Need help with Multi-Bodies and sheet metal functions

[alitahl]

Hello all,

I'm looking for some advice on how to create a boxed slot and tabbed object. The object will consist of a bottom plate, top plate, and internal ribs/side plates that will be slot and tabbed accordingly to be welded. So far I have created the bottom plate, and am having trouble creating a multi-body in the same sketch to ensure that everything is in place. The bottom plate has been converted into sheet metal, and I am trying to draw on that right now if that has anything to do with it.

I have attached some jpegs of the side plate that I started working on. What I am having trouble with is creating the side plate so it fits together to be one piece, but separate from the bottom plate. I tried creating a 3D sketch, but utterly confused while trying to constrain it. Any tips on how to go about creating these internal pieces, that will all also have to be converted into sheet metal parts.

Thank you,

-Robbie

 

[alitahl]

The other picture as well.

 

[JMirisola]

Do you mean so that it fits together like puzzle pieces or do you actually want it to be one piece?

Rather than using a 3D sketch, you can either offset a plane from the parallel edge and sketch on it, or you can create the necessary sketch on that parallel face and then offset the extrusion.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWE
My Blog

 

[alitahl]

Thanks! This seems to be doing the trick so far, I just took the surface parallel as suggested, and created a reference plane. And you are correct, the ribs, and plates will be fitting together like a puzzle, that will ultimately be welded together.