Cannot flatten this

[Frederick_Law]

Can't get this to flatten.

I'm "cheating" to show something (the hidden circle cut) on drawing and found out it can't flatten.

IV2023.4

@johnsonshiue 

[kacper.suchomski]

Hi

Extrude 1 causes the problem. Does this cutout have to be inside?

I think this way the program loses the material thickness, which is necessary.

[Frederick_Law]

It doesn't matter how "thick" the cut is, it'll fail as long as it doesn't cut through the part.

If that extrude cut through either side, it works.

Yes, I do want that circle inside.

And yes, normally it won't be modeled this way.

[kacper.suchomski]

At the moment, the only solution I have found is model states with the hole disabled.

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi Frederick,

This is a limitation in Inventor Sheet Metal. The interior cutout introduces inconsistent thickness. As a result, the Flat Pattern rejects such body. There is a workaround, kind of hack, however. Here is what you want to do.

1) Reorder Flange1 above Extrusion1.

2) Move EOP below Flange1.

3) Unfold -> pick vertical face as the reference plane -> pick the bend.

4) Move EOP to the bottom.

5) Refold.

6) Create a new Model State with the Refold feature suppressed.

7) Document the new Model State as the Flat Pattern.

Many thanks!

[Alexander_Chernikov]

One more tip

If include hole in "Face2" or do it with "Hole" command the part will unfolded

(see attached file)

[Frederick_Law]

---

@johnsonshiue wrote:

Hi Frederick,

This is a limitation in Inventor Sheet Metal. The interior cutout introduces inconsistent thickness. As a result, the Flat Pattern rejects such body. There is a workaround, kind of hack, however. Here is what you want to do.

1) Reorder Flange1 above Extrusion1.

2) Move EOP below Flange1.

3) Unfold -> pick vertical face as the reference plane -> pick the bend.

4) Move EOP to the bottom.

5) Refold.

6) Create a new Model State with the Refold feature suppressed.

7) Document the new Model State as the Flat Pattern.

Many thanks!

---

It will be ModelState with different size.  So can't use this trick.

[Frederick_Law]

---

@Alexander_Chernikov wrote:

One more tip

If include hole in "Face2" or do it with "Hole" command the part will unfolded

(see attached file)

---

The goal is "hide" the "hole" inside the part.

As long as it cut through one face, it'll work.

As long as it's a "cavity" inside the part, it failed.

[Frederick_Law]

Since this is a limitation, I'll try other way to get what I want.

Thanks