yang686526

how might i make this a sheetmetal component.
i do not have a lot of sheet metal experience with solidworks, or really any 3d solid modeler; however i find myself needing to model/detail a fairly complex sheet metal part.
3d sketch attached, this is what i am trying to make.
where do i start? thinned solid? what about the bend radii?
i don't expect this to formed in 1pc, i do expect welding.
any tips would be greatly appreciated.
i will add one more images... as i went cross-eyes when i tried to decipher the first image
it looks like one of these.
do you have a better picture? maybe more info?
you can also do a google search, or a search here in this forum. also try youtube...lots of solidworks videos,
here is one site:
ok, first thing is to go through the tutorials available in solidworks. if that's a singular sketch, you're going to be jumping through hoops to create your part(s).
can you post the actual part file as well? it would make things a bit easier to decipher.
jeff mirisola, cswp, certified driveworks ae
this wouldn't be too hard to make into a sheet metal model, the real question is it economically viable to make this with sheet metal operations? set-up time alone would drive this part cost through the roof.
i would start by creating a solid block, then cut-extrude material away to get your shape. don't worry about any edge radii. then apply a shell to get your uniform wall thickness. then you will have to rip edges (or manually cut them) so the model is physically able to be unfolded (without overlapping material). once you have these features, you can apply sheet metal bends to make a sheet metal model.
"art without engineering is dreaming; engineering without art is calculating."
just modelled it to test out 2009's new converting to sheet metal process, photoview 360 and because i could not sleep!
took 45 mins. need to sort out 1 small overlap - which the sharp eyed amongst you will notice - this will take about 5 mins tops, but i am going to get some shut eye now as this distraction has taken just enough time to cure my insomnia.
pics below:
what is the size of this part?
what is the material?
as wp's flat pattern shows making this out of one piece will waste a lot of material. depending on what the material is it may be more economical to make several pieces and weld them together.
as you can see from the flat pattern, it is a nasty mess. it would be better if you could make it from multiple parts, at least 3.
ctopher, that made my day!
flores,

chris
solidworks/pdmworks 08 3.1
autocad 06/08
arlenn,
do you care how they rip it and weld it?
i would be tempted to not use the sheet metal feature. show the critical dimensions, including the corner radii. show some areas where the fabricator can place flanges. let the fabricator figure out how to do it.
jhg