Please help with flat pattern

[jeregonn]

I am having trouble finding a work around to get this part into a usable flat pattern. I received the part originally as a stp file. I am running autodesk Inventor 2010. Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

[jeregonn]

This is what I have so far. How do I get the part I have drawn to match up to the part I am re-creating?

[mrattray · Accepted solution]

Why did you do this again?

Anyways, once you replace that duplicate dimension with a tangent constraint go ahead and use an unfold feature, then use the hole feature for the round holes and a cut feature for the notch, then use refold to finish the model.

[jeregonn]

I do not understand how I would know where to locate the holes

[JDMather]

Create Axis through the holes of the original part and perhaps some workpoints at intersection of axis and projected part face and then create a dimension a drawing.

You are probably going to have to experiment a bit because of bend stretching, but designers tend to use nice easy numbers for the finished center-to-center distances and angles.

[jeregonn]

Ok, thank you for your patience. I had some trainging a few years back but it was in 3D modeling only. We didnt even touch on sheet metal tools and now I have a job at a sheet metal fab shop.

I will attempt this and post my resluts.

[JDMather]

If you don't get it figured out - just hollar back and someone will find a solution.

[mrattray]

"Hollar back"?

[jeregonn]

To make this easier we are going to be locating the holes on the formed edge after the part has been formed.

This is where I am at with the part now. I have located the holes on planar piece of this but am having trouble getting the profile of this feature cut out.

[JDMather]

This sketch isn't very good quality - if you zoom in here close you will see there are actually two arcs.

 Also two arcs and overlapping at other end.

[jeregonn]

I projected the geometry from the customers model to a sketch and then copied that sketch and placed it on my part to aid in locating the features. 

[JDMather]

I always change projected geometry like this to Construction linetype.

[jeregonn]

Should I be able to trace around the projected geometry and cut away the mat'l I do not want?

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

Yes, of course you can - but you have to create clean sketches rather than those overlapping non-tangent arcs.

Keep in mind that designers use nice regular numbers for arc sizes - dimension them!