Please help with a flat pattern of a SHEET METAL PART

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

Please, I need advices how to create a flat pattern for the attached sheet metal part.(test.ipt)?

(Inventor 2013 version used)

I simply can't figure out,,,

Thanks

[CCarreiras · Accepted solution]

Hi.

For many reasons it´s impossible obtain thr flat of this part with Inventor.

1 To complex shape

2 There is plastic deformation

3 Not the same thickness in all the part.

Regards.

[CCarreiras · Accepted solution]

Other important question about obtain the flat pattern is;

Instead of using  solid loft, use loft as a surface and then give it a Thickness, so you garantee the uniform thickness all over the part.
Loft, sweep and shell doesnt ensure the uniform thickness in all the parts, so, sometimes even in simple parts we are unable to obtain the flat.

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much for these valuable advices....

Actually, I didn't even noticed that there is different thickness..:( Shame on me !

P.S. Please recommend some documentation for sheet metal module (except the Inventor help, of course)...

Something having many "tips & tricks" is it exist. Besides the "official training guides" like "Mastering Autodsk Inventor 201X", which show the basics only.

I think would be useful for many people here.

So far, I couldn't find something like "advanced sheet metal" documentation.

Would be really helpful (the price/cost is not a problem).

Thanks again

[CCarreiras]

There was a long time ago some material about  tips for advanced sheet metal, but from Inv 2010 with the loft flange etc, they stop to give this material about "advanced sheet metal".

You have to practice doing sheet metal with this workflow:

 Create a solid shape-->derive this part with surfaces-->  give thickness to the shape you need. (dont forget to give the same thickness in the "Thickness Tool" and in the "Sheet metal Rules" or your part will not flatten)

Also you can explore the tool "face" to create complex "sheet metal parts"

Practice its the bettter training 🙂