inventor sheet metal flat pattern does not reflect folded pattern

[Rwhite417]

Sheet metal enhancement request. Inventor 2013 pro

Create a flat pattern of a cylinder

The sheet metal example file 10.75 OD PIPE .365waWALL.ipt when in flat pattern does not have the correct length measures 32.478 inches should be 33.772 inches.

Also the folded pattern has model has four 10-24 UNC threaded holes however the flat pattern shows only two threaded holes.

The flat pattern is essential for manufacture.

Please consider this enhancement request

Robert White

rswhite@comcast.net

[DRoam]

HI @Rwhite417. When sheet metal is rolled or bent it stretches. So your calculation for the circumference (33.772) would come out too long after rolling. Inventor accounts for the growth using sheet metal formulas and constants, resulting in a shorter dimension for the flat pattern (32.478). These calculations are based on theoretical ideals, and it's up to you to verify if they're correct for your material and fabrication equipment. You may need to run some tests with your material and equipment, and use that to tune Inventor's calculations. And even then it will vary in the future based on your material (where you got it from, its composition, allowed variations in properties, etc.) and other factors (the temperature on the day you fabricate, slight mis-calibration in the equipment, what mood the operator is in that day...). Sheet metal bending and rolling isn't an exact science, unfortunately. But you can get "close enough" with sufficient effort. How much work is "sufficient" will be determined by how close you require "close enough" to be.

Regarding the threaded holes, you would need to post additional details (preferably an actual Part file) for your reporting of this issue to be of any use. Saying there's a problem but providing no details about the circumstances surround it or how to reproduce it does no one any good.

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