Importing model geometry can be a real pain if you don’t know how to apply some tricks. We will take a look at a few techniques in importing sheet metal files.
When a geometry is imported into SolidWorks, a popup dialog appears and asks the user to run “Import Diagnostics”.
We will go ahead and run it to see what happens.
SolidWorks has supported multi-body sheet metal parts for the last two releases, but that still came as a surprise for you. Initially it was a pleasant surprise.
The advantages are huge and clear – you can design all your sheet metal components in the context of one part, generate a handy cut-list and sprinkle the drawings with nice balloons, like in assemblies. You can even include structural members or regular solids if needed. Oh, and let’s not forget how nice the Edge Flange can bridge two separate sheet metal bodies (fig. 1). Magic!
Fig. 1 - Edge Flange Merging 2 Bodies
The problem seems to appear when you need to create drawing views for flat patterns. You do not seem to get the Flat Pattern option in the “Model View” dialog box.
Before yesterday, I was sure I knew everything about custom properties and how to use them in parametric annotations. After all, if the information is already in the model, why not use it in Drawings, BOMs and other interesting places. Well… turns out I was wrong and… I am very happy about that!
The values for some custom properties have to be input manually by the user, but a lot of them are filled in automatically by SolidWorks. The problem is that SolidWorks works in silence and does not brag about it. So imagine my surprise (a pleasant one, of course) when Michel Cloutier showed us how fast and easy is to populate a note with the sheet metal parameters of your part with just 2 clicks.
In SolidWorks there are several options for calculating the bend allowance for sheet metal bends. These calculations will determine the length of the flattened pattern shape. Three of the most commonly used options are using a K-Factor value, a Bend Allowance value, or a Bend Deduction value. Here are the calculations that SolidWorks is doing in the background when using these methods.
Sheet Metal functionality within SolidWorks provides designers with powerful tools to create accurate, formable models of their designs. However, a common point of confusion when using sheet metal functions is the difference between the auto relief and corner treatment tools.
A recent customer query had us considering a number of different methods to create a “Roll” of material.
After a number of attempts using various methods, the following suggestion to create a “roll” using the
Sheet metal functionality came from Elton Smith at SolidWorks.
The advantage to this method is that the Roll can be “Un-rolled” using the sheet metal tools within SolidWorks. Read More »
Bronek Bednarz from L-3 Wescam showed me a sheet metal model (similar to the one shown in fig. 1) and asked a very interesting question:
I need to place bolts in these bent holes, but – since the holes are no longer cylindrical - I cannot use their faces for Concentric Mates and they do not have axes to be used for a Coincident Mates. Any suggestions?
Figure 1: Holes applied to a sheet metal part
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