Sheet Metal Flange - Creating non-symetric flanges

[Anonymous]

How can i create non-symetric flanges while in sheet metal?  Example:  create 4 sides of a box, then select the 4 top inner edges using the flange command.  Pull them inward and change the angle to create what looks somewhat like the roof of a house.  Works great as long as you want the flanges to be symetrical.  I'm trying to create flanges that come to a peak that is offset from the center of the sides of the box.  Drawing one flange at a time causes the flanges to intersect and cross each other without creating the miters as they cross (you get an error message as well).  Any suggestions on how to do this?

[ToddHarris7556 · Accepted solution]

OK.... like I say in the screencast, I was actually ready to say this can't be done, but then I had to tinker a bit with it. 

Props to Lars C's sheet metal video which had some ideas on using sketches for flange control. 

It's a workaround, for sure, but it does result in a legit flat pattern and it's not that bad. 

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure if my last reply actually went through....

Thanks for the quick response. That was very helpful.

I searched Lars Youtube videos on sheet metal and watched a couple.  I didn't see the one you mention though.  Do you know the name of the video?  I would like to watch it.

Thanks

[ToddHarris7556]

The one I was thinking of was Take Sheet Metal To The Next Level — Fusion 360 Tutorial — #LarsLive 135

Somewhere out around 20 min mark, he shows the technique for basing a flange off a sketch element, which led me down the path that I took. 

Glad it helped - I was glad to poke around and learn something myself. 

[Anonymous]

Thank you. I will study it.

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

... I'm trying to create flanges that come to a peak that is offset from the center of the sides of the box. …. Any suggestions on how to do this?

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I would use Loft.

[ToddHarris7556]

Loft in the SM environment? 

If the goal is to create geometry, I would agree there are other options. 

I read the goal as trying to create a specific sheet metal box that could be unfolded for fab. 

[TheCADWhisperer]

If you go back and watch the Lars video that you linked (Timestamp 13:00) - you will see that he refers to using multiple environments in making sheet metal parts.

There is nothing special about sheet metal parts if you follow the 4 rules, hybrid techniques can be used. In fact, sheet metal parts are far more restrictive and simple than other types of parts.  The Sheet Metal tools are simply macros that keep the inexperienced designer from violating the rules because the rules are built into the tools.

I can model valid sheet metal parts that cannot be modeled with only Sheet Metal environment tools that will generate Flat Pattern.

[ToddHarris7556]

LOL.... fair enough and quite right 🙂

Like I said, I don't do much SM in Fusion. Hadn't realized that. Now I've learned my new thing for the day. 

[TheCADWhisperer]

Have fun doing something like this with only the restricted Sheet Metal tools (in Fusion - there is a Lofted Flange tool in Autodesk Inventor Professional).

Hybrid Techniques for Sheet Metal

[ToddHarris7556]

@TheCADWhisperer OK, I confess... I'm trying to figure out how to pull off a lofted approach in Fusion, and I'm not seeing it. 

Maybe I'm not following what you were suggesting? Here's my shot at it.

[TheCADWhisperer]

It appears that you have violated two sheet metal rules - 1. Part not uniform thickness, because 2. Missing bends.

Sheet Metal Box.png

[ToddHarris7556]

@TheCADWhisperer Absolutely agreed - I'm just trying to understand what your loft approach would look like. 

[Anonymous]

What is showing is basically what I'm trying to create.  The loft approach was ideal, and what I did initially, because of the ability to make dimensional edits. 

What did you do to finish with your drawing (that has bends, etc)?

Thanks,

N. Dow

[TheCADWhisperer]

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

[ToddHarris7556]

I need to tinker a bit more to see if maybe some fillet settings might make the corner rips a little more robust, but this is at least the general idea. Nice job of combining solid, patch and SM tools, @TheCADWhisperer.

I definitely look forward to the day when SM parameters are more readily accessible. 

[Anonymous]

Hi Todd,

I followed your video step by step, but there must have been something you did that i did not.  When i try to create a flat pattern, it basically looks like the body before it is flattened (i.e. the sides are upright and the top pieces are still lofted to the center).  It appears that Fusion is not recognizing the fillets as bends.

I have attached what i created.

Any ideas on why this will not create a correct flat pattern?

Thanks,

N. Dow

[TheCADWhisperer]

Examine attached file.

[ToddHarris7556]

Sorry... my upload didn't work when you first asked. 

Easy fixes 🙂

[Anonymous]

Thanks.  That works!