Sheet metal: refold missing a body?; mirroring a complex flange

[rdosh]

I've been working on my sheet metal project with it unfolded for a couple of days. I'm preparing to mirror a complex flange and wanted to see it and take a couple of measurements with it folded. When I try to Refold, I get an error regarding a sheet metal body having been removed.

I know that mirroring a flange is a fairly new feature and I've watched the video (although I wish I could see it full screen and control the playback; too easy to miss steps). I see that it's sensitive about the order in which features are selected. Anyway, if I do a window selection and try to mirror it (with the model unfolded), it looks like it's going to work (a mirror image appears) until I click OK and then it fails with a message to the effect that "No pattern instances could be intersected with the original body."

Note that the current desired state of the model is after Fillet4 (is my position in the timeline saved in and .f3d archive?).

[jhackney1972 · Accepted solution]

You normally want to mirror sheet metal features, in your case a flange, in the Folded state.  After that you unfold the model and add other features.  I did not rebuild your entire model just up to a point to show you the unfold process.  I did attach what I did.

If this answers your question, please select the "Accept Solution" icon on my post. If you have further questions, please ask.

[rdosh]

I was thinking that that might be the case. However, I can't refold the model to mirror the flange. Something happened in splitting the shoulder of the flange that is preventing the refold.

[rdosh]

Having reviewed your video again, I realize my mistake (at least, I think I do; I still need to try this in my model). I need to roll back my timeline to just before the unfold, mirror the flange, unfold and then mirror each of the features.

Thanks!

[rdosh]

Well, John, I rolled back to just prior to the first unfold and was able to mirror the flange and then the shoulder cut. However, when I advance the timeline past the refold and next unfold, something happens that I don't understand. Although that refold happens okay, it is yellowed in the timeline along with the following unfold. I also can't get the unfold edited to unfold both flanges ("OK" is never enabled). I also cannot select the stationary face (no highlighting of that face and, again, "OK" is never enabled). The model remains with the original flange unfolded and the new flange folded. What did I miss?

[jhackney1972 · Accepted solution]

Please verify all dimensions and features in my attached model.  I only corrected your workflow, I did not fully constrain your sketches.  I want to mention that you do too many Unfold and Refolds.  If you notice in my timeline I only have one.  I also changed the method of creating the inside tapered edges, I find it more predictable and suits me better.  I hope this confirms that mirroring of sheet metal features are done in the folded model state.

The model has a developed Flat Pattern.

[rdosh]

Thanks, John! It looks very good! Regarding the excessive refolding and unfolding, I'm still getting used to using the timeline. Hadn't occurred to me to simply roll back prior to the refold to add features to the flanges instead of unfolding again. As you've seen, I'm only beginning to get a grasp on workflow.

Also, I wouldn't have imagined using an extrude to create the tapered edges!

Thanks, again! You're time is greatly appreciated!