topic Sheet metal slot and tab in Inventor Forum

Sheet metal slot and tab

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 22:12:43 GMT

I have been searching for guidance on how best to create 'slot and tab' features in sheet metal components. I've learnt a lot about how SolidWorks achieves this, and whilst their implementation looks really cool and easy to use, I don't have access to SolidWorks!

Attached are files representing, in a simple form, what I'm trying to achieve.

Creating the slots, not a problem. Creating the tabs, similarly is not a problem.

I thought about creating the tabs, and then using 'project geometry' to form the slots, and link their placement - but how would you include a tolerance? ( the parts need to be easily assembled and that would mean a slightly larger slot).

Any ideas and suggestions welcomed 🙂

Re: Sheet metal slot and tab

SBix26 — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 00:43:05 GMT

This looks like a good application for master part modeling. See attached assembly and components in Inventor 2021 format. There is one additional file (the master part), but no adaptivity. All geometry controlled by the master part. Unfolding, material assignment and drawings (if any) done in the individual derived part files. I went ahead and made a component pattern of TestPlate2 using the parameters from the master file. If you want to check it out, open the master and change parameter QtyX from 6 to something else, then back to the assembly and click the Update button-- voilà! Change other parameters, add features, etc in the master part, then update the assembly.

Hope this is useful. I avoid using adaptivity whenever possible...

Sam B
Inventor Pro 2021.1.1 | Windows 10 Home 2004
LinkedIn

Re: Sheet metal slot and tab

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 01:28:20 GMT

Hello @SBix26

Thank you for your suggestion.

I can see that it would make multiple instances of a given part really easy to create and maintain.

The part I'm trying to model is an open sided tank, with no duplication of components. I'm not sure I understand how a master file would be helpful for this assembly?

Re: Sheet metal slot and tab

SBix26 — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 02:48:41 GMT

The advantage is not in the multiple instances. I merely assumed that was part of the task given the multiple slots.

The advantage of this technique is to do most or all of the modeling in one part file, where robust relationships between features are very easy to create and maintain. Essentially you have all the advantages of adaptivity with none of the fragility and limitations. Highly dynamic assemblies with lots of moving parts are more difficult because in a single part file you can't do movement. But for a mostly static assembly, it's great.

I'll take a look at your attachment tomorrow; it's about bedtime now.

Sam B
Inventor Pro 2021.1.1 | Windows 10 Home 2004
LinkedIn

Re: Sheet metal slot and tab

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 03:02:07 GMT

Thanks Sam.

I'm not in the office for until Thursday, so there's no rush.

Kind regards,

Paul

Re: Sheet metal slot and tab

johnsonshiue — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 22:39:38 GMT

Hi Paul,

I believe you may want to use mutli-solid body workflow in sheet metal. Essentially, you can build a sheet metal assembly within a multi-solid body part. I assume this is the same technique you used in SWX. Is this what you were looking for?

Many thanks!

Re: Sheet metal slot and tab

SBix26 — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:13:27 GMT

@Anonymous Here's an assembly that is close to what you posted, all controlled from the master .ipt file. Make any reasonable changes you want to the master, then update the assembly. That's all there is to it.

Feel free to ask questions. I might even know the answers!

Sam B
Inventor Pro 2021.1.1 | Windows 10 Home 2004
LinkedIn

Re: Sheet metal slot and tab

karthur1 — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 13:42:32 GMT

@johnsonshiue

The "Slot and Tab" feature is something that we are using more and more of these days. This is a great way to improve our manufactured products. In Inventor, it takes quite a bit of time to model these and ensure there are no errors.

There is some discussion on the IDEAS page about the "Slot and Tab" feature. Your support for this much needed improvement would be appreciated.

Thanks

Re: Sheet metal slot and tab

cadman777 — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 16:10:31 GMT

I've done sheetmetal 'joinery' like this in the past, and it's very effective. The way I did it was to create the feature Parameters and locations in the Skeletal Model (master file) and then manually create each 'tab' and 'slot' on each part, with references to them as either sketch points or work points in the master file. Then they get arrayed if possible.

Otherwise, I don't trust any other way to control their placement and size for reliability.

It's a very tedious process that I leave to the end of the modeling process when the basic model is complete. It's a lot like adding fasteners to the assembly at the end of the modeling process: Tedious and time consuming!

Re: Sheet metal slot and tab

johnsonshiue — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 22:14:26 GMT

Hi Kirk,

I don't have any update on this. For feature request, you can follow up on Ideas forums or Inventor Feedback Community.

Many thanks!