AutoCAD 2010/2011/2012 DWG Format

[#1]

I want to show a "flat view" of a cone I've created.  Almost as if to "unroll" the cone and show it as one flat piece.  I'm not sure if this is possible in AutoCAD but is there anyway to do it, I've attache the cone for reference.

[#2]

I'm not aware of a way to do that in ACAD.  It is possible in Inventor using one of the sheet metal commands (I think).  If that's not an option, this may help: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=create+flat+pattern+%2Bcone.  Time for some old fashioned drafting!  

[#3]

http://search.sheetmetalworld.com/news/articles/198.cfm

http://schools.spsd.sk.ca/waltermurray/library/Subjects/Drafting/Dr%2010%20new/Development%20Notes.p...

[#4]

Not in AutoCAD.  But cones are easy to do manually with some basic geometry understanding.  See attached.

[#5]

jaich,

You got the "use inventor" line in before JDMather... he must have missed this one!!

[#6]

If you will do a search there are some stand alone and AutoCAD add-ons that will do it, no freebies that I have found. Litio is one I have used. Try http://www.black-cad.homepage.t-online.de/starten.htm 

[#7]

How did you know at what angle to cut the circle at?

[#8]

The length of the arcs are the same as the length (circumference) of the two respective circles forming your cone.  I color coded the attached drawing so you can see where I came from.  

[#9]

OP go back to Analytic Geometry (perhaps a google with this and "cone" will get some how-to info)...