Solidworks Error, won't convert to flat pattern

[JakeMartin]

Hi there,

I am currently designing an outlet for a piece of equipment via solidworks. I am using the sheet metal app to cut a piece of pipe at a 45 deg angle from its corner, then cut the remaining triangle shaped profile in half. I am then able to convert it to flat pattern. When I attempt to replicate this procedure after cutting the pipe at 50 deg instead (to increase the height of the outlet and provide more airflow)there is an error message when I try to convert it to flat pattern.

https://forum.solidworks.com/thread/98744

Any insight from someone with experience in solidworks would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jake

 

[ewh]

You might find a larger percentage of users here -> forum559

"Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively."
-Dalai Lama XIV

 

[MikeHalloran]

Slicing solids to make sheet metal does not work well in SW, because the primitives within SW for solids and for sheet metal are clearly different.
There is a sort of behind the scenes automatic conversion supplied, but it doesn't always work, and whatever error messages appear are confusing at best.


Sheet metal works MUCH better if you START with a sheet metal part, as I think was suggested to you in the other forum.
Did you work through Daen's example and try it that way?



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[drawoh]

MikeHalloran,

I systematically start from solid chunks or flat plates, and I save the sheet metal conversion for last. I have to rip the corners, but I wind up doing it my way, which is good.

When you create sheet metal part in SW, SW assigns the link Thickness, for rather obvious reasons. I do this manually. This probably saves me a lot of grief.

--
JHG