When you create an Edge Flange or a Miter Flange which does not run the full width of the connecting flange, you have an option to specify a Custom Relief Type. This is the notch or relief where the flange ends short of the end of the neighboring flange.
It offers three types of relief, Obround, Rectangle, and Tear. The default being Rectangle. Then there is another default. It is the ‘Use relief ratio’ check box. But what ratio? Where did this come from?
The answer is really simply, the question is does it do you any good?
The ratio is the width and depth of the relief notch divided by the material thickness, with a range of 0.5 to 2.0. And what good is this? Well maybe an old plasma torch could benefit from this to cut the notch, but a good laser will make a narrower notch and a punch is going to need to be a standard punch size. My boss never bought me a new punch just because the drawing called for a new size. So if this feature works for you great! I prefer to uncheck this box and specify the width and depth of the notch.
Try it! When you set the notch type to either Rectangle or Obround and uncheck the “Use relief ratio’ box, the dialog changes to two edit boxes. One for the Width and the other for the Depth of the notch. Since I normally want a minimal notch I set the Depth to zero and the width according to the manufacturing method and material being used. The style, Rectangle vs Obround seems to be a personal preference, although the laser machines cut a real clean Obround style notch keeping the Width very narrow.
One more thing. In the Miter Flange, the Custom Relief Type does not like a Depth of Zero. So you need to set the Depth to a small number, even 0.001 will work. |
