How to make Inventor recognize the bends of an imported bended model?

[GustavoFleury]

I have a Revit model in which I modeled some claddings already in position. I need to export them to Inventor to create the flanges and flat pattern.

How can I make Inventor recognize those bends as bends so they are flattened properly?

[CCarreiras · Accepted solution]

Hi!

First of all, to flat part coming from other system, the part should be design correctly
The thickness should be the same all over the part.

It should have bends.

If the part already has bends:

Open the part and save it as an Inventor part.
Turn it as a Sheet metal part.

Edit the sheet metal rules and set the correct thickness (the real part thickness).

Try to flat

If the part doesnt have bends:

Open the part and save it as an Inventor part.
Turn it as a Sheet metal part.

Edit the sheet metal rules and set the correct thickness (the real part thickness).

Create the bends

Try to flat

[kacper.suchomski]

Hi

It must meet the sheet metal characteristics, i.e. the outer radius must be equal to the sum of the inner radius + sheet thickness.

In addition, you should use the sheet metal rule that is consistent with the thickness of the object.

[GustavoFleury]

So as I have these square corners it wont work:

I need to make them round to keep the 3mm thickness.
Right?

[kacper.suchomski · Accepted solution]

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@GustavoFleury wrote:

So as I have these square corners it wont work:

I need to make them round to keep the 3mm thickness.
Right?

---

Yes

[SharkDesign]

Yes, just add fillets to the inside and outside.
I normally add a brand new flange just to check the exact radius that Inventor is looking for inside and out and then copy that (and obviously delete the new flange I dont need.) 

[CCarreiras · Accepted solution]

In some occasions,  it's better not bring any bend instead of bring "bad bends".

You have to apply the tool BEND... It's very easy and fast...

Here's all the process after open and save an external file: