Sheetl Metal - Trying to flatten a conical body

[krywarick6]

I have a "V" shaped cover that goes around a given radius. I have modeled the cover with two bodies and am now trying to flatten them, but with no luck.

I realize that the resulting body is based on a conical surface. I'm wondering if this is where the software limitation is kicking inby not being able to distort the material in more than one direction.

Currently using SW2011 SP4.

Suggested work arounds are welcomed.

Christopher Zona - Product Designer
Loretto, Ontario

 

[Eltron]

Wherever the material gets stretched or deformed you will have a problem flattening it in SW sheet metal.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Looks like a good reason to upgrade to SW12

 

[Eltron]

How will 2012 help?

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Swept Flange?

I haven't tried it yet, but shouldn't that function be able to create that shape?

 

[krywarick6]

CorBlimeyLimey,

Yuuuuuuup! But, we are holding off for a bit on the upgrade, so I will make due with what I have to work with. I thought there might be a trick that I wasn't aware of with 2011. Anxiously waiting for the new functionality!


Christopher Zona - Product Designer
Loretto, Ontario

 

[Eltron]

I don't think the sheet metal swept flange function is going to do what you think it does. If you deform the sheet metal it won't flatten. The swept flange just allows you to do what you can now in fewer steps.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I just remoted into my home computer to test on SW12 and it did what Chris wanted in one feature ... and flattened. How accurate the flat is, is another question.

 

[Eltron]

Interesting. Can it flatten a swept hemisphere?

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I'll check when I get home.

 

[krywarick6]

Actually, after a discussion with tech support, they guided me in the right direction.

I was able to achieve exactly what I was looking for with a lofted bend. This worked like the "bee's knees".

It's being fabricated as I write.

Christopher Zona - Product Designer
Loretto, Ontario

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

How did you get a curved, Lofted Bend?

That was my first thought, but I couldn't see how get the curve.

 

[tristram]

all you need to get a curved lofted bend is two sketches each with a curved sketch entity that is not closed. The planes do not even have to be parallel.


-Joe
SolidWorks 2011 x64 SP 4 on Windows XP x64
8 GB RAM - Nvidia Quadro FX1700

 

[krywarick6]

I can see that there is an audience just drooling with anticipation. I must please my people, so here for your entertainment is an arrogant, self centered and narcissistic display of my immence intelligense.

Christopher Zona - Product Designer
Loretto, Ontario

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

krywarick6,
Oh, I thought you meant in one feature.

tristram,
That's not the type of curved Lofted bend we are discussing. See krywaricks two uploads.

 

[gwubs]

Guys, what this comes down to is like trying to make a flat pattern of an aluminum beer can. You can't do it without distorting the metal in plane. Any one-piece sheet metal part that cannot be produced by simply bending the material has to be made by using dies & etc. to stretch/compress material. There is no way to make a non ripped flat pattern of a hemisphere for example. I know that SW can do a curved flange, but the flat pattern is not a dead accurate shape, but more of an estimated blank shape, which would likely need to be adjusted during final part tuning before production.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

The material thickness also is shown as constant in SW, which it wouldn't be in real life.

Eltron,
Yes, it will sweep an incomplete hemisphere, but will only flatten if there is a straight portion (edge) to select as the "Fixed Face"

 

[Eltron]

Interesting. I wonder how accurate that flat pattern actually is.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog