Manual bending

[BartBr]

Hi you guys!

My colleague asked me if it was possible to make a flange which can be manually bended.

An example is shown below:

Thanks in advance!!

Willem

[CCarreiras]

HI!

I'm not sure if i'm understanding "manually bended".

looking the image, i can see that it's an imported part.
You can flat pattern and edit this part, or create a new one from the scratch.

can you elaborate what you mean with that?

[BartBr]

Hi Ccarreiras

With manual bending I mean: making it possible to bend the flange by hand.

So you laser the flat pattern and where the cutouts are made you bend the piece by hand.

The file I've shown in the picture is drawn by a customer with another program ( I suppose ).

I was wondering if it's possible to make/draw such a flange in inventor sheet metal.

Thanks!

W.

[JDMather]

---

@BartBr wrote:

I was wondering if it's possible to make/draw such a flange in inventor sheet metal.

---

Yes.

[BartBr]

And how is it done? 🙂

[CCarreiras]

Hi!

Create a flange is very easy.

https://screencast.autodesk.com/Embed/6e306372-2acf-408f-ba9d-c0101222b1c3

You can do some Tutorials to learn more.

[BartBr]

Guys...

I know how to make a flange in inventor........ 🙂

I want to make a flange that can be manually bended.

This means: with cutouts in the bendingline every 10 mm or so...

Like shown on the picture below...

[mcgyvr · Accepted solution]

Unfold

add cutouts

refold

[BartBr]

Hi MCGYVR

Okay, that's how we do it now. But if we want to draw on a flat pattern we get the following pop up.

I want to make these cut outs also visible/available on the folded part. Because we unfold these parts with LVD bending program.

So again, no solution...

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

No, no, no.

Do not edit the Flat Pattern.

Unfold is not the same as Flat Pattern.

But I would go even easier - I wouldn't bother to Unfold/Refold.

I would simply Project Flat Pattern, Cut Across Bend and be done with it.

I would not have written Yes if the answer was No.

[BartBr]

Hi JDMATHER

You got me thinking on your remark "flat pattern is not the same as unfold".

I was always working with flange, but never used the Fold tool.

Thus the way of getting it was:

make a face from sketch

make cutouts on the face

create a sketched line on the face with cut outs

fold on this line

Thanks!!

[JDMather]

I (almost) never ever use Fold.  That is not the way I would do the part.

[BartBr]

Hi

I'd love to, but then maybe you should tell me exactly how you would do it..........

step 1

step 2

step 3

...

?

Thanks

[JDMather]

I will post steps later today, but the key is -

manually calculating a beginning flat is fraught with errors and too much like work (I avoid work).

You know what the finished dimensions are - so model to the finished dimensions (in this case a simple Contoured Flange) and then add the cuts.

The cuts can be done in one of two ways - use the Unfold/Refold as suggested earlier (Note that Unfold/Refold is not the same as Fold, just as Flat Pattern is not the same as Unfold/Refold or Fold - all of these are different tools).

The second technique is Project Flat Pattern - which I will demonstrate in a few minutes.  Back in a bit....

[mcgyvr]

---

@BartBr wrote:

Hi

I'd love to, but then maybe you should tell me exactly how you would do it..........

step 1

step 2

step 3

...

?

Thanks

---

#1-Contour flange to create the U (or you could use face/flange tools)

#2-Cut (across bend) (or unfold/add cuts/refold but for this instance just cut across bend is easier)

Do not confuse "fold" with unfold/refold either.

Like JD I almost NEVER use fold. Flange tools are a better solution. 

[CCarreiras · Accepted solution]

Hi!

Step by step...

https://screencast.autodesk.com/Embed/Timeline/385e6eca-625a-48ba-8c30-e703f303dd92

[BartBr]

Hi Ccarreiras & mcgyvr

Thanks for the helpfull responds! I've never been using the tool unfold/fold before. Always a simple flat pattern.

If I had known this before...

Thanks a lot, and kudo's for you guys at this forum!

W.