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How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2022 9:36 am
by Mike Gera
I'm struggling with the attached part.

I need to convert it to sheet metal so that I can generate a flat pattern for the blank.

Any ideas?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2022 12:06 pm
by bnemec
what version of SW is that saved in? I cannot open.

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2022 12:15 pm
by Frederick_Law
Remodel it in sheetmetal. It'll take longer to "convert".

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2022 1:18 pm
by Mike Gera
bnemec wrote: Tue Mar 01, 2022 12:06 pm what version of SW is that saved in? I cannot open.
2021 SP 5.1

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2022 1:18 pm
by Mike Gera
Frederick_Law wrote: Tue Mar 01, 2022 12:15 pm Remodel it in sheetmetal. It'll take longer to "convert".
I tried to but couldn't figure out how.

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2022 3:14 pm
by SamSpade
CONIC HALF WASHER.jpg
Your part doesn't seem to have any sheet metal operations (no break forming or roll forming). Looks like something that would require a stamping operation or something similar. You can try creating a conic surface and then flattening that.

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 3:12 am
by Lucas
Try using this method:

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 5:08 am
by gupta9665
You can use the swept flange as well.

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 6:38 am
by HerrTick
So you have a feature called "halving cut" that doesn't actually cut the feature in half. That's problem number 17.

Why not just make a 180° revolve?

If you make the cut edges through the center axis you get a straight edge that can be used in the convert operation.
image.png

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 6:40 am
by HerrTick
Wait... you won't have a straight edge. This is a revolved arc, resulting in a torus. Can not convert.

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 1:34 pm
by Mike Gera
gupta9665 wrote: Wed Mar 02, 2022 5:08 am You can use the swept flange as well.
Hey Deepak,

I tried that this morning. File attached. It will not let me flatten.

Any ideas?

Thanks for your help!

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 4:35 pm
by HerrTick
Before you waste too much more time trying to flatten...

WHY must you flatten? Are you building the tool? Are you purchasing flats to form in-house?

If someone else is building the tool, don't do the flat for them. Good toolmakers have better tools for the job. Poor toolmakers don't have the right tools for... most things. The best toolmakers won't even look at your flat.

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 5:07 pm
by Mike Gera
HerrTick wrote: Wed Mar 02, 2022 6:38 am So you have a feature called "halving cut" that doesn't actually cut the feature in half. That's problem number 17.

Why not just make a 180° revolve?

If you make the cut edges through the center axis you get a straight edge that can be used in the convert operation.
image.png
Thanks. I tried that. It gives me a "No bends found." error.

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 7:40 pm
by Lucas
Mike Gera wrote: Wed Mar 02, 2022 1:34 pm Hey Deepak,

I tried that this morning. File attached. It will not let me flatten.

Any ideas?

Thanks for your help!
The problem is that you are using an arc as a profile, it must be a line.
image.png
image.png
image.png

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 7:56 pm
by Lucas
Loft-Bend makes a different Flatten geometry. (I converted the inner arc into a sketch for it and deleted the body)
image.png

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2022 12:30 am
by gupta9665
Mike Gera wrote: Wed Mar 02, 2022 1:34 pm Hey Deepak,

I tried that this morning. File attached. It will not let me flatten.

Any ideas?

Thanks for your help!
I would go with what @Lucas has already stated. Hope that helps.

Re: How would I convert this part to sheet metal?

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2022 11:08 am
by HerrTick
Be careful substituting a loft for a revolve. You are substituting a tolerant feature (B-surface) for an analytic (torus). You may come close, but never exact. Up to you to decide how close is close enough.