FLAT PATTERN OF TANK SHELL FROM ASSEMBLY / SHELL DEVELOPMENT

[a.amirNVP3B]

Hi,

I want to know how to do flat pattern of a tank shell assembly. When I do detailing for fabrication drawing I have to insert one strake and then draw the fully developed tank strakes by hand.

When there are cut outs for nozzles, I have to export the strakes flat pattern shapes to dwg and then copy and paste the cut outs shapes to the drawing in inventor. This is time consuming and more prone to error. 

What methods can be used to do the full shell development so that if I need to rotate the strakes or modify the positions of cut outs it will update on the shell development automatically?

 

 

[YannickEnrico]

This question has been discussed and thoroughly explained here

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/sheet-metal-planificacao-unidos/m-p/12554510#M920060

And here

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/create-flat-pattern-of-tank-assembly/m-p/12652578#M922...

[a.amirNVP3B]

I have gone through these posts but I cannot still figure out how to do it. May be because the language interface in tutorials is not english. I want to know how to also do it using the unwrap method which is not discussed in the posts above.

[a.amirNVP3B]

I tried using the model state method, it is interesting but if I rotate my strakes the Flat model state still stay the same, I will have to go and modify the distance between the strakes at the bottom and the one at the top by myself. It does not modify if I update the strakes positions. I could use it but I want to the methods possible to see which one suits the way I want the development to be done. 

[YannickEnrico]

Can you explain what you want to achieve with unwrap? To me it doesn't seem like a better function for this, so please, do explain what you hope to gain.

In the suggestions I make in this post, I explain how you have to derive the assembly and connect the sheets for it to unfold all sheets. There are even files to look at that shows what I did.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/sheet-metal-planificacao-unidos/m-p/12554510#M920060

I am not familiar with the model state method, but with my knowledge of model state functionality, I doubt it'll work if you intend to be able to change things. At least, then, you have to be careful about making sure the intended design changes also propagate to the model state.

[a.amirNVP3B]

I want to have the full strakes development with the gaps between them so that I do not have to join the strakes in the model state.

I have seen an explanation using unwrap method to have the shell development but I did not succeed in doing the unwrap. I want all the 3 strakes to be unwrapped but I still cannot figure out how to achieve the result  I want. See attachement.

Is there another way I can contact you please? So that we can discuss your method, I find that it may be what I want to achieve. 

[YannickEnrico]

I cannot imagine a way to unfold things without connecting them.

Sheet metal will only unfold things if they're connected. Otherwise it'll create flat pattern of one or the other item that is not connected.

I guess you can make multiple unwraps and direct edit them together, but I highly doubt it's worth the hassle unless it's for a very specific purpose that cannot be achieved by other means.

In regards to contacting me elsewhere, I'm only available on the forum. You can either PM me, or discuss here in this topic - I suggest the latter, so other people can contribute and / or learn from this conversation.

[kacper.suchomski]

I tried using the model state method, it is interesting but if I rotate my strakes the Flat model state still stay the same, I will have to go and modify the distance between the strakes at the bottom and the one at the top by myself. It does not modify if I update the strakes positions. I could use it but I want to the methods possible to see which one suits the way I want the development to be done. 

Just parameterize the model appropriately and everything will update. This will work without any problem.

Unwrap is for one solid, so it doesn't work for you.

Also, with Unwrap you should focus on the neutral surface, not the borderline surface. Otherwise, the result will be incorrect.

Check out the third method in the video. 

https://youtu.be/yLk9Ogxr1aM?feature=shared

It is better than d Unwrap because it is parametric and updates better.

It's impossible to show everything in a 10-minute video, but practically all the useful tools and methods are there and you can mix them in different configurations, depending on your needs. Focus on the meaning and scope of the tools, not on empty clicking.

Either way, it's all there in terms of commands; and the whole thing can be seasoned with parameterization.

Your case is standard, not special and can be successfully solved with a combination of the tools from this tutorial.