Streamline Solution for Boxbuilding

[generalpatton]

Just wanted to check in on some of you geniuses - looking to take a metal box assembly and seamlessly create flat/bend patterns then extend this to nesting optimization, hopefully without having to output dxf's then manually import into nesting program.

Any experience in this and a recommended route to get there?
Thanks!

 

[drawoh]

generalpatton,

You want to design a series of metal boxes out of sheet metal, that nest into each other. Do they have covers? Do you plan to use the same thickness of sheet metal for all the boxes? Can each and every sheet metal box use the same fasteners and the same connection details like flanges and holes?

For most of my sheet metal design, I start either from a base or a hollow box, and I do not set it to sheet metal. For each part, I double click on my thickness, and I link it to the value [tt]thickness[/tt]. I make my box and my cover(s). For each piece, I rip the corners myself, because I don't like the say SolidWorks does it. I convert each piece to sheet metal.

Having designed your first sheet metal box, you can create the others either by copying the first one and changing the sizes, or you can create configurations.

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JHG