Find complete edge length of sheetmetal part..

[WayneBeck]

I thought there once was a way to get the edge length of a cross section. I am trying to figure out the cut time for a laser machine and currently we are measuring edge loops on all features.

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[mdebower]

We use the following set of equations to do this automatically.

-marc


/*Set S_THK equal to sheet metal thickness. Use system parameter, not SMT. Keeps relationship working if SMT is not defined.
S_THK = smt_thickness()

/*Set S_MPA equal to system parameter area
S_MPA = pro_mp_area

/*Set S_MPV equal to system parameter volume
S_MPV = pro_mp_volume

/*Calculate burn length for laser.
S_LBL = (S_MPA - 2 * (S_MPV / S_THK)) / S_THK

[mdebower]

Oh, the part has to be flattened for this to be accurate. Forgot that lil' bit...

[BobSchwerdlin]

I would create a datum curve intersecting the part (use datum plane?) and then use Analysis, measure, curve length.

[DanMcCaherty]

In addition to the easy tip Bob S recommends, you can also add an analysis feature that records the length of that curve and show that length in your Model Tree. You could also add an annotation that refers to that dimension (see the attached screen grab image).

[merrill.rosenow]

There is another, and very useful way.

Create a distance or length feature using the distance or length analysis (named Feature_Name in the following example). Select the feature option instead of the quick option from the pull down menu. Create a parameter with the nameof the dimension you'd like to use (Parameter_Name in the following example). Set up a relation such that:

Parameter_Name=distance:fid_Feature_Name

For a length, type length instead of distance. Also be that :fid_is used between distance/length and the feature name. You can now put this parameter in your drawings, which will dynamically update as you change the model. You can also add this parameter to a family table to display the lengths for various sizes. Please note that this feature is sensitive to its location on the model tree, and if you are measuring the cut size between two flats that is not inserted into the flat state it will fail.