Flat pattern of contiguous surfaces

[guimba]

Hello, I'm trying to create a label that will wrap around a drafted plastic part, uploaded, and realized it's not just the perimeters of the ends and straight lines connecting them. Is there a way to obtain the flat pattern that would result from unfolding the outer faces? Thanks!

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[JMirisola]

The only way I know of to get a flat pattern is from a sheet metal part.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
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[kellnerp]

Yes there is a way. You have to use the same methods you would use when manually drafting a developed surface. It can be very tedious and time consuming to do this especially if you need high accuracy. Any drafting textbook will explain the procedure.

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[Nella95]

Yeah - to Jeff's point - the only way to unfold a part with a 1-button click in SolidWorks is to model the part as a sheet metal part w/ base/flange tab etc.

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