinds of sheetmetal...

in case if you don't have flat pattern in part...:

   If ocompdefs.HasFlatPattern = False Then
              ocompdefs.Unfold
               Set oFlatPattern = ocompdefs.FlatPattern
     oFlatPattern.ExitEdit

endif