Desk made of aluminum box.

[Squawk]

I was wondering what the best approach is to make a desk consisting of an aluminum box.

The Aluminum has to be bent on all the sides to make a "box" and then the sides have to be welded together.

1.

Sketch the base, extrude it the required size. Make new workplanes on the extruded sides to sketch the sides and extrude those as well.

2.

Sketch the base plate. Make an offset the same size as the thickness of the sides. Extrude the base and sides the required size.

3.

Sketch the base plate. Extrude using the "surface" option. Thicken the surface. Share sketch, solid extrude the base to the desired size.

And then of course after one of these steps above, turn it into a sheet metal.

Greatfull for any help!

[-niels-]

Hmm... i think i would:
1. start with sheetmetal
2. draw contour of desk
3. make contour flange
4. add flanges to close box

[JDMather]

Use whatever technique you know - then attach your file here and someone will show you how it should have been done.

[Squawk]

Mm.. yes.. didn't think about that.

I already made a version and will post my .ipt as suggested by JD.

Let's see what the aces have to say about it.. 😉

[Squawk]

Hi JD, as suggested, I attached the .ipt as I made it how I knew it..

[-niels- · Accepted solution]

I'd do it like this. (see attached.)

I might edit the "GapSize" for better welding. (it's currently set to the thickness)

[Squawk]

Thank you for your help Niels!

But I can't open your file, I have inventor 2012..

But I followed what you wrote earlier and I think this is about what you meant (see attached file)?

Where do you edit the gap size?

[-niels-]

Yup, you did exactly the same as i did.
To edit the gapsize: edit the flange and go to the "corner" tab.
In the section "miter gap" you can set the value you want instead of the parameter.

[Squawk]

Thank you Niels, that worked like a charm!

Is there a way in Inventor that I can make a weld between those sides in sketch?

Or should I not that in sketch mode (like chamfer, mirror, etc.)?

[-niels-]

I would probably put the part into an assembly and add welds there.
(environments tab > convert to weldment, 2012 might have it in a different spot though.)

[Squawk]

Ok, will do that.. Thanks!