Sheet Metal - Cut in Flat Pattern

[EngineerMickeyMouse]

Inventor 2014: I am modelling pipe (with small longitudinal gap) as a contour flange. Then I proceed to Flat Pattern, where I create sketch and add complicated geometrics to be cut. Going back to Folded Part my cut is not enabled. Is there a way to enable this or is it feasible to take different steps to achieve what I described?

[guido_66 · Accepted solution]

What you're looking for only works using unfold,then cut and then refold, instead of going to the flat pattern.

[EngineerMickeyMouse]

How can I proceed with cut that should be made on cylinder plane, and this cut has to be spline ?

[brendan.henderson]

A screen capture would be useful.

How about extruding the shape you need as a surface, then split the sheetmetal part on that surface, then thicken/offset the split section?

Or create a workplane and a sketch, then project the Flat Pattern, create your sketch and then Cut Across Bend? I learnt that one from JDMather.

[JDMather]

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@brendan.henderson wrote:

Or create a workplane and a sketch, then project the Flat Pattern, create your sketch and then Cut Across Bend? I learnt that one from JDMather.

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I don't think so.  AFAIK, the Project Flat Pattern and Cut Across Bend only works with sketches created on a part face, NOT on a workplane.  I don't see a user created workplane in your image.

[JDMather]

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@EngineerMickeyMouse wrote:

How can I proceed with cut that should be made on cylinder plane, and this cut has to be spline ?

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Attach your *.ipt file here.

A cylinder is not a plane.

[jletcher]

 Look at this see if it helps look at the sketch. I always leave a .010 straight on my rounds plates.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! It depends on when the cut is made. If the cut nees to be made when the sheet metal part is flattened, guido66 is correct. Just do Unfold on the Folded part and then make the cut when the sheet metal part is flattened. Then do Refold to fold the part back.

If the cut needs to be on the Folded part when the part is in folded state, then just make the cut.

Thanks!

[mdavis22569]

What about making a solid of the shape you want to remove .... the use the Sculpt tool to remove it.

We use this for our outlet chutes on Conveyors and troughs ...works like a charm.

[brendan.henderson]

Sorry JD. Wording was wrong. The Project Flat Pattern in the image was to a part face.