How to form a partial funnel flat pattern?

[Phoenix28146]

How would you go about creating a flat pattern for a funnel with the top 2/3rds cut off? I know you to make one by rolling the sheetmetal and then "welding" the ends together but how would you do it for if you wanted to form it from a washer shape as the base material? In essence you are almost drawing the washer down into the partial funnel shape using a press. Is this something SolidWorks can even do?

 

[JMirisola]

You can create the part as a loft feature, but deep draw operations can't be unfolded as they aren't folded to begin with. You could create a part file with two configurations. One config the washer, the other config the stretched part.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

 

[Phoenix28146]

Thanks JMirisola, but how would I figure out the inner and outer diameters for the washer config if I only know the dimensions of the formed funnel? Say if the washer's inner and outer diamters are 3" and 4" respectively, that would leave a 1" width of material across both sides of the washer. But that 1" would theoretically stretch during the forming process right? So if I wanted an 1" length along the side wall of the funnel I would need to make the difference between the inner and outer diamter of the washer be less than 1". So if I only know the side wall length in the formed position how do I extrapolate the difference between the inner and outer diameter of the washer?

 

[JMirisola]

Sorry, but I don't have an answer for that. I haven't had the need to do any sort of deep draw operations, and the math involved is way beyond my feeble mind's capabilities.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

If a forming shop will be doing the work, let them worry about the blank ... you just supply the finished requirements.

If you're attempting to make this part in-house, you would probably have more success with Spinning a washer shaped blank into a cone.

A deep drawn part would probably start with a solid blank (no hole) and have the ends sliced off after being drawn.

Lots of information here;

http://www.suwaprecision.com/Metal_Stamping_Articles/metal_stamping_die_design_articles.html

 

[StrykerTECH]

Sounds like you want to use the software to generate a blank from the finished size. At StrykerTECH we prefer not to just throw stuff over the wall. So I like your initiative.
You need BlankWorks, a third party tool to do that.

http://www.dasi-solutions.com/productpages/formingTechnologies.html

StrykerTECH Engineering Staff

http://www.stryker-tech.com/