topic Re: Sheetmetal unfold in Inventor Forum

Sheetmetal unfold

tawrus80 — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 17:00:04 GMT

Is there a way to unfold this sort of part normal to the origin plane when all flat surfaces aren't normal to it? I want to add holes at some of the bends but want them circular on the flat pattern.

If I unfold using a surface, the flat part is at a 45 and it causes issues when patterning, even though the geometry is selected for pattern directions. The refold (after EOP) isn't working correctly, either.

Re: Sheetmetal unfold

Mario.VanWiechen — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 17:59:48 GMT

Model the part using contour flange, then use unfold to flatten the part. Model all your holes using the bend lines to position

Use refold to bring it back.

When using unfold and refold be very careful you use the same ref surface or it will not work correctly

Re: Sheetmetal unfold

johnsonshiue — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 18:54:13 GMT

Hi Karl,

Unfortunately, that is not possible. The Unfold command allows the user to pick a planar face and then uses it as the base face to unfold the rest of the faces. You may use Direct Edit -> Rotate -> Body to relocate the flattened body to be parallel to a plane. However, you will need to delete or suppress the Direct Edit feature before refolding it back. Otherwise the transformation will be incorrect.

Many thanks!

Re: Sheetmetal unfold

blandb — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 19:22:06 GMT

In this case, any pattern of the feature will cause the part to refold funny. Sketch driven or midpoint rectangular for example. Just a single cut will refold fine.

Re: Sheetmetal unfold

kacper.suchomski — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 20:01:01 GMT

Draw a flat flange parallel to the workplane, add holes, then remove the flange.

BTW. If you draw holes on the plane after unfolding, they will be circular in the flat pattern. There is no contradiction here.

Re: Sheetmetal unfold

Frederick_Law — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 20:41:33 GMT

Don't use unfold.

Use project flat and cut across bend.

I can't open your 2024 file.

Attached 2023 ipt.

It is better to array holes in the sketch instead.

Re: Sheetmetal unfold

Frederick_Law — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 20:57:21 GMT

Change d4 and d5, the hex will follow.

Re: Sheetmetal unfold

karl.lednik — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 21:38:58 GMT

Right on. Thanks guys, for confirming how unfold/refold works and that feature patterns don't come out right, but also for suggesting work-arounds that aren't convoluted.

Much appreciated.

Re: Sheetmetal unfold

IgorMir — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 05:45:50 GMT

Hi Karl,
I would be tempted to design the part using Surfaces. Here is a part in IV2020 format.
Cheers,

Igor.

Re: Sheetmetal unfold

karl.lednik — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 20:13:16 GMT

it's interesting that using this technique doesn't prompt you for a A-side when creating a flat pattern. Instead, it somehow determines the correct origin plane. I will play around with this, thanks.

Edit: I got temporarily confused between flat pattern and unfold. A flat pattern is always laid the XY origin, I believe.

Edit 2: I wanted to use a feature pattern for the small holes in order to pattern the locating pins in the next assy. It won't work with a sketch pattern.

Re: Sheetmetal unfold

Frederick_Law — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 20:05:30 GMT

@karl.lednik wrote:
Instead, it somehow determines the correct origin plane.

Sometimes, not all the times.

Good practice to define A-Side.