Push/Pull and sheetmetal flange

[TravisJoe]

While trying out the sheetmetal capability of the preview release I found myself wishing for the push/pull command have sheetmetal awareness and be able to create flanges. I am used to the "old school" flange command but one of the few things I really liked about Spaceclaim (and some other hybrid/direct modelers) is that the push/pull command can do most operations, including flanges. 

The workflow I can see for Fusion is that when a body has sheetmetal rule associated (is sheetmetal), and a valid edge is selected, pushing would cause a radius, typical workflow, but when pulled the functionality would be that of the flange tool.

To me this makes it so that about 75% of my sheetmetal work can be done with just the push/pull command. This makes hotkeys and/or spacemouse use easier. 

[promm]

Travis,

Thank you for the feedback.  Have you tried dragging up to invoke flange again.  Here is a little video, please watch and let me know your thoughts.

http://autode.sk/2kjs8NO

Cheers,

Mike Prom

[TravisJoe]

Hello Mike,

Back in the US now and have some time to play with sheetmetal a little more.

I would consider this a feature to streamline workflow and not really a necessity. Pulling the edge when the sheetmetal flange tool is active works well and is fine. My thinking is more when sheetmetal gets moved into the main workspace and having fewer hotkeys and workflows would be nice.

Especially when I use my spacemouse or trying to stick to keyboard shortcuts being able to use a single command for a majority of common operations is very nice.

[promm]

@TravisJoe,

I appreciate your point of view, how would you expect press/pull to function when you select a corner where you would want a fillet or round edge?  Maybe I should ask this a different way, if it is not possible to have the press/pull edge selection determine flange or fillet, which one would you pick for it to do?

Cheers,

Mike Prom

[TravisJoe]

I would say that when the part has a sheetmetal rule associated (is sheetmetal) when you click on the edge (and following your current workflow) the flange tool assumes the side of the selected edge is the direction you are making the flange. If you pull away from the part it would make a flange just like the flange tool, but when you push toward the part (inwards) it would fillet/round. 

Does that make sense? Sorry the concept might be hard for me to type out.

[promm]

@TravisJoe,

I think I understand the workflow you describe.  I will take it into consideration with the team.  Looking forward to the continued feedback.

Cheers,

Mike Prom

[brownst]

Great thread, but why not just cut to the chase?  If you select something, an edge in this image, provide the obvious options immediately.  This could change based on workspace:  Model, Sheet Metal, Rendering etc. and would work equally well with a face, vertex, feature or sketch selection providing the user immediate pertinent choices.