topic Re: Unfold sheet metal from STEP file in Inventor Forum

Unfold sheet metal from STEP file

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 13:36:27 GMT

I have a model created in 123D Design that I need to unfold as a metal sheet. Since 123D Design does not have such feature, I´m trying to do it using Inventor but I can only use the STP file.

It does not seem to work. Should I configure where the bends are? Ot it just does not work with STEP models?

Regards,

Thiago

Re: Unfold sheet metal from STEP file

JDMather — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 13:39:35 GMT

STEP files unfold just fine if the operator created the geometry correctly.

Attach your file here and end all doubt.

Re: Unfold sheet metal from STEP file

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 13:54:28 GMT

I agree I have open up step files form some of our vendors that are folded parts. When I have opened them up they open as a regular part, I then convert them to sheet metal, and set the plate thickness correctly. After that they have all unfolded just fine. I do know they were using ProE so I don't know if that has something to do with it I'm not sure about 123D. I hope that this helps.

Re: Unfold sheet metal from STEP file

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 14:01:20 GMT

The first thing I'd check is to see if it is uniform thickness across the model. There are many factors as to why you cannot flatten. Upload your step file as JD mentioned.

Re: Unfold sheet metal from STEP file

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 02:21:17 GMT

Thanks for all the replies.

I´m attaching the STEP model, I appreciate any help on this, to find out what I´m doing wrong (even in the original model).

Regards,

Re: Unfold sheet metal from STEP file

JDMather — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 11:56:33 GMT

Looking at the part it should be obvious that there are no bends in the part.

Sheet metal parts are bent parts, therefore must have bends.

Is the part supposed to be symmetrical? (it isn't)

And there is evidence of beginner modeling errors (see tiny step in face).

Fortunately this would be an easy part to fix (if you know what the ending dimensions are supposed to be).

Re: Unfold sheet metal from STEP file

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 14:41:47 GMT

I see...

Yeah, it was created using 123D Design, it has no "bend" feature like Inventor.

I thnk I´m gonna redesign this model directly in Inventor then...

Thank you!

Regards,

Re: Unfold sheet metal from STEP file

JDMather — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 15:09:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

....Yeah, it was created using 123D Design, it has no "bend" feature like Inventor.

I don't think you understand the problem.

It has nothing to do with "bend" feature in 123Design. The fillets (bends) could have been added in that program - but they weren't. ( There was a half attempt on two corners.) This is operator issue, not software issue. The geometry must, of course, be modeled correctly in whatever CAD software is used. Missing fillets and stepped faces are user issues. The fillets were rather obvious. The stepped face was not so obvious. I suspect the non-symmetrical geometry was also not the design intent.

Re: Unfold sheet metal from STEP file

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 14:41:07 GMT

Hello,

Well, I decided to "test" both situations:

First, using fillets in 123D Design in all corners:

Still couldn´t do it.

Then I decided to leave it without fillets:

And added the "bends" in Inventor:

And got it working 🙂

Sorry for the misunderstanding!

Regards,

Thiago

Re: Unfold sheet metal from STEP file

mcgyvr — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 14:50:02 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Hello,

Well, I decided to "test" both situations:

First, using fillets in 123D Design in all corners:

Still couldn´t do it.

Then I decided to leave it without fillets:

And added the "bends" in Inventor:

And got it working 🙂

Not a valid test..

I can see just from the image that your fillets in 123D are not correct..

Remember the outside radius should be inside radius + part thickness..

So if thickness is 1mm and inside radius is 3mm then outside radius must be 4mm..

Doing that will keep consistent thickness and then the part will work just fine in Inventor (don't forget to set the sheet metal style in Inventor to the right thickness too before trying to unfold

Re: Unfold sheet metal from STEP file

JDMather — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 14:56:57 GMT

Here is what @mcgyvr is referring to.

The material is visually obviously not uniform thickness.

Done correctly in any CAD program the results will work.