KirbyWan
Aerospace
- Apr 18, 2008
- 583
O.K. I was just trying to figure out how to flatten a cone and went through some of the old topics on this subject. The most recent ones were from 2007, and I think SW has changed enough that this would be a good time to revisit this recurrent topic. I've done this before but it seems like I have to relearn it every time.
Here is the method I used:
1. I created a sketch with a centerline and a single line slanted WRT the centerline. Note It asks if you want to close the sketch, answer no since you want a thin feature.
2. I revolved this around the centerline. Interesting problem I had was that in my nutty preferrence for maximum accuracy I chose to revolve it 359.99°. This breaks SW. If you revolve 359.95 it works fine. I don't know why.
3. I then click Insert --> Sheet Metal --> Bends and select an edge of the cut where the cone was not quite closed. I have a question here. What does the bend radius dimension here control? To start it is some random small number. I then set it to .1" but the bend radius is really 2.97" at least at the narrow end, when I look at the flat pattern.
4. At this point I was expecting the usual sheet metal tools and I have Sheet-Metal1, Flatten-Bends1 and Process-Bends1, but no flat pattern. No worries though because when I create a drawing a flat pattern is available.
There is a link to the file below.
Please feel free to comment on my process, suggest best practices and alternate methods such as the lofted bends.
Hope this helps anyone else who has to remember how to do this every time it comes up.
-Kirby
Kirby Wilkerson
Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.
Here is the method I used:
1. I created a sketch with a centerline and a single line slanted WRT the centerline. Note It asks if you want to close the sketch, answer no since you want a thin feature.
2. I revolved this around the centerline. Interesting problem I had was that in my nutty preferrence for maximum accuracy I chose to revolve it 359.99°. This breaks SW. If you revolve 359.95 it works fine. I don't know why.
3. I then click Insert --> Sheet Metal --> Bends and select an edge of the cut where the cone was not quite closed. I have a question here. What does the bend radius dimension here control? To start it is some random small number. I then set it to .1" but the bend radius is really 2.97" at least at the narrow end, when I look at the flat pattern.
4. At this point I was expecting the usual sheet metal tools and I have Sheet-Metal1, Flatten-Bends1 and Process-Bends1, but no flat pattern. No worries though because when I create a drawing a flat pattern is available.
There is a link to the file below.
Please feel free to comment on my process, suggest best practices and alternate methods such as the lofted bends.
Hope this helps anyone else who has to remember how to do this every time it comes up.
-Kirby
Kirby Wilkerson
Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.