Can someone explain to me why I only get a Flat Pattern after I've applied a Cut?

[checkcheck_master]

See Part in attachment.
Can someone explain to me why I only get a Flat Pattern after I've applied a Cut?
Don't really get it.
When the EOF is moved above the Cuts an error message will appear.
And then, without a Circular Pattern, I can run the Cuts just fine as Cut Normal.
However, when I do a Circular Pattern on such a Cut Normal, Inventor doesn't seem to come out.
Why not?

[SBix26]

I have no idea why making a cut would allow this piece to unfold, and I wouldn't trust the results in any case.  You have defined the thickness as 3mm, but the material to be bent is actually a hollow section that is 10mm thick:

This shouldn't work with or without cuts.

I tried a bit different modeling technique with most of the features created in the flat by using Unfold and then Refold, and with the thickness set to 10mm.  But with the hollow section I still wouldn't trust the flat pattern to be accurate.  The attached file is Inventor 2022 format.

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Sam B

Inventor Pro 2023.2 | Windows 10 Home 21H2

[cadman777 · Accepted solution]

@checkcheck_master, @SBix26 ,

I tried doing it by first making it flat and then using BendPart.

See attached parts (IV2010)

Note: I just made a look-alike part, b/c I couldn't look at your part in IV2010.

But in IV2010 it doesn't work.

Maybe it will work that way in the newer versions?

Thing is, if you need to show it in the flat on your drawing, then this is the way to do it accurately.

There's no telling if you use BendPart that the result will be accurate.

Incidentally, I also made it FORMED and then tried using BendPart to UNbend it, but it didn't work.

[checkcheck_master]

@SBix26 

@cadman777 

A huge thank you to both of you.

Bend Part I didn't even know existed, never used it before.
It works fine to make Sheet Metal after a Bend Part and a Flat Pattern without double lines, in short, very helpful.

The Flat Pattern does what I expect, I mean, taking into account the K-Factor and the angle, it is easy to check what the unfolded length should be.
If then the center lines of the holes all point to the center, I have confidence.