Unable to refold a sheet metal part

[ARCross]

I have a sheet metal part that I am able to unfold but cannot seem to refold after having punched an elliptical hole through the part. The sheet metal part was created as a extruded cone, shelled, split and unfolded. I have tried to refold it without the hole and am still not able to refold. In the refold dialog box, I can choose the anchor point and the bend but the 'ok' button remains greyed.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I have uploaded the part.

[JDMather]

>The sheet metal part was created as a extruded cone, shelled, split

Use sheet metal tools for this. In any case Shell of a cone does not result in correct geometry - the flat edges will not be perpendicular to the flat.

[ARCross]

I tried using sheet metal tools but am still unable to refold. Here it is again using the lofted flange command instead.

[Anonymous]

Would sometining like that work for you? Please see the attached.
Igor.

--
Web: www.meqc.com.au
www.boatworks.meqc.com.au
wrote in message news:6288831@discussion.autodesk.com...
I have a sheet metal part that I am able to unfold but cannot seem to refold
after having punched an elliptical hole through the part. The sheet metal
part was created as a extruded cone, shelled, split and unfolded. I have
tried to refold it without the hole and am still not able to refold. In the
refold dialog box, I can choose the anchor point and the bend but the 'ok'
button remains greyed.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I have uploaded the part.

[ARCross]

Igor,

I appreciate you working that through. I still need to unfold, punch holes in the part and refold.

It seems to be a relatively strait forward operation but I have been unable to do this with even a simple cone.

Andrew

[Anonymous]

Hi Andrew,
Yes it does look like one way ticket. On the model attached once the Unfold
is performed - there is no way to Refold the part. With or without holes,
BTW. I did try to create the holes using Project flat pattern in a sketch -
couldn't do it either. The function is greyed out in the sketch mode. Maybe
some one else will chime in, since I am out of ideas at a moment.
Best of luck,
Igor.

--
Web: www.meqc.com.au
www.boatworks.meqc.com.au
wrote in message news:6289092@discussion.autodesk.com...
Igor,

I appreciate you working that through. I still need to unfold, punch holes
in the part and refold.

It seems to be a relatively strait forward operation but I have been unable
to do this with even a simple cone.

Andrew

[ARCross]

Hi Igor,

I have come to the same conclusion. A little disappointing but then, i think this tool is new with Inventor 2010.

BTW, I checked out your website... looks like you guys do some interesting work.

Andrew

[JDMather]

>The function is greyed out in the sketch mode.

Sketch must be created on a planar face of the part (not workplane) to use Project Flat Pattern. If one doesn't exist a sacrificial face can be created first - then removed in the same cut used to cut the hole(s).

[ARCross]

Thanks,

I tried to project a flat pattern by first creating a sacrificial surface on the face of the cone and then sketched my ellipse shape on that surface. The 'project flat pattern' sketch was not greyed out but I was not able to project the flat pattern of the cone onto my sketch. I then attempted to use the 'cut across bend' tool. It did cut through the part, but only cut that part of the surface that had been flattened to create my sacrificial surface.

AC

Edited by: ARCross on Nov 15, 2009 4:59 AM Edited by: ARCross on Nov 15, 2009 5:00 AM

[JDMather]

>first creating a sacrificial surface on the face of the cone

Not what I meant at all. Looks to me like you are doing wayyyy too much work.

I would be interested in seeing this entire thing when you have it finished - I'm betting I could turn the entire assembly into a trivially simple multi-body pushed out to individual flat sheets.

[Anonymous]

Hi Andrew,
I have remodelled the Master file and it works now. I have removed the first
Cut in both models and have created a gap by revolving each of the cone by
an angle instead. Similar to what Jeffrey suggested in his post. The reason
why I didn't go with the Revolve by an angle in original file was my attempt
to keep the gap width uniform across the face of the cone. But if the gap
width is not an issue here, then Revolve by an angle is a go.
Needles to say, that I was not able to use Rip feature on the Branch. It
kept on failing on creation. Same is true for the large cone when trying to
make a Rip across the cut out. I am still puzzled why Refold didn't work in
the original version of the model. Too many questions as you can see
Thanks for looking at my website. Yes there were some interesting projects
in the past. The robotic Loss on Ignition analyser was designed in IV7. And
then I machined all mechanical components except the encoder disks for that
system. Look forward to get involved with something similar in near future!
Best Regards,
Igor.

--
Web: www.meqc.com.au
www.boatworks.meqc.com.au
wrote in message news:6289195@discussion.autodesk.com...
Hi Igor,

I have come to the same conclusion. A little disappointing but then, i
think this tool is new with Inventor 2010.

BTW, I checked out your website... looks like you guys do some interesting
work.

Andrew

[ARCross]

JD, thanks for setting me on the right track. Revolving a surface worked nicely. You mention a multi body? Is it possible to make multiple flat patterns from a single part?

I normally wouldn't set up my sheet metal parts this way. I received the file from a client and agree, it is a little messy. They are just looking for the cone flat pattern.

Thanks again guys.

AC

[JDMather]

> You mention a multi body? Is it possible to make multiple flat patterns from a single part?

Multi-body doesn't support sheet metal but it is trivially easy (one button) to push the parts out to individual part files and then set thickness and unfold.