Split sheet metal part

[ClintWestwood]

Hi all,

Is there a way to split this part into multiple parts? I would like to split the part on the corners, leaving a small gap for welding. (I think mitering would be the term for this)

[JDMather]

Because it is sheet metal you will need to do Derived Component.

I think I would Slice or some other method of cutting in the Master file and then Derive Component each body as needed (you can do it the other way around as well).

Attach the ipt file here if you can't figure it out and indicate how many parts you want.

[Yijiang.Cai]

As sheet metal does not support multiple bodies, we need to convert this sheet metal to part, and use split feature to split it to multiple bodies. 

After splitting, we could use make components to make each body as one part in one assembly for downstream workflow like weldment.

[ClintWestwood]

I have used the split feature before on sheet metal parts for similar applications. However, I was unable to convert each individual part back into sheet metal, and unfold it. It is important that I be able to unfold these parts once I am finished. 

[JDMather]

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@ClintWestwood wrote:
... However, I was unable to convert each individual part back into sheet metal, and unfold it. ....

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...

Post an example here that exhibits this behavior.
1. the parts must be derived to convert to sheetmetal (as only one solid body per file)

2. the Thickness variable must match the part.

[ClintWestwood]

I am a bit confused, so I will just attach what I have so far. 

[JDMather]

There are several problems with the file.

1. Sketch1 is not constrained and not making use of obvious symmetry about the origin.

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/SkillsUSA%20University.pdf

2. Workplane1 is not needed (see #1)

3. Mirror Body - not features (see attached image)

4. Should be converted to standard part and create New Body with split tool for mult-body solid.

5. Derive (Make Component) there are only two unique components.

I will post a solution later today if someone else doesn't jump in here and post one.

[ClintWestwood]

Thanks for the link, there's lots of helpful tips in there which I will be referring to in the future. 

I graduated high school this year, and we never covered the sheet metal features in inventor in my high school classes. The company I have an internship at deals almost exclusively with sheet metal, so I have a lot to learn... Most of what I know about inventor sheet metal has come from clicking on things to find out what they do, that's probably why my initial design had so many issues.