Sheet-metal Sketched Bend

[smcadman]

I have a part that is basically a washer with 2 45 degree bends in it. It is 2" O.D., 1 3/4" I.D., and the bends are is 3/8" from the left/right quadrants of the circle to the bend line. I have been unsuccessful in creating a sketched-bend to bend it up.
After using "Extruded boss/base" to create the outside part, and "Extruded cut" to cut the inner hole, I used "base flange" to turn it into a sheet-metal part. From there, I drew a line on the top-plane to use as a "sketch bend", but the button is grayed out, so I can't use it. Apparently I made a wrong move somewhere. Can any of you tell me what I did wrong, or how to do this correctly?

Flores

 

[TheTick]

You need to use face for the sketch plane, not a datum plane.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

What SW version are you using?
If it is SW2001 Plus or later, use the Sheet Metal feature rather than creating a solid & then converting it (pre-2001 plus style).
It sounds like you are trying to use the newer Sheet Metal tools the same way as you would have used the old style ones.

I suggest you revisit the Help & Tutorial files.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

If you choke a smurf, what color does it turn?

 

[MadMango]

There would be several ways of doing this, but I think the easiest would be:

1. Sketch the ID and OD of your flat washer, select a Face, Insert>Sheet Metal>Bends.

2. Then expand your Process-Bends1, edit the sketch of Flat-Sketch1 to add two sketch lines where you want your 45deg bends.

3. After a Rebuild, edit definition of your FlatBends to 45degs.

...but that's just me. Base-Flange= crutch for after thoughts.

Ray Reynolds
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[smcadman]

Thanks for the advice everyone. What I had to do was move the Rollback Bar up, and then I was able to add the sketch bends. I am using Solidworks 2004, but I have only used Solidworks for about 2 weeks now (new company). I have been using Mechanical Desktop for several years, and have found a few bumps transitioning to Solidworks.

Flores

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I know what you mean about the "transition bumps". I am currently finding them myself while doing an "after-hours" project for a friends company & having to learn Solid Edge on the fly.

Anyhow, your initial post sounded like you had not used the Sheet Metal function correctly. The fact that you had to do a roll-back to add the sketch-bends now proves that.
I suggest that you run through the Sheet Metal tutorial, which covers initial part creation, flanges, tabs, & sketched bends in step by step detail. It will only take about 15-20 mins & is well worth the effort.

Good Luck.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

If you choke a smurf, what color does it turn?