Bending Plastic In Inventor ?

[Climbmiller]

Does anyone know of a way to bend a plastic sheet in Inventor so that you have the 3D model and the flat-pattern?

The process of manufacturing the bend is to notch a vee on the bend line, heat the plastic and bend the two edges of the vee together, this is what I am having problems with, the sheet metal part of Inventor has problems with this .....any advise!!!

 

[DesignerMike]

I don't think I would try to knotch it. You SHOULD be able to simply bend it like a regular piece of sheet metal. You WILL have to adjust the "K" factor and bend radius to give you an accurate flat layout though. I am guessing you will have to do some experimenting to gain any accuracy.

My only suggestion since I don't do much sheetmetal work.