How to make a cone in Sheet Metal for unrolling....

[Anonymous]

Hi-

Yes, I'm a newbie, and yes I've looked though the threads here in an attempt to find the answer to this one... And yes, it seems like this has been covered by other threads, but not in a way that I could understand. I've tried!

(For the record, some of the threads feature links to .f3d files people are uploading as part of their answer, but I can't figure out how to open those. There is no "open" command in the menus of Fusion 360... )

I have managed to wrap my head around the facts that:

•you need a flat face for unwrapping, and that flat face can be extruded from a cut edge of a cylindrical or conical shape, using Join

•you need to build your cylindrical or conical shape in the sheet metal environment

I've read and understood the 6 rules of Sheet Metal.

But I can't figure out how to make a cone in Sheet Metal.

(I can make cones all day in Model, but they won't flatten/unwrap)

I've actually managed to successfully accomplish all this with a cylindrical shape, having created the shape with the flange tool. Is this the only way to accomplish this?

Thanks for helping the new guy!

Cheers

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

(I can make cones all day in Model, but they won't flatten/unwrap)

..... no "open" command in the menus of Fusion 360... )

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@Anonymous

File>Export and then Attach your *.f3d file here.

I will then File>New Design From file to Open your *.f3d file and fix the issue and return it to you with explanation.

Open File

[Anonymous]

OK, here goes.

I've attached a drawing of a cone, made in Model, 2mm thickness (because that's what Sheet Metal Rules seems to want) with a .02mm thick extrusion from one of the end faces (for use as an "anchor" for the flat pattern procedure)

I would love to know where I'm going wrong here...

Thanks for the offer of help!

-Christian

[docara]

Hi Christian,

If I am understanding you question correctly Fusion does not have this capability at the moment.

There is a feature request running with nearly 100 votes asking for what you want.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation-request-a/sheet-metal-further-development-roll...

Please remember to use a Kudos and/or the Solved button If applicable 😉

Matt

[Anonymous]

Hi Docara-

In this thread, which is on basically the same topic, there is an attached file called "Cone Rev1.f3d" which I have been able to download and view (finally figured that out!) and this cone in fact is flattened / flattenable. So I'm not sure if this is a brand-new feature in F360 (in response to the requests) or not, but it is apparently possible.

I've constructed my cone with flat edges, uniform thickness, a cut, and a small extrusion from one cut-face... in other words I believe I've done everything correctly... but it's not flattening. 

When I go to "create flat pattern", no part of my model is selectable as the stationary face.

So, clearly I am doing something wrong.

I just can't figure out what it is!

I haven't figured out the kudos and solved buttons yet, but it can't be as hard as flattening cones!

I will look into that right now!

Cheers

[docara]

The buttons are easy, if you get a response and solved your problem  - you press Solved. (follow where I'm going with this???? ).  If a reply is very helpful and gives you information perhaps above an beyond a simple answer or gives you much more information than you asked for then press Kudos.

I am not asking for you to do it but, for example, if the PM message I sent you yesterday was part of a public reply I would click on the Kudos button, because although I didn't solve your problem (in the PM) I gave you valuable info which is helpful to you.

Anyway, back to you sheet metal rolled question - though you mighty have seen a sketch that looked like it had been unfolded it might have been drawn 'unfolded' from the outset. 

If you followed the link I previously posted you will see that it was still 'Gathering Support'

[TheCADWhisperer]

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crobox wrote:.. 

... 2mm thickness (because that's what Sheet Metal Rules seems to want)

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You can set the Thickness to whatever thickness you need.

Back in a minute with your corrected part (used use Extrude rather than Flange).

[Anonymous]

Copy that.

I did a few kudos and a solved on my previous thread... not hard to figure out!

I'm including here the file that I retrieved from the other thread I was referring to...

It certainly seems to have been drawn as a cone and then flattened.

Youtube has a few videos of people doing this to cylinders, and I've even managed to do that myself.

It's the cone that is stumping me...

[TheCADWhisperer]

Ah, there is so much wrong here - we will have to start with the most basics of basics.

Your Sketch1 is not fully constrained.

I recommend sketch only one line and fully constrain it.

Then do the next line and fully constrain it.....

Repeat until constraints/dimensions are understood.

Then I notice that your Sketch you dimensioned what you intended as the Thickness incorrectly.

Thickness on a sheet metal part is between two parallel faces.

Your 0.2cm dimension is not aligned to the parallel faces resulting in a Thickness greater than 2mm.

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:
....I'm including here the file that I retrieved from the other thread I was referring to...

It certainly seems to have been drawn as a cone and then flattened..

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You did not use the same tools in your attempt?

Your attempt does not have a material thickness equal to the Sheet Metal Rule Thickness of 2mm?

[Anonymous]

OK, thanks CADwhisperer.

I'm definitely new to CAD.

I didn't realize it was important to fully constrain sketches.

The dimension of 2mm measured horizontally was certainly an error... I actually tried to dimension the face but apparently failed.

Will try again...

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I didn't realize it was important to fully constrain sketches....

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As a beginner you want absolute predictability.  Fully defining your sketches gives you that predictability and ensures when the job hits the shop floor that all necessary dimensions have been identified.

Once you get beyond the basics then you can safely move into the realm of freestyle art....

[TheCADWhisperer]

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docara wrote: 

If I am understanding you question correctly Fusion does not have this capability at the moment. 

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@docara

I could do any and all parts in this image in Fusion Sheet Metal to far more precision than any shop would use out on the floor.

 And Fusion will generate the Flat Pattern from the finished form part for me automatically.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps my problem is with the constraining...

I did another cone, but still no luck with the flatten.

At no point did my sketch lines ever turn from blue to black, which I understand is the signal for the fully constrained state.

So I started again, and I can't get the lines to go black, even though I am being quite careful with dimensions and so forth.

After the first few constraints are applied, further attempts bring up the "over-constrained" warning...

[TheCADWhisperer]

Ahh, you were never taught the BORN Technique (Base Orphan Reference Node).

I make a video and post back in a bit.

In general - all geometry reference to the Origin Center Point as a beginner.

(The direct opposite of Direct Modeling.)

[Anonymous]

OK, let's see here...

I dimensioned the sketch with reference to the origin until the sketch lines went black.

Then I revolved it 359.5 degrees.

Then I extruded one of the end faces .02mm, selecting "join", and....

Wait for it....

Nothing!

No, it still will not allow me to select anything for the stationary face, and therefor will not make a flat pattern.

Still stumped.

If anyone knows of any tutorials specifically on cones, I would love to know about them.

I am about to start a big fabrication job which will be all about cones, but I'm starting to doubt that Fusion 360 is the right avenue...

Thinking of going back to cardboard!

No, but really... I'd love to make this program work for me...

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:
.....Then I revolved it 359.5 degrees.

Then I extruded one of the end faces .02mm, selecting "join", and.......

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Revolve solid? Or Revolve Surface?

Extrude?  Extrude is not a Sheet Metal Command?

Where do you see these features in the example file?

How will this dimension be measured out on the shop floor?

[Anonymous]

Revolve solid? Or Revolve Surface?

I used the revolve function in the Model workspace. There does not appear to be any revolve function in the sheet metal workspace. I don't know the difference between revolve solid or revolve surface; I don't see any indication of these different functions.

 

Extrude?  Extrude is not a Sheet Metal Command?

Extrude is also in Model. That is how I am getting the small flat section.

 

Where do you see these features in the example file?

I am following the example of a video I've seen on here, in which all these processes are done on a cylindrical shape. I'm having a hard time finding that video again (closed the tab) but I guess the important thing is that I am able to perform this task correctly on a cylindrical part using Revolve and Extrude, but it just won't work on the cone.

 

How will this dimension be measured out on the shop floor?

I don't think this measurement is important, I just did it to sufficiently constrain the sketch. The other dimensions are all really normal numbers, that one happens to be weird. But once the cone is flattened, that number won't really be important.

 

It seems as if I am doing lots and lots of things wrong... which is why I am hoping to find a tutorial on cones.

The confusing thing is that it's working fine with cylinders...

Please don't give up on me, I'm just a beginner trying to make sense of it...

Thanks!

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

...The confusing thing is that it's working fine with cylinders...

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Attach your cylindrical *.f3d file here so that I can see what techniques you are attempting to carry over to cones.

[Anonymous]

OK, I was unable to replicate the successful unfolding of a cylinder using the same procedures I've been using to build cones.

I tried; it didn't work.

Then I built a cylinder within Sheet Metal using the Flange function, and that did work. I was able to flatten it.

My guess is that my memory is faulty, and that I never did flatten a cylinder that I'd built in that way. (Even though I've said that I did.)

My apologies for that misleading info.

But there does not appear to be any way to use flange to build a cone.

There is no angle input.

There appears to be no loft function in sheet metal either.

Again... would it be possible to instruct me on the right way to do this?

I am understanding more and more clearly that I am doing it wrong. Like, really wrong.

But, how does one accomplish this?

Does the cone need to be built totally within sheet metal?

If so, how do you do that without Revolve or Loft?

I'm super lost, and there don't seem to be any online resources discussing this...

Thanks