Sheet Metal Dome

[dklarz]

I'm trying to design a dome that's curved in two directions. Can I get any help as to how to go about making this a sheet metal part? See attached .SLDPRT

Thanks - Dave

 

[TheTick]

You could make it a lofted bend.

But I wouldn't bother. It's a stamped part, not formed. Competent stampers make their own flat patterns from better tools.

Never send a flat to a vendor.

 

[looslib]

"Never send a flat to a vendor."
This is so true. You are not buying the flat part, you are buying the finished bent part. How your supplier develops the flat is his business and must work within his tooling.
We developed flat patterns at a prior company for internal use only because we knew what our machinery could produce. When we sent some parts out, the vendor asked for flat patterns. We ended up working with them to develop DXF drawings of the flat, but we told them they were for their use only.

"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

 

[Jboggs]

A dome in Solidworks is much easier than in the real world. Several tools are available: Dome, Deform, Indent. Take your pick.

You could also make is as a Revolve.

 

[SBaugh]

In conjunction with Jbogg's post. As long as the dome is a unified thickness, you can try and then convert it to sheet metal from there.

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Mechanical Engineer
Ciholas

https://www.ciholas.com/

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

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