Sheet Metal flat parts

[kassemd]

How does everyone handle differentiating a flat part from a bent one? In the manufacturing world these are 2 different parts, but SW treats them as one.

Also, is there a 'cut list' or similar function that automates the BOM for sheet metal parts? We inventory sheet metal by the ft² under different part numbers for each gauge & finish.

Mark

Running SW06

 

[MadMango]

In our shop, it's all the same part number, just different stages of WIP.

You could probably do some API programming to pull the Mass Properties and divide the Surface Area by 2 to get your sheet metal area, then convert to square feet.

Do you have some sort of MRP system to handle the item data?

[green]"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."[/green]
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Obviously many companies use different approaches and strategies, but in the companies I've worked for, a flattened part is just one of a number of processes in the formation of the final formed part, and as such has not needed a separate part number. The processes are normally controlled by the Manufacturing Engineering Dep't.

It's the same as a piece of raw material which has been band-sawn from a stock bar. Maybe it is then rough milled into a block for the following operation. None of these steps has a unique part number, they are just steps along the way.

There is not a 'cut-list' within the BOM for SM parts, although you could include a Config' Specific Property to populate the BOM. The BOM could then be exported (non-associatively) and massaged to reflect what you need.

Inventory is normally performed by an MRP system.

If you really have to, you can assign a specific part number under the Config Specific Properties,

​

Helpful SW websites faq559-520​

How to find answers ... faq559-1091​

SW2006-SP5 Basic ... No PDM​

 

[kassemd]

We have a waterjet & thus the parts are cut there, then formed by the shop, essentially 2 different departments. We're trying to develop a system within the engineering department that ensures things don't get missed, so I want the file name (& thus the BOM part number) to reflect where it comes from within the project so it can be tracked. We build custom engineered machinery & aside from the standard parts we reuese over and over, the set of drawings for a project contains everything required to build that machine. For example, in Sequence 50 we cut Custom Part A, in Sequence 70 we bend it up and weld the seams, and in Sequence 76 we bolt it into an assembly. Now multiply Custom Part A by 12 or more & realize that they are all nested & cut in the same Sequence 50 by the WJ programmer. We can name the part file with the Project & Sequence number, but the same SW file is used in 2 different sequences. The WJ programmer wants the parts labeled in some sort of alpha numeric sequence so he can be certain that he didn't skip one, the SW drafter wants the label to come from the part to provide a link, & I think the part number in the BOM on any sequence for a part moving from one sequence to another should reflect where it comes from. I think they are all valid requests. Are we expecting to much?

We have to enter the BOM's into DBA, which is our MRP program. My goal is to export flat files of our SW BOM & push them into DBA to eliminate data entry. Our electrical guy already does this with his stuff, so once we get good, reliable flat files it shouldn't be a problem. I want to automate the SW BOM process as much as possible to minimize the chances for human error.

I know zero about API programming.

Mark

 

[MadMango]

CBL is on the right path, look into creating Configurations and using those Configuration Specific Properties to define your various Sequence numbers.

We have routings that are entered into our MRP system (laser cut, bend, deburr, inspection, etc), and are printed out on a traveler that goes with the part work orders through the various WIP stages.

[green]"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."[/green]
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[smcadman]

It may be more of a naming-convention issue than a SW issue. SW default configuration name is "Default", and the sheet metal default name is "DefaultSM-FLAT-PATTERN".

We name our configurations in consecutive numbers: 1, 2, 3 etc. and in SW Explorer, we rename the flat pattern of sheet metal parts from "1SM-FLAT-PATTERN" to "1 FLAT".

80000-01P-1 (alphanumeric after last dash is config)
80000-01P-1FLAT
80000-01P-2
80000-01P-2FLAT

The above part has 2 configurations, and a flat pattern for each config. Using FLAT makes it easy for us to follow what parts are laser/waterjet.

Finally, wouldn't a router/traveler indicate what needs to be done in production?



Flores
SW06 SP4.1

 

[kassemd]

OK, so you're saying to create 2 configutations that are essentially the same, but use the User Specified Name in the BOM Options to get my 2 different names.

Thanks, I think we can make that work.

If anyone knows how to link Part Numbers to sheet metal, I'd still like to automate that somehow.

 

[kassemd]

How does a Shop Traveler tell you that the thingy balloned with a #6 is the widget that you made in a previous sequence on that drawing & that was made from Detail A of the watercut parts?

I'm not a drawing standards expert by any means, but don't you need a link on the drawings that tells you where everything comes from? We don't deal with making 150 of 80000-01P-1 and 250 of 80000-01P-2, we make one or two & use them within the same project. Think American Chopper or American Hot Rod with an audit trail for time and material used for each step of the build.

 

[MadMango]

A traveler won't tell you that. That would be covered under process sheets, work instructions, etc... entirely different beasts, and not related to SW at all.

[green]"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."[/green]
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[ctopher]

I always use one part number. The dwg shows the bent config. It is up to the machinist to get there. I usually send a eDrawings with DXF of the flat pattern as a tool for them to work from.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

 

[MadMango]

Kassemd, I've seen other users model the manufacturing process, though I don't agree with for the purpose it was used for. They start out with their cut-blank model (raw material) as one part number. Then add features (cuts,extrudes, whatever) until they get the finished product.

Then they create configs, Supressing features in the tree (manufacturing steps) until they are back to the raw material level. I've seen where they name each config with dash numbers (-001, -002, etc) as well as assign the configs process numbers that match with their work centers, operations, tasks, sequences, whatever. The final, completed model is the last config, with the "final" part number as the config name.

I don't think you need to create entirely different solid models, just rely on the power of configurations.

[green]"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."[/green]
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[smcadman]

I'm not saying create 2 configs for a sheet metal part, just 1 part. Whenever you create 1 sheet metal part, the flat pattern is AUTOMATICALLY created.

Don't get bogged down on the "80000-01P-1", use Left Bracket-1 and Left Bracket-1Flat instead. We used to use simple names, but that kicked our butt whenever we moved our files to PDMWorks. Think unique part numbers for future growth.

If you see a balloon pointing to "Left Bracket-1", then it may be a little obvious that "Left Bracket-1FLAT" belongs to Left Bracket-1. Not saying this is the best way by any means, but doesn't this sound familiar?

How does everyone handle differentiating a flat part from a bent one?

Hey, you asked and I offered a suggestion.

Take a look at this:

http://www.paul-flores.com/flores_config_sample.PDF

Flores
SW06 SP4.1

 

[wes616]

IMO,

Engineering should not controll or be resposible for the pre-formed part. The only thing that engineering should care about would be the final (inspectable) product. So if that is the case, then just call it something, and if you really want a true flat patter part, export it as a dumb solid. That way there will never ever ever be confustion over which is the controlling part.

Wes C.
------------------------------
Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

 

[smcadman]

"Engineering should not controll or be resposible for the pre-formed part."

This may depend on your employer and the parts you are producing. If you work at a precision sheet metal shop (+/- .010" per bend), your flat patterns are probably produced by engineering for laser or laser-punch hybrid.

If your familiar with radial line development or triangulation, you would know that MCAD can spit out flat patterns in seconds what can take experienced sheet metal fabricators an hour to layout.

Unfortunately Solidwork's sheet metal capabilities work great for simple bends, but lack accuracy for square-to-rounds, transitions, etc. However, if you know the formulas, you can create an Excel spreadsheet to figure out the flat patterns that SW can't create accurately.

For example here is a screenshot:

http://img425.imageshack.us/my.php?image=excelcopysheet14ps.jpg

Flores
SW06 SP4.1