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Solidworks geometry for Sigmanest Auto tooling

Question asked by Dawn Phillips on Sep 20, 2013
Latest reply on Sep 30, 2013 by Dawn Phillips

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Hello.

We use Solidworks for drawing and Sigmanest for our nested programs. Please let me know if this is possible. Here is what I am looking to do:

I add an extruded hole to my Solidworks sheet metal part. I need a special shape in my Sigmanest file for auto tooling to pick up the formed extruded hole.

I need a flat drawing showing the formed hole in the dimensioned flat view but I need additional geometry for the special shape in the file that I auto tool with Sigmanest.

My defined shape looks like a pacman symbol that I have defined as the extrusion tool in Sigmanest.

So I need to be able to create my drawing showing the formed views as well as the flat pattern like you would normally show on a manufacturing drawing.

THEN, I need to be able to produce a .dxf file showing the pacman symbol where the extrusion is for Sigmanest to auto tool.

I would like this to happen simply by placing the form tool on my 3D model and not having to manipulate the .dxf file afterwards. That is what we have been doing but it opens up room for error. If we forget to add the pacman symbol where the extrusion is on the .dxf file the feature gets left out.

I have thought of using configurations in some way but haven't gotten it figured out yet.

I hope I have explained this well enough for you to understand. The left image below is the view that would be on the drawing with dimensions showing the extrusion on the far side of the part. The right image is showing the special geometry needed for auto tooling in Sigmanest. The round hole is the pre-punch and the pacman symbol is for the extrusion tool.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Dawn

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Dawn Phillips Sep 23, 2013 8:45 AM

I am assuming this isn't possible since there are 36 views and no replies.

If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate them.

Our goal is to reduce as much room for error as possible.

Thanks,

Dawn

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Jessica Ross Sep 23, 2013 8:49 AM

Hi Dawn,

I work at SigmaNEST. You should be able to import your assemblies from SolidWorks into SigmaNEST directly without having to save as .dxf showing the extrusion. Please call into technical support at 513-674-0005 and they will take a look at your SigmaNEST configuration and help you import your files directly.

Hope this helps!

Jessica Ross

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Dawn Phillips @ Jessica Ross on Sep 23, 2013 9:29 AM

Hi Jessica.

Thank you for the information. We have SigmaNEST training scheduled so I will address this then. Surely, we are not the only ones with this issue.

We have defined our special tools in SigmaNEST so the features will auto tool. Each special tool has to be a closed shape. The one for an extruded hole looks like a pacman. This geometry has to be in the 2D file that SigmaNEST uses for it to pick up the correct form tool.

Here are some screen captures that will help, I think. In SolidWorks the extruded hole appears as two circles in the 2D geometry and drawing view as shown on the left view. On the right hand flat view I converted the drawing view to a sketch and added the pacman symbol manually.

I just identified another issue. The sketch geometry doesn't follow the flange when unfolded so that is out of the question. We could have form features on different flanges.

There has to be a way to accomplish this without having to manually manipulate the geometry.

Thanks,

Dawn

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Bernie Daraz Sep 23, 2013 8:52 AM

Dawn,

We used to have to draw our special tools in the system so they would properly plot and be referenced in tool loads in our older programing system, it looked similar to a DXF file in format. I wonder if that is also required in Sigmanest.

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Dawn Phillips @ Bernie Daraz on Sep 23, 2013 9:35 AM

Hi Bernie.

We have defined the special tools in SigmaNEST. So, when we auto tool and it sees the pacman symbol it knows that is a .219 extruded hole. If the pacman symbol is in the SigmaNEST file it will add the correct tool.

The problem is that we are having to create a .dxf file from SolidWorks and then manually add the pacman symbol in the .dxf file. I want to elliminate this step and have SolidWorks add the pacman symbol automatically when I drop the form feature in the part in SolidWorks.

I believe the configuration option is out since the sketch geometry will not follow the flange when unfolded.

Dawn

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Bernie Daraz @ Dawn Phillips on Sep 23, 2013 3:35 PM

Have you considered creating a block in SW and Cut-Extruding the pacman symbol so it stays 'on' the part through export?

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Dawn Phillips @ Bernie Daraz on Sep 23, 2013 3:59 PM

That is still an additional step which is what I was trying to avoid.

Right now I don't see a solution that doesn't require an extra "manual" step. Especially, since we will actually need an additional hole for the prepunch going into SigmaNEST.

I believe nesting software is awesome for laser cutting but there is still a lot of room for improvement on punching.

I was hoping to somehow include 2D geometry into the forming tool that would transfer to the .dxf file going into SigmaNEST. That would happen everytime the form tool was inserted into a part. Thus, reducing the probability of an error.

Our parts can have lots of holes and formed features. We have to be very careful when adding these features for programming/nesting.

I am still hoping for a simple solution.

I appreciate your help, Bernie.

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Dawn Phillips @ Dawn Phillips on Sep 30, 2013 10:51 AM

Since there are no other replies I will assume there is no easy way of doing this.

If anyone has any suggestions that will minimize the margin for error, I will certainly appreciate it.

Surely, there are others that are creating sheet metal parts for punching.

Thanks in advance,

Dawn

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8 Replies

Dawn Phillips Sep 23, 2013 8:45 AM
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Correct Answer
I am assuming this isn't possible since there are 36 views and no replies.

If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate them.

Our goal is to reduce as much room for error as possible.

Thanks,
Dawn
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Jessica Ross Sep 23, 2013 8:49 AM
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Correct Answer
Hi Dawn,

I work at SigmaNEST. You should be able to import your assemblies from SolidWorks into SigmaNEST directly without having to save as .dxf showing the extrusion. Please call into technical support at 513-674-0005 and they will take a look at your SigmaNEST configuration and help you import your files directly.

Hope this helps!
Jessica Ross
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- Dawn Phillips @ Jessica Ross on Sep 23, 2013 9:29 AM
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  Correct Answer
  Hi Jessica.
  
  Thank you for the information. We have SigmaNEST training scheduled so I will address this then. Surely, we are not the only ones with this issue.
  
  We have defined our special tools in SigmaNEST so the features will auto tool. Each special tool has to be a closed shape. The one for an extruded hole looks like a pacman. This geometry has to be in the 2D file that SigmaNEST uses for it to pick up the correct form tool.
  
  Here are some screen captures that will help, I think. In SolidWorks the extruded hole appears as two circles in the 2D geometry and drawing view as shown on the left view. On the right hand flat view I converted the drawing view to a sketch and added the pacman symbol manually.
  
  I just identified another issue. The sketch geometry doesn't follow the flange when unfolded so that is out of the question. We could have form features on different flanges.
  
  There has to be a way to accomplish this without having to manually manipulate the geometry.
  
  Thanks,
  Dawn
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
Bernie Daraz Sep 23, 2013 8:52 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Dawn,
We used to have to draw our special tools in the system so they would properly plot and be referenced in tool loads in our older programing system, it looked similar to a DXF file in format. I wonder if that is also required in Sigmanest.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
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- Dawn Phillips @ Bernie Daraz on Sep 23, 2013 9:35 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Hi Bernie.
  
  We have defined the special tools in SigmaNEST. So, when we auto tool and it sees the pacman symbol it knows that is a .219 extruded hole. If the pacman symbol is in the SigmaNEST file it will add the correct tool.
  
  The problem is that we are having to create a .dxf file from SolidWorks and then manually add the pacman symbol in the .dxf file. I want to elliminate this step and have SolidWorks add the pacman symbol automatically when I drop the form feature in the part in SolidWorks.
  
  I believe the configuration option is out since the sketch geometry will not follow the flange when unfolded.
  
  Dawn
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
  - Bernie Daraz @ Dawn Phillips on Sep 23, 2013 3:35 PM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Have you considered creating a block in SW and Cut-Extruding the pacman symbol so it stays 'on' the part through export?
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
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    - Dawn Phillips @ Bernie Daraz on Sep 23, 2013 3:59 PM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      That is still an additional step which is what I was trying to avoid.
      
      Right now I don't see a solution that doesn't require an extra "manual" step. Especially, since we will actually need an additional hole for the prepunch going into SigmaNEST.
      
      I believe nesting software is awesome for laser cutting but there is still a lot of room for improvement on punching.
      
      I was hoping to somehow include 2D geometry into the forming tool that would transfer to the .dxf file going into SigmaNEST. That would happen everytime the form tool was inserted into a part. Thus, reducing the probability of an error.
      
      Our parts can have lots of holes and formed features. We have to be very careful when adding these features for programming/nesting.
      
      I am still hoping for a simple solution.
      
      I appreciate your help, Bernie.
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
      Actions
      - Dawn Phillips @ Dawn Phillips on Sep 30, 2013 10:51 AM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        Since there are no other replies I will assume there is no easy way of doing this.
        
        If anyone has any suggestions that will minimize the margin for error, I will certainly appreciate it.
        
        Surely, there are others that are creating sheet metal parts for punching.
        
        Thanks in advance,
        Dawn
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
        Actions

Solidworks geometry for Sigmanest Auto tooling

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