Create the metal sheet included the flat pattern

[caothanh_dong]

Hi Everyone,
This sheet metal was created by Revit and I converted it to Inventor file but I can't use the flat pattern function in this file.
Could you show me how to create this sheet metal in Inventor? Please refer to the attached file (ipt,idw) for your information.
Thank you!

[James_Willo · Accepted solution]

Hi, the first issue is that you didn't set your sheet metal thickness to match the thickness of the part (using sheet metal defaults command)

Even after that though it doesn't flatten and I think it might be because it's not a uniform shape.
You can try using the unwrap tool and thickening afterwards.

[kacper.suchomski · Accepted solution]

Hi

This is not a linear bent/rolled item.
Use Unwrap tool.

[caothanh_dong]

Thank you for your solution. Now I can use the Unwrap tool for my existing 3D metal sheet

so we can't use the sheet metal defaults command to create the 3D metal sheet with a not uniform shape, is it?
I tried to create it in Inventor (don't use the file converted from Revit) but I don't have the method, please advise.

[kacper.suchomski]

As I mentioned, this is not a linearly formed part.

The sheet metal module handles linearly formed parts, and this one is stamped. 

[caothanh_dong]

Thank you for your information

[caothanh_dong]

Could we align the face U shape with the pink face on both sides? Top image is correct (Please refer to the assembly file attached)
Thank you

[kacper.suchomski]

Model -> Surface -> Replace surface

[James_Willo]

Are you talking about using constraints? Or you want to bend the channel to match the surface?

I don't think constraints will be able to select that surface. You'd have to create some additional workpoints or something to mate to.

You can use a sweep to make a channel that matches the surface, but no idea how you're going to manufacture that.

[caothanh_dong]

yes, I want to bend the U channel to match the pink surface. I'll try to use a sweep with your solution. Thank you

[James_Willo]

You won't be able to unbend a sweep if that's your final desire. 

There is the bend tool but it'll take a lot of trial and error to get it to the form you want. 

[caothanh_dong]

Thank you for your video

The distance of the edge U channel to the pink surface is 3.597mm. Could we make it become 0mm? the bottom face  channel will match the pink surface.
Thank you

[kacper.suchomski]

Yes, same tools + Shell

[SBix26 · Accepted solution]

Here are the assembly and the stiffener 01 that I modified (Inventor 2024 format).  I copied the pink surface into the stiffener part file, making it adaptive.  I then used your Sketch1 to create a sweep of the U shape along the edge and using the surface as a guide.  I think this is what you are asking for.  The stiffener now more closely conforms to the contour of the pink surface.  It isn't perfect, though-- the sweep has to maintain its shape at every cross-section, so the end is now a small amount (0.1 mm) buried into the curved face.

I also noticed that nothing was grounded in your assembly, so I took the liberty of grounding the curved sheet to the origin, which actually puts the sheet 73m away from the origin point.  I hope that doesn't mess anything else up, but it's important to have at least one component nailed down in an assembly, especially when using adaptivity.

---

Sam B

Inventor Pro 2025.1.1 | Windows 11 Home 23H2

[caothanh_dong]

Thank you for your solution. This is the result that I need
Could you show me how to add the reference surface (pink surface) to the stiffener part?

Which command do you use the constrain to assign the stiffener to the surface?

Thank you