Flexing a part

[ctopher]

I have SW04, SP1. I am sending an assy to a customer with a flex circuit sticking out of the assy. Is there a way to make it so that they can insert the CAD model into there computer and flex the circuit to fit there design?
thank you

 

[JNR]

Nope. Well, that's the short answer. Actually the real answer is "Yes and/or no as the case may be.".

OK. A solid model is a solid model. It depends on how you construct it and what CAD systems both of you are using as to whay you can do with it after it is created. If you are both using SW it is easier.

We use sheetmetal features for flex circuit modelling. You have to use a nominal K value, of course because you don't want to deal with bent allowances with these materials and radii.

If you know what their assembly looks like you can add a configuration with the bends. If not and (a) you construct your model appropriatley to allow for it (b) they have SW, then they could do this for themselve and even send it back to you. You might even create the configuration with no changes ahead of time so you have naming under control, etc.

If you have to transfer throuhg Parasolid or something else it gets more complicated, but I'm sure you could figure out a standard method between you.

Note that we also use rigid/flex boards (and not just add-on stiffeners) so in those cases the final "board" is an assembly with the rigid parts sandwiched either side of the flex part. You can convert edges to simplify it, but watch out when you fold because some referenced edges may get confused if they are split into more than one.



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