gp13
Mechanical
- Sep 27, 2007
- 156
SW2009 SP4.0
We start out making a sheet metal part. Then we make a drawing for said part, with a separate sheet for the flat pattern so we can export it as a DXF. I know you can do that from the part itself, but to do it from the drawing gives us a little more control over the DXF and any additional work it needs.
Our parts get cut on a laser, and there are different layers for different cutting conditions, such as etching. Is there a way to change the layer of geometry, either directly in the part, or in the drawing?
The only way I've been able to do it, is to hide the edge I want to "change" then select it while hidden, and use "Convert Entities" to make a line on that edge. I can then change the layer of that line. This works fine for a few lines, but if we have a pattern of 200 holes, it is pretty ridiculous to go through and do that for every one.
The way we do something like that is to save the DXF, then open it up and change the layers. The problem here is when someone changes the part, and makes the new DXF, they have to remember to go in and change those. Or worse, whoever is doing the change has no idea that any edges should be on certain layers.
Sorry this is a bit long, but this has been a slight issue for a while, that I've been trying to solve, but a "trigger happy" intern caused this to be a widespread problem, so now is the perfect time to find a solution, if there is one.
Thanks in advance,
Matt
We start out making a sheet metal part. Then we make a drawing for said part, with a separate sheet for the flat pattern so we can export it as a DXF. I know you can do that from the part itself, but to do it from the drawing gives us a little more control over the DXF and any additional work it needs.
Our parts get cut on a laser, and there are different layers for different cutting conditions, such as etching. Is there a way to change the layer of geometry, either directly in the part, or in the drawing?
The only way I've been able to do it, is to hide the edge I want to "change" then select it while hidden, and use "Convert Entities" to make a line on that edge. I can then change the layer of that line. This works fine for a few lines, but if we have a pattern of 200 holes, it is pretty ridiculous to go through and do that for every one.
The way we do something like that is to save the DXF, then open it up and change the layers. The problem here is when someone changes the part, and makes the new DXF, they have to remember to go in and change those. Or worse, whoever is doing the change has no idea that any edges should be on certain layers.
Sorry this is a bit long, but this has been a slight issue for a while, that I've been trying to solve, but a "trigger happy" intern caused this to be a widespread problem, so now is the perfect time to find a solution, if there is one.
Thanks in advance,
Matt