Creating Flat Pattern of Curved Sheet Metal Inventor 2014

[CJ.10E-10mm]

Can anyone help me flatten the curved sheet metal in the attached file please.

Whilst I can determine the length of the wide curved base of the triangular part manually I cannot determine the angle of the three edges.

The part is from a critical piece of equipment, hence my requirement to know the precise angles of all three edges when flattened.

Many thanks.

CJ

PS It doesn't have to be a sheet metal part if another method would work OK.

[JDMather]

Why are the faces curved (only about the thickness of a sheet of paper) rather than planar?

[JoAnn_Hogan]

Hi CJ.

I dont quite understand what you are trying to do. Please have a look at my attachment. Is the red lines the lines you are trying to get the angle from? And how do you want to unfold this part if it is not bended to start with?

Please correct me if im wrong

[CJ.10E-10mm]

Hi JoAnn.

I have reworked the part to exaggerated the curvature, which although slight, is absolutely necessary for the proper functioning of the equipment.

I was hoping that we could have the parts laser cut flat and then have the angles ground on all 3 edges and then finally have the curvature applied in a press.

But to achieve this I need to know to what extent, the curvature alters the mitred angles to the  2 equal sides that meet at the summit.

Otherwise I will have to either manually calculate the flat size to allow it to be laser cut, then apply the curvature and finally then apply the angles to the three faces.

Alternatively, cut the part from thicker material so that the curvature to the front and back faces can be milled afterwards, which will add considerably to the cost.

Thank you so much for your kind help.

[CJ.10E-10mm]

Hi,

I am hoping to resolve my unfolding problem of what in effect is a parabolic curved surface by using an add-in app from Solid3DTech called SmartUnfold.

I will update this message as soon as I have a flattened profile.

Many thanks,

cj