Step 1.
I created a flat piece of metal in Inventor's Sheet Metal tool. This serves as a 'generator' for my I-feature. I like to create parts who live only to create I-features for me. It allows me to go back and try again if I make a mistake the first time. Make sure you use a Point, Center Point in your sketch or the punch won't work!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9pu-3qWgmMfaW_XsV_zNmTdBVqOL5YKHv_xbsG9hXr7woxAwkzihP1cPnAxnOnQkQymHsts_Zj-FIdLe3L_iAjEdBkGMyEAYJSdqwcwcxTf8NkCXe9lZxkPJgVOcuylrfX3_5Q/s320/Step+1.jpg)
Step 2.
Next I draw my 'Footprint' for my punch. In this example, this is also going to be the simplified representation for my punch. You'll also note that I set the circle's offset to be equal to the material thickness. This will allow the emboss thickness to adjust to different sheet metal thicknesses.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lAzhEmo4RI750dpZR2VvUKPQQ0-1QaiQOaFsQA39bTT3KsYPc5ndZ-z00xEUs-9uDF9vIowLSVFe-DVmgx-xctTERvODrpNM6d28Y7hsKcVQPck0zGJspezdmyyBlS6C0fa-mQ/s320/Step+2.jpg)
Step 3.
I'm going to use Inventor standard modeling tools to create my emboss, so I'm going to go to the Convert pulldown and switch to the Modeling environment.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJkVAAuf9rs4CN2XCEOb3DVekt1F70CIjH7EyxP6FNnr86yh0m8QXsNbxzjmyqs9fMJKaxt58FjcsYedIiWBk1_v56Tt_P2I8t3AZ7Ez8U5HDxlStyuJ7NQH6e51Xj4iW-XS9UQ/s320/Step+3.jpg)
Step 4.
With this done, I can now start embossing the outer portion of my emboss.
In my example, I've made the emboss's depth 3 times the material thickness, with a taper angle of 15 degrees. Of course your values may be different!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoJy9-wEWwn5hty1Ro-OoZpg5Qem8aFttr2WrdmD7yosUCBxZKYAGqcI17QZnUGiBqgZnnf32xRqWxwFonTiG0z_780y41lRYQnYWZM0rlVHEacwv0Jmli3KkqsCakPgOfZXuMA/s320/Step+4a.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKVyJeu0F4OaymDppYAyu5feFw30KdnM1k47evGDX0ZW-Q9SHish_Igb5q2i6issJfN7Mn8gYtRhPtM6NNCRHqUPecU76DqPpi18VJpgHRdgV4lKEMUC4Qobv9Mrr5ExfxBDeUg/s320/Step+4b.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFu5Chs3U3rze5TffyHbegXzRSrfXs2Q5FLMTUVFTV5rr0Kad2dKNk7QM8uZjvojvDKFMnFdoBMnET7vzHpwhB_5OyFBxkpFsKDXzqobeL2SQK3quifTJU0mLxxw50OXVITeLRQ/s320/step+4.jpg)
Step 5.
Now we need to 'hollow out' the emboss. I'm going to reuse the sketch I created back in Step 2, but first I need to use the 'Share Sketch' tool so I can access it for the next step.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6ifEAZ7HDjIp8u6DnZocdI_NluDJ5vFTSyT15pyAW8V20fz_ojc3FYIsL03KA7MXPQJFvugG3WUcaokDV_8dg6NBvnl72zx8K9jc6KQ9vhFvtDvrL7ot3OTa2PwporMpgngM8g/s320/Step+5.jpg)
Step 6.
With the sketch available again, I can use the extrude tool to cut out the emboss. I use the same settings, but only cut 2 times the material thickness for the cut (so we don't cut out the bottom of our emboss).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJC5AxTfb-e387TmDkGLb5EL6iFqf1XghWTy_3VPUuDBIQNMJJo0gR30aw0SpTavFgxUHsmKVk-HO0R7XpQgRg-3ca511hP0tpVGYtimpnnDcQszzyHmtjwxEpNIUA9kK3fOm1A/s320/Step+6.jpg)
Step 7.
With the Emboss nearly completed, we can break the sharp edges with the fillet tool. Notice that I used the Thickness parameter again to keep my emboss thickness consistent.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HFIZU2_vLPyua8Aq0F_mrWQ8f-EXBEJ55YDnrUpbpXHddG0SNsw4TKVHKzQpw8Z3T3_R7Hi3bieLc4j3O4h-z91ZznBnxWg5gw5nnw-5w2uJKjqLD9d6RqP9X6QNT7lufPWBag/s320/Step+7.jpg)
Step 8.
With this completed, I renamed my sketch to 'Footprint Sketch'. This isn't absolutely necessary, but it helps find the sketch when we need again a little later.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwuM6TpDBXssp1cuM_puBcDY2g89dmF9H_uGAVJUkWQ5nQQUyNf7ocWo2934WGvHaZ3A2GXVgyM376P4xQJ-OxMXtVZuIRlcnjs424ZH2Mwo_vTRnAK3rdKW6UUcvGd6GDmppsw/s320/Step+8.jpg)
Step 9.
Finally, we get to go to Tools>Extract I-feature and create the I-feature!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx1-OL9TGrEtQxkjQBOouH9eC42ZNSCwPL9YkGRvdf30XQ_6Amg5x23EQB7zm1pxs4S2GIP8aS_y2rYwkywLP-dW4JhQVO5YvCmeeo26xK50ES6b5lE8YJlyTbqkwHiyGI4DcUg/s320/Step+9.jpg)
Step 10.
Now that the Create I-feature dialog box is up, make sure to choose the punch option. Notice the following:
a) I added the diameter as one of my size parameters (so I can change the diameter of my emboss). You can add as many or as few parameters as you need.
b) I used the 'Footprint Sketch' in the foot print option.
c) Make sure you add all the features you need, in this case I have two extrustions and the fillets. You can also add the features by picking them from the browser. It may be easier that way.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMA-feVW5Kzyqzz5ZiqFWq74fpVoe2LHhv-NORNv3C70k64IP60cEidKDyqnUirfVNXNRKWYp1ZxPP-JutvSi8AICBqIN2sofBixvtmnCkgn-JNz_Q25DNQP0zvV4Twae6lGWQDQ/s320/Step+10.jpg)
Step 11.
Save the punch, and now your ready to go use your punch in your designs!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10MpbWG0l64aasThFAr5nbqSJlykfWqklcnNnwnwUHRpAAKiwpGg_WX7867V0L82mDYYwe7WwrqiZ4zRr0ClCfzzJNRqsRvESJ3vWuGdV3fb2GcV9rWlQAfoz35gNjE2-ym76PQ/s320/Step+11.jpg)
Happy Inventing! I hope everyone enjoyed the CAD Summit, and that this post is a useful extension to the event!