Sheetmetal question: pressed sheetmetal parts ? 1

[321GO]

Hi Guys,

i have a sheetmetal part that is pressed into shape and as such is not a 'pure' sheetmetal part, that can be produced solely by bending(metal is streched in my case).

I tried modeling this in the sheetmetal environment, but inventor creates multiple single bends with gaps in between them. Basically i can only create the shape with pure (natural) bending and cannot simulate/model the (unnatural)pressed bending of the real part.

I ended up doing the multiple bends method and closing the gaps afterwards in model space with multiple loft features.

The downside is that inventor cannot create a flattened shape anymore, probably due to the loft features i guess.

Does this make sense?
Is there a more dignified/less sloppy way of doing something like this?

 

[rollupswx]

Can you attach the part file here?
Probably a "dignified" technique of creating - but not getting the flat pattern without a 3rd party add-in.

 

[321GO]

The flat pattern isn't that importand for this part, so that would be acceptable.

But i found it strange to have to switch between model and sheetmetal environments constantly. I don't understand the reasoning behind such different 'environments'.

What's the reasoning behind such different 'environments' really? One could then just as well create the whole thing as a part and don't bother with the sheetmetal, right(in this particular case)?

 

[rollupswx]

You forgot to attach the file here.
There is absolutely, positively no need to switch between environments. This should be rather obvious. Sheet metal environment simply offers some constrained tools that help get simple stuff quicker (uniform thickness and automitered corners - bend allowance calculation is the only real difference) and help make it a little less likely for beginners to make parts that won't unfold or with edges not perpendicular to flat face.
Attach your file here.

 

[paintballJim]

Another method for creating this part is to create it all in surfacing. Then if the surface is complete, (No holes) you can thicken the surface. Remember I stated "another method" not "easier" as surfacing can be tricky until you master it.

Jim

 

[Ungenious]

Would it be simpler to do the deformed section as a regular part, the sheetmetal section as a sheetmetal part, and do a boolean union of the two? It would be somewhat less than convenient to make updates later, but at least you get the sections modelled efficiently in their "native" environments. (This is assuming you need/want to take advantage of the sheetmetal functionality.)

Graeme

 

[rollupswx]

The OP hasn't responded in over a month - I think we can assume the problem is no longer of interest.

 

[321GO]

OP is back in tha house.

Sorry for the late response chaps. I attached a sketch per illustration.

The basic shape is a simple "U" bend, but then tapered to the top, from half the height.

Since this part can only be forced fabricated (not by pure bending alone), I'm concerned it cannot be done purely in sheetmetal mode

 

[mcgyvr]

Just model it in the part environment and move on.. No point in modeling that in the sheetmetal mode.

 

[rollupswx]

Looks like a trivial simple part to model - if you have trouble figuring it out, attach your file here.

 

[321GO]

Back them I modelled it switching between the two environments.

Afterwards, I was informed that it was usually done as a solid and then converted to a shell with a certain thickness.

p.s. the shape is much more complex than my sketch by te way, it was the tapering i was worried about.

Is it also correct that a flat pattern cannot be made from a hybrid part like mine? Only works for pure sheetmetal parts?

 

[rollupswx]

Flat patterns can be made from ANY valid part using any Inventor tools.

Constant thickness
Cylindrical or conic bends
Planar faces
Cylindrical or conic faces
and some special geometries created with Inventor Sheet Metal tools (like Lofted Flange....).

 

[mcgyvr]

You can flatten certain parts made solely in the part environment..

But this part (as shown in the above image) doesn't fit into those limitations and cannot be flattened as the material is required to deform in multiple directions.

 

[321GO]

@rollupswx, your're tone is very unpleasant and very commanding, why?

Regardless, thank you all kindly!