Sheet Metal Flat Pattern only showing smaller "part" in flat pattern view

[Shag_Bore]

Hello,

I have sheet metal rule that takes the flat pattern, organizes the flat extents and then concatenates a custom part number. This helps me group my items on my parts lists.  

Works great but on parts like this, where there is a cut, the flat pattern reports the smaller, interior part of the part. There is an additional part behind the cutout(not shown), that gets laminated to the inside face, which secures the smaller interior sheet metal circle in position, (it doesn't actually float there haha)

is there a rule to manipulate the flat pattern to grab the sheet extents and not the cut out? I have attached the part, I am using Inv, 2016, I am thinking of maybe creating a custom parameter, but I am not sure how to map it to the actual flat pattern initially. 

here is my rule I use to create the custom part number. 

'FLAT PATTERN DIMS
TEMP_EXTENTS_LENGTH = SheetMetal.FlatExtentsLength
TEMP_EXTENTS_WIDTH = SheetMetal.FlatExtentsWidth
x = TEMP_EXTENTS_LENGTH
y = TEMP_EXTENTS_WIDTH
'ENSURE LONGER DIMENSION IS DEFINED AS LENGTH
If x > y Then 
    EXTENTS_LENGTH = SheetMetal.FlatExtentsLength
    EXTENTS_WIDTH = SheetMetal.FlatExtentsWidth 
ElseIf x < y Then 
    EXTENTS_LENGTH = SheetMetal.FlatExtentsWidth
    EXTENTS_WIDTH = SheetMetal.FlatExtentsLength 
End If
'PART NUMBER NAMING
extlength=EXTENTS_LENGTH
extwidth=EXTENTS_WIDTH
extarea=AREA
'convert values to fraction
oW = RoundToFraction(extlength, 1/16, RoundingMethod.Round)
oL = RoundToFraction(extwidth, 1/16, RoundingMethod.Round)
'create custom part number
iProperties.Value("Project", "Part Number") = iProperties.Value("Project", "Cost Center")&" - LENGTH " & oW & " - WIDTH " & oL

The only way I can think of to do this without iLogic is to perform the cuts fully(leave no circle), then do a reverse of the same cuts (leave only the circle) and make those parts phantom so they don't count as parts, but this is still extra .ipt's and time.

thanks!

Sean

[bradeneuropeArthur · Accepted solution]

You are still using 2016 of Inventor, isn't it?

I have opened the file and see indeed that the Flat Pattern shows the smaller part.

I am on 2023 of Inventor and created the Flat Pattern new and now it shows the bigger part.

Seems to be solved in later releases...

[Shag_Bore]

Thank you, I wasn't expecting this to be an issue due to current version. I will add this feature to my "reason to upgrade" list. 

For now I will do a "full" cut/emboss on the panels, then create an inverse of the same part, make it phantom as not to affect the BOM, and add it to the assembly to get the finished results. 

Thanks!

Sean 

[b.mccarthy]

I have done something similar using model states. When you upgrade, maybe look into that workflow.

HTH