topic Re: Contour Roll in Inventor Forum

Contour Roll

nonhlanhlaYJ48B — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 11:40:58 GMT

Hi, I'm trying to draw this component but I'm finding it a bit tricky. I've tried using contour flange, it only gives me the outline. I've also tried drawing the base of the plate and then adding the flanges but it leaves gaps on the component where there aren't supposed to be gaps. My last resort was using extrusion and then shelling the structure out, it works but I can't get a flat pattern for the component for obvious reasons. I'm unsure on how to use contour roll and I don't know if it's going to help me achieve what I want, if someone could help me draw this component as it is either using contour roll or another that would be very helpful.

p.s I have attached a picture of the component🙃

Thank you

Re: Contour Roll

blandb — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 13:09:32 GMT

Looks die formed, so you will not get a flat pattern. You could use the "unwrap" command to get an approximation. Contour roll needs a centerline axis to roll around. I don't see that command being used here. You could draw the main shape as an extrude > Shell for wall thickness. I don't see the entire thing, but that would be a good starting point for one method. Could look at surface modeling this as well.

Re: Contour Roll

nonhlanhlaYJ48B — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 13:59:57 GMT

Thank you, I really appreciate it

Re: Contour Roll

A.Acheson — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 14:41:36 GMT

What industry are you trying to make this for? This looks like it's for agriculture a belt/chain guard of some kind. Will it just be a one off? It would be far easier and cost effective to make this with angled flanges, weld the flanges and galvanize the steel plate after welding. Or just make out of stainless steel and skip the coating.

If you truly had to follow the large curve then this could be hand bent as the flange depth is shallow. Looking at the image it actually looks like its hand bent with something like a vicegrips as the flange is all creased or someone just decided to batter it up good.

I doubt it would be cost effective to develop any tooling to mechanically press/stamp this part. So I would first look at your price point you need to be at and the tooling readily available to you and the time spent designing the part. If it isn't easy to find the tools in inventor sheetmetal it is highly likely it will be diffult to achieve the part in the workshop. A redesign might be needed.

Start with talking to the fabricator first and working backwards this will generally yield better results as they will filter out the challenges based on the skills and tooling available at their shop.

Re: Contour Roll

nonhlanhlaYJ48B — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 05:40:28 GMT

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.