Autodesk Inventor

[#1]

I'm new to inventor, which probably explains why I
can't get this to work right, but...

I posted a few days ago about needing a curved
panel in the model, and it's flat pattern in the drawing.  It was suggested
to use sheet metal tools, which I did, and in theory works well...

I've created the panel and used an equation from
Sean Dotson's sample file in the CF newsgroup (the equation allows me to give an
arc length dimension & have it adjust accordingly).  Problem is, when I
try to create the flat pattern, I get an error (flat panel detached from base
face).

I've found that if you subtract some value from the
"radius" variable in the Fold feature dialog box (example:  radius-.125) it
will work.  That's no good though because the radius is then wrong. 
However, if you subtract a smaller value from the radius (example: 
radius-.015), you get the error again.

This leads me to believe that the error is a
function of some of the other bend variables, but I don't know enough about them
to make it all work.  I was hoping that you guys could take a look at this
and tell me what's going on.  My file is in the CF as subject "Curved
Panel."

All I'm trying to do is create a model of a curved
panel that I can show flat in the drawing, and also make that model easily
adjustable by arc (flat) length.

Thanks in advance for the help...

Brian

[#2]

Go into the Sheetmetal properties and change the radius to be the same as your
radius...450 OK out then select a face on the part and then click on the flat pattern
tool.

--
Kent
Member of the Autodesk Discussion Forum Moderator Program


"Brian Mears" wrote in message
news:438D7EF9DAD4C4F0ED845659FAC41458@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I'm new to inventor, which probably explains why I can't get this to work right, but...
>
> I posted a few days ago about needing a curved panel in the model, and it's flat pattern
in the drawing. It was suggested to use sheet metal tools, which I did, and in theory
works well...
>
> I've created the panel and used an equation from Sean Dotson's sample file in the CF
newsgroup (the equation allows me to give an arc length dimension & have it adjust
accordingly). Problem is, when I try to create the flat pattern, I get an error (flat
panel detached from base face).
>
> I've found that if you subtract some value from the "radius" variable in the Fold
feature dialog box (example: radius-.125) it will work. That's no good though because
the radius is then wrong. However, if you subtract a smaller value from the radius
(example: radius-.015), you get the error again.
>
> This leads me to believe that the error is a function of some of the other bend
variables, but I don't know enough about them to make it all work. I was hoping that you
guys could take a look at this and tell me what's going on. My file is in the CF as
subject "Curved Panel."
>
> All I'm trying to do is create a model of a curved panel that I can show flat in the
drawing, and also make that model easily adjustable by arc (flat) length.
>
> Thanks in advance for the help...
>
> Brian