Creating sheet metal parts to fit an existing one

[BlindChickenRacing]

I have a base part and am trying to fit parts inside it. Is there a way to create the folded part then in the assembly create the rest of the parts that I need to fit into the first one but be able to save those parts seperately? I am running SW 2004.

Check here for the example

http://www.blindchickenracing.com/How_to/2x3reararms/2x3arm.jpg

I have the gray part done but the brown parts need to fit the shape. There are a couple others that I need to have fit inside the other side but first things first.

What I need to end up with is a collection of flat parts I can then plug into my CNC plasma and cut them out.

Any ideas? I have previously created the parts manually and made changes, checked fit, changed, fit, changed, fit ad nauseum.

Thanks,

Mark


__________________________
Mark Johnson

http://www.blindchickenracing.com

 

[rockguy]

You need to insert your gray part into an assembly. Next you need to build the other parts in the context of that assembly. This is called top down design. The help section explains this concept. Once you have your gray part fixed in a an assembly. you can go to INSERT/COMPONANT/NEW PART. Select the starting plane for the part and begining sketching your new part based on the existing gray part. To explain this in detail here would take some time but the help section or top down tutorial should be able to give you what you need.

 

[BlindChickenRacing]

Thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for. I knew there had to be a way to do that, I was just not finding it.

-Mark


__________________________
Mark Johnson

http://www.blindchickenracing.com

 

[BlindChickenRacing]

Thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for. I knew there had to be a way to do that, I was just not finding it.

One thing I came across is when I define the plane I can insert the first part. If I then define an offset plane for the second, it will not allow me to insert a component, only modify the existing one. In the feature manager the entire section is red. Any idea why?

-Mark


__________________________
Mark Johnson

http://www.blindchickenracing.com

 

[rockguy]

You need to be careful about what mode your in. When you insert your first part you automatically go into part edit mode. You draw your sketches and do your extrudes, sweep, etc and you have your second part. You need to click out of part edit mode before you can continue on to another part. (this is why your part is red) There is an icon in the assembly toolbar for this. A tip to easily know which mode your in. When in assembly mode viewing the model shaded all parts are opaque. When in edit part mode the part you are editing is opaque but the rest of the assembly is transparent.

You will also want to define the planes for your future parts in assembly mode. There may be times when this is not the case but that is the best practice.

 

[BlindChickenRacing]

Thank you, that did the trick.

All you said has helped and I just have one final question about this aspect.

I need a sheet metal cover for the back side that fits the opening and has three bends in it to fit the contour. Is there a relatively easy way to do that? I was trying ot create a center line on the contour then create the sheet metal part out of that but it would not let me do that.

See

http://www.blindchickenracing.com/2x3arm2.jpg

for the side I have to cover.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Mark


__________________________
Mark Johnson

http://www.blindchickenracing.com

 

[rockguy]

I would create a plane in the middle of the gray part extending from the brown part to the yellow. I would then convert the edges of the gray part or offset the edges (depending on how the cover is suppose to fit). Once I had the correct sketch I would do a midplane extrude to the width required (you could use a value or and "up to surface" or "offset from surface" end condition.

 

[JNR]

Isn't there a tutorial section on this? I think there used to be.

John Richards Sr. Mech. Engr.
Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics

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