Problem Creating a Flat Pattern from R2D2 Skins

[ianhughes7UFVF]

Hi

I am trying to create a set of flat patterns to laser cut from the rolled 3d work that I have done.

I converted the Outer skin to Sheet metal and then used the flat pattern tool on it and it successfully flatterned so I could create a sketch and then a make the final file from it.

The same won't work for the Inner skin. It wont do anything and I can not understand why.

Here is a screencast of the problem.

 

I plan to get these laser cut soon, so any help will be appreciated to aid me getting the problem worked out.

I have attached the file I am using if that helps.

Regards

Ian

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

The reason it will not unfold is because it is a different thickness to the sheet metal rule you created. Really you've made a complete mess of this, each part should be a separate component then you can set a different thickness for each sheet metal component and create a flat pattern for each component. By the way you can just export the DXF no need to project.

Here's the inner skin as a flat pattern after rolling the timeline back and making it the same thickness as the sheet metal rule.

Not sure how to try and help now as you've gone so far in the wrong direction it's hard to unpick what you've done. I'd say start again after reading the Rule #1 thread and come back for advice after creating each component.  You could use a master sketch in the main component like you have now but each extrude that create a separate body should be set to Create Component not new Body. I would avoid moving bodies into components after they're created as the move can break and can't be fixed.

Mark

[ianhughes7UFVF]

Hi

So I have got to the stage of prepping my files to send to the Laser Cutters to get cut.

The files for the skins and frame I am working on are all in inches.

I saved the parts as dxfs and for all of the parts except the skins they saved in inches.

The Laser Cutters asked me to annotate the dxfs to confirm the sizes before they quote on them.

But what I have found that even though the Skins are created in inches and when I create a flat pattern from them it converts it to mms and the dxf saves as mms.

I assume there is a setting about how a flat pattern saves or converts that is making it convert to mms.

The rule for the sheet metal is aluminium inches, so I would have thought it would continue that way.

Would you have any advice where to find why that is happening.

Regards

Ian