topic Help creating this expanded metal pattern in Inventor Forum

Help creating this expanded metal pattern

jean92336 — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:14:24 GMT

I am trying to create a flattened expanded metal, in the size 3/4" - #9

Can someone help walk me through the steps on how to properly create the sketch, pattern.

I know to do a 2d sketch - then apply the sheet metal thickness / or extrude, then to apply rectangle pattern.

I am having trouble getting the shape to look like 3/4" - #9

Thank you

https://www.accuratealloys.com/flattened-expanded-metal-inventory.html

Re: Help creating this expanded metal pattern

kacper.suchomski — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:21:29 GMT

It all depends on what effect you want to achieve and what it is actually intended for.

What is the real purpose of such modeling?

Re: Help creating this expanded metal pattern

hollypapp65 — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:24:44 GMT

Use Texture Map, don't model it.

https://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-2C3E1DB1-1854-49DB-A50D-E10B2B5DE80C

Re: Help creating this expanded metal pattern

jean92336 — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:24:45 GMT

Hello,

It will be a panel that I want to place within an assembly. The modeling will be for visual purposes only

Re: Help creating this expanded metal pattern

blandb — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:26:56 GMT

Just make an appearance that represents, create a new material named 3/4-9 and set the appearance that you created to be used with the material. Set the density to give you the correct weight. No need to actually model it. In your drawings, just create a sketch symbol that represents expanded metal and use that. Unless it is critical that you know where diamonds land. You can always go to the shop and get a piece and measure it it up to make it exact if need be.

Re: Help creating this expanded metal pattern

kacper.suchomski — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:05:31 GMT

As mentioned by previous speakers - you can use a texture.

Alternatively, you can simply make two cutouts in the sheet and duplicate them in a rectangular array.
It is worth remembering that such a model will be very heavy and may unnecessarily burden the computer.

Re: Help creating this expanded metal pattern

CGBenner — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 14:19:27 GMT

@jean92336

Did the information provided answer your question? If so, please use Accept Solution so that others may find this in the future. Thank you very much!

Re: Help creating this expanded metal pattern

dan_inv09 — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 17:19:08 GMT

Yes, a texture is the way to go (except for when the two sides don't want to line up).

Does it still warn you about to many instances? If you have 50 or more instances in your pattern then it warns you - for that expanded metal it might be anything bigger than about one square foot (depending on how close my guess on the size was and how much you start out with before you pattern).