• Only include one feature in a notch or punch definition. If you select more than one feature, the group is treated as a regular UDF – you are not asked for tool information. If you try and place a regular notch or punch UDF an incomplete UDF warning appears because the notch or punch cannot be used in manufacturing. To create more than one cut for your notch or punch use a cut with more than one contour in its section.

• Include a coordinate system in the section sketch. You need the coordinates for manufacturing and tool axis symmetry. You cannot create or place the UDF without a coordinate system.

• Enter the proper tool ID for the UDF. The tool ID refers to that same tool when and where ever you use the UDF.

• Limiting the number of references you use. The more references used in creating the cut, the more will be needed when placing the UDF. One way to decrease the UDF references is to click No when asked if your sketched lines should be aligned.

• Creating notches intended to relieve bends after creating and unbending the bend. You can use the bend geometry to place, dimension and align the notch.

• Creating datum plane references asynchronously when setting up the sketching plane. This eliminates creating extra datum planes before placing the UDF.

• Locating all dimension references to sheet metal edges rather than datum planes. The edge location carries the UDF as the sheet metal is bent and unbent. It also eliminates creating extra datum planes before placing the UDF.

• Using relations in the reference part to reduce the number of variable dimensions needed when placing the notch or punch. (Relation example: Cut height is always 0.5 of wall height.)

• Creating punch axis points while sketching the cut. These special datum points are unbent and bent back with the feature. You can dimension to them in drawings.

• When you are creating a table-driven notch or punch, you can modify any tool name instance for in the table.