A detailed description of the use of this program and all its settings you can find on my website.

Command Lay

Select all the details in the assembly and call the Lay command. If command is called before selection, the program prompts to select the details. Selection will be saved after working on the command (see Common Options).

Next step select insertion point. The point query contains a Setting option. Call it to adjust the program.

After selecting the insertion point the program will process all solids. The program looks for the largest flat surface of the solid and believes that it should be in the plane XY. Thus it appears that the plane with blind holes is on top. Also it revolves detail around Z so that the longest edge extends along the axis X (if Texture=Across then using Y axis). Program sort detail by size from large to small and lay details down axis Y.

Plugin works only with objects such as 3D solid. If you use blocks then explode them before invoking the command Lay. By default, calculating the size of the solid need to turn it at right angles. If this is disabled, the benefit will have the longest line or arc.

The plugin is designed for use in the design of sheet material details. In these details there is always the main plane, which determines how to put all other item. This algorithm does not work for spheres, tors and shaped details. The program can measure the simplest sweep bent parts, but they must be specially tagged. This requires the plugin Names.

If program cannot lay out the detail then the plugin will display a warning window and problem details will be highlighted red. To remove the red illumination start any other command.

If enabled “Layer Management” function, MD_Annotation layer will be assigned to the title.

The settings are saved in the Windows registry for HKEY_Current_User .

Follow the messages on the console. There may be program messages.

Command “–Lay”

This command has few console options inside “select point” query. I hope you know to call options by first litter or by dropdown menu.

After any options, the input program will query for the point again. And you can use other option. Thus you can adjust program at any call. It makes possible creating macros and buttons for different way using command LAY.

The installer that ran when you downloaded this app/plug-in from Autodesk App Store will start installing the app/plug-in. OR, simply double-click the downloaded installer to install the app/plugin. You may need to restart the Autodesk product to activate the app/plug-in. To uninstall this plug-in, exit the Autodesk product if you are currently running it, simply rerun the installer, and select the "Uninstall" button. OR, click Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features (Windows 7/8.1/10/11) and uninstall as you would any other application from your system.

Title string can contain next substitutions:

%number%  or %#% - item number in numbered list,

%layer%  or %l% - solid layer name,

%color%  or %col% - solid color name. If color has no name – color index inserted. If color = “by layer” – space inserted.

%material% or %mat% - render material name,

%thickness% or %depth% or %d% - depth (thickness) of solid (minimum of the three overall dimensions),

%width%  or %w% - width  (length)  (maximum of the three overall dimensions),

%height%  or %h% - height  (third of the three overall dimensions),

%volume% or %v% - real volume of solid (not product dimensions),

%asym% or %a% - Indicator asymmetrical: the distance from the boxing center to the center of mass. It allows you to identify the offset holes, and others.

%asymv% - The direction of the center of the box to the center of mass in three dimensions. It differs from the mirrored parts

%tech% - Technology, a method of manufacturing parts

%count% or %c% - quantity of identical solids,

%box% or %note%  - comment “Box” for easy boxes.

%nobox% - comment “Not box” for all solids except easy boxes

If you are using a plugin Names, you get access to substitutions:

%mirrorcount% or %mc% - quantity of identical solids, marked like ”mirror”,

%sumcount% or %sc% - summary quantity of identical solids (unmirrored and not),

%name% or %n% - string name of object. If grouping then will use the first available solid name. You have to check that there are no identical solids with different names,

%sweep% or %s% - comment “Sweep” for solids marked like Sweep,

%mirror% or %m% - comment “Mirror” for solids marked like Mirror ,

%texture% or %t% – comment about texture direction,

%tr% - “1” if Texture property = No, “2” if Texture = Along or Across (for Cutting3 program)

%info% or %i% - description of detail or any other information

%kind% or %k% - kind, type, material of object or any other information

%dmm% and %wmm% and %hmm% - convert current drawing units to mm. Imperial formats ignored. 

Plugin NAMES add 3 new properties to solids: Sweep, Mirror and Texture. 

Updates 

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