Inventor - Sheet Metal Rules

What is a sheet metal rule?

Sheet metal rules include:
• sheet material and thickness
• bend and corner relief preferences
• miter, rip and seam gap value
• unfolding rule selection
• flat pattern punch representation (applied by default to sheet metal features during flat pattern creation)
• flat pattern bend angle reporting preference

Benefits:
•Easy way to organize sheet metal design properties that are unique to multiple vendors
• Consistency across designs
• Consistency in a multi-user environments

Video link: http://www.screencast.com/t/MjExODkxZ Created by one of the Cad Geeks

Sheet Metal - Using Legacy Flat Data

Many times we need to use existing 2D data to create 3D folded models within Autodesk Inventor. This data may be living in a dwg or dxf file format. This blog consist of the steps and video that speaks of some of your options when importing this data and creating the 3D model itself.
Steps used for using legacy flat data:
1.Start new sheet metal part, start the insert AutoCAD tool
2.Select dxf or dwg file
3.Select import options
4.Clean-up imported geometry trim and extend tools
5.Finish Sketch
6.Select Sheet Metal rule to be used
7.Use Face tool, select geometry
8.Create new sketch where needed project bend lines
9.Use fold tool to bend selected areas
10.Continue steps 8 and 9 until your part is completely folded

Video link:
http://www.screencast.com/t/ZDZiYmU1MGUt
Created by one of the Cad Geeks

Importing 3D Geometry into Sheet Metal

With 3D becoming more popular daily many companies are exchanging data in a 3D format and not to mention that the translators you find in the products these days also makes exchanging data easier than ever. Still there is a need to take that 3D data and bring it into the sheet metal environment to generate flat pattern layouts. Today we will take a look at using an iges file and the steps needed to use it within the Inventor sheet metal environment.

Video link:
http://www.screencast.com/t/OTI1MDc1ZT
Created by one of the Cad Geeks

Inventor Sheet Metal - Contour Roll

I just wanted to take a look at the Contour Roll command inside Inventor 2010. Of course this command will be found in the sheet metal environment, and by the way you can make some really cool shapes with it. So what is a contour flange:

A contour flange is defined using a profile sketch and a straight edge on an existing face. The profile sketch consists of lines, arcs, splines, and elliptical arcs. Contiguous geometry in the profile results in bends in the contour which honor the bend radius value of the sheet metal style. The contour flange can be offset to either side of the profile sketch.

One more important item of note since it lives in the sheet metal environment let's not forget the automatic flat pattern that can be provided. Let's take a look.

Video Link:

http://www.screencast.com/t/NWE3N2NjNDM

Created by one of the Cad Geeks

Sheet Metal - Square to Round

Today we are going to look at the square to round functionality in sheet metal, as well as the rip command. By using these to functions, you are now able to easy create a sheet metal part that transitions from a square shape to a round or vice-versa. This functionality has been highly requested in the past and I think you'll agree that it is quite easy to accomplish what you need.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

John with the CAD Geeks

Inventor 2009 - Fixing those Bad Corners....Sheet Metal that is.

Well today I had one of my faithful customers send me some file asking for help. He was making some flanges on a sheet metal part...3/8" material. When he ran into a problem from past releases of Inventor.

So we looked at the model and quickly I could see that his problem was one of the specific areas that was addressed in Inventor 2009.

I took his same part and made it the way he was wanting it. Now he has to get the IT guy to roll out their 2009 software or else I might be doing his work on the side!!

So here is just one more reason to upgrade to 2009.

Check out my Video here:

Enjoy,

Jim.....Another INCAT CAD Geek!

Let's Fasten that Sheet Metal PEM Style

There has been a nice addition to the sheet metaltools for Inventor 2009. PEM brand fasteners are now a part of the content center.

This also means that you can place them using the bolted connection tools as well.

Check out this quick video:

They are quick and easy to use. This addittion will give you a lot more control over building up those sheet metal parts.

Enjoy,

Jim.........Another INCAT CAD Geek!

Square to Round Loft in Sheet Metal with Autodesk Inventor

I have had a lot of customers ask about making a square to round lofted sheet metal part that would actually flatten out. I have created a template part for this operation and tied that part to a spreadsheet to allow for quick configuration of the part to fit your need. The method I used was creating a 40 sided polygon for the circle and placing 1/4 of a 40 sided polygons in all four sides of the square instaed of fillets. Then I mapped all the transistion points.

Take a look and see if this part can work for you.

Follow the link to download the part file and excel spreadsheet that controls it.

DOWNLOAD LINK

Enjoy,

Justin, Another one of the INCAT CAD Geeks

More Sheet Metal Inventor 2009 Updates

We have talked about some of the improvements to the Sheet Metal capabilities in Inventor 2009. Two more supported items to add to the list is the ability to accurately unfold large bend radii and the "arc weld" corner option. In this Monday edition of Ask the CAD Geek, we'll take a look.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO HERE

Short and sweet, just like Mondays should be!

John with the INCAT CAD Geeks.

Sheet Metal Corners in Inventor 2009......Now you have a choice!

In past versions of the sheet metal tools in Inventor the corner choices were somewhat limited.
The new 2009 release of Inventor has added some very nice functionality to the sheet metal tools.

Now we can edit each corner as it's own. No longer are you restricted to a single corner condition created at one time.

Check out this video where I edit the corners of a contour flange part to have several different typs of conditions.

Watch my video here:

Enjoy,
Jim......Another one of the INCAT CAD Geeks!

Inside the Contour Flange with some internal bends

One of the great new Sheet Metal features to come along with Inventor 2008 was the improved Contour Flange command. This could be used to create some elaborate box type shapes, but it had limitations with internal type flanges. Autodesk is improving the sheet metal environment once again with Inventor 2009, and one of the improvements now allows many types of internal contours.

Watch Video Here

Contributed by Ben of the INCAT CAD Geeks

Sheet metal to DXF for burning

I have a lot of sheet metal parts to get made and I keep saving out my IDW as a DWG and creating a DXF after I clean up the profile in ACAD, isn't there a faster way to get this done?

I get this question a lot. The answer is yes there is. If you are using Inventor to design your sheet metal parts you can use the flat pattern to generate a cleaned up dxf with layer mapping.

Check out this quick video on how its done.

http://www.screencast.com/t/FLB7TvT8

Keep crankin' out the parts!

Jim

Another one of the INCAT CAD Geeks!

Another Sheet Metal Tube

Well I was out on the road traveling and am a little behind in getting this post up.

So here it is. Like Dave's post earlier for a sheet metal cone, here is a straight tube that can be used for a holding tank or a pressure vessel. It will alow you to unfold it and get an accurate burn pattern. We can use a simple sketch and some construction geometry to create it.

Check out this video of how it works.
http://www.screencast.com/t/WFojaZYBBm

Jim
Another one of the CAD Geeks

Creating a Sheet Metal Cone

I have been asked many times while onsite how to make a sheet metal cone. I will show you one method to produce a flat pattern for a sheet metal cone.

The first step is to draw my basic sketch in this case I will use the idea that my opening will be 3” at the top and 5” on the bottom. Once completed, I will revolve my sketch around my origin Y axis making sure I am not at a full 360 degrees. The small opening that will be created by not fully revolving the section will allow Inventor to be able to flatten the cone. Remember, a quick short cut to the revolve command will be to select "R" from the keyboard. Once created you will convert your standard .ipt file into a sheet metal file and make sure to change your metal thickness in the sheet metal styles to match your sketch. To create the flat pattern you will need to select the inner or outer face of the cone, and then select the flat pattern command. This is one way to create a sheet metal cone, but there are many others. Have fun with it and find the best way to suit your needs.



Check out my video of how to do this.
http://screencast.com/t/FgUjPLdpHN

Enjoy,
Dave Another one of the INCAT CAD Geeks