solid works, sheetmetal, swept flange

[samsonnetje]

Hi guys,

The sheetmetal option, swept flange doesn't allow me to use an ellipse as a guideline. Does anyone know an alternative or another option to create a sweep with an ellipse form as the guideline?

thanks.

 

[SBaugh]

Sheet metal in SW requires geometry to have an Axis such as a circle or a radius. I don't think an ellipse falls in that category. If it doesn't then its not a legitimate sheet metal feature in SW... I could be wrong though, maybe someone else has a solution for this.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Gryphon Environmental

http://www.2gryphon.com

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

faq731-376

 

[GRF]

If you cannot use a sweep you could try to use a forming tool. The issue with the forming tool is it cannot be flattened, at least not back in versions from 2008 and earlier. I doubt they have updated it to work now. WE will not figure out the size of the blank you will need for a completely formed part like it does for a edge flange.

 

[drawoh]

samsonnetje,

Is your flange elliptical in section or in profile?

If it is elliptical in section, how are they going to bend it? I have been told my our resellers that SolidWorks does a good job of not modelling unfabricatable features.

--
JHG

 

[samsonnetje]

GRF, thanks for your reaction. I'm using the sheetmetal features particularly so I can flatten the parts. I think the forming tool won't do the job.

 

[samsonnetje]

Hi there Drawoh,

My ellipse is functioning as a guide line. I'm bringing this design to Algeria where the will make this by hand with a special technique, they told me my design was possible.

 

[drawoh]

samsonnetje,

What you are doing is not sheet metal. Sheet metal is punching and bending. What you are going to do is blacksmithing by the sound it, which is really cool, in my opinion.

If you want to control thickness, link all your thickness dimensions. Just click on the dimension, and look for "Link".

--
JHG

 

[SBaugh]

You might look logopress, they might have the tools you need. Check out the unbending

http://www.logopress3.com/en/products-1.php

- this add-in allows any file to be unbent whether its uniform thickness or non arc like geometry.

They have won many awards for their add-in programs with Sheet metal tools.

Hope that helps,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
Gryphon Environmental

http://www.2gryphon.com

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

faq731-376