topic Re: Trouble creating flat pattern in Inventor Forum

Trouble creating flat pattern

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 02:26:30 GMT

Hi guys,

I've been tasked to draw up a triangular curved table leg, which will use three sections of sheet metal welded together to create the form. I didn't think I'd have any trouble, but after trying multiple workflows to try and achieve the flat patterns I've had no luck. I tried to create a solid and shell it to get one of the sections, tried to create one side as a surface and thicken it, also tried to just loft it with rails and with all of these I couldn't get a flat pattern to work.

I've drawn up a quick solid to try and explain what I'm trying to achieve. Any ideas how I could redraw this to get a flat pattern for these three sections?

Re: Trouble creating flat pattern

stephenrottloff7259 — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 11:35:35 GMT

I would start by modeling the 3 parts separately. at least the linear bent back piece should be able to produce a flat pattern. The non linear bent side pieces are most likely the cause of the problem. See if they will flatten individually.

Thank you,

Stephen R.

Re: Trouble creating flat pattern

stuart_smith82 — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 12:20:25 GMT

Hi,

Try using the sweep command instead of loft. Then if you want to create everything in one file initially I would create individual solids. Once you have the solids you can make components. I was able to generate flat patterns using this method: https://www.screencast.com/t/io1kTwCggJgB

Thanks

Stuart smith

Graitec UK

Manufacturing

stuart.smith@graitec.com | www.graitec.co.uk

Re: Trouble creating flat pattern

blandb — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 15:03:20 GMT

@stuart_smith82

He cannot use sweep as his profile changes size from 100 mm leg to 60 mm leg., it is not the same size throughout the path. This is why he chose loft.

Re: Trouble creating flat pattern

stuart_smith82 — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 15:34:22 GMT

I didn't see that the sizes were different either end.

I think he will struggle to flatten this using sheet metal. It might be easier to create the shape flat and then bend using bend part.

I have managed to get it it work in sheet metal but I create using sweep, used unfold feature, once flat I cut away what I didn't need, then refold.

Re: Trouble creating flat pattern

TheCADWhisperer — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 17:36:28 GMT

It looks like your parts might be close to trimmed conical - if you could edit to cones - that would allow Flat Pattern.

Otherwise either Autodesk MeshMixer or sign up for Inventor beta http://beta.autodesk.com

Re: Trouble creating flat pattern

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 17:49:13 GMT

This seems to be my only quick workaround. It's not just a simple skeletal model like I was hoping but it's only a couple of extra operations to achieve the end result

Thanks for the input guys

Re: Trouble creating flat pattern

IgorMir — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 02:58:55 GMT

Hi Matt,

The model is a bit more challenging than it might seems to start with. Here is what I can offer. Please see the attached IV2018 files. All parts are sheet metal ones.

Cheers,

Igor.

@Anonymous wrote:

Hi guys,

I've been tasked to draw up a triangular curved table leg, which will use three sections of sheet metal welded together to create the form. I didn't think I'd have any trouble, but after trying multiple workflows to try and achieve the flat patterns I've had no luck. I tried to create a solid and shell it to get one of the sections, tried to create one side as a surface and thicken it, also tried to just loft it with rails and with all of these I couldn't get a flat pattern to work.

I've drawn up a quick solid to try and explain what I'm trying to achieve. Any ideas how I could redraw this to get a flat pattern for these three sections?