Remove bend without total remake

[stevenhcox001]

Hi all,

I have drawn myself into a trap so I want to take the time to learn how to make a change AND no doubt learn a better way to make this part.  Note that this part is currently used in an assembly and the holes all match the remainder of the assembly.

I want to do away with the 2" bends at each end of the face, but I have not been able to figure out how to do that without getting all kinds of errors.

I have attached the part file for your viewing pleasure and analysis.

I greatly appreciate the help and advice.

Thanks, Steven

[philip1009 · Accepted solution]

The easiest would be to use a cut function to remove the flanges after the fact and a face function to add the material back in if needed..  I'd also change your method of part making to avoid issues like this, it would be much easier to fix if this part was a series of separate faces joined by a bunch of Bend functions or a single Contour Flange with a bunch of holes.

Hopefully 2019.4 version works for you.

[stevenhcox001]

Philip,

Thank you!  That is exactly what I needed.  I will fix this one and certainly do as you suggested in the future.

Also, is there an issue with 2019?  This is what I have now. 

 

Up until now I have only used Inventor for small miscellaneous jobs.  However, with this project and upcoming work, I hope to be using it full time for a while so if there is a benefit to upgrading I would look into that.

Again, thanks for the help and suggestions!!

Steven

[SBix26]

The current version of Inventor 2019 is 2019.4.  Yours is the original release from February 2018, so yes, yours is a bit out of date!

Edit: Piling on with what @philip1009  posted, the Fold tool should be used almost never.  Model your sheet metal parts in finished form to meet your design requirements, using Face,  Flange, Contour Flange, and Lofted Flange tools, then let Inventor figure out the flat pattern (if needed).

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2020.0.1 | Windows 7 SP1
LinkedIn

[IgorMir]

Hi Steven;

Here is another example (IV2018 format) in which Flange2 can be suppressed without any aftermath. But then again - how one would know if that flange will be needed or not while creating an initial design? The challenge is to model a part in such a way that should the changes be needed down the track - the amount of errors associated with editing are minimal.

Cheers,

Igor.

[swalton]

A more typical workflow would be to model the 3d shape, then flatten it for manufacturing purposes.  

Why:

• The only person who cares about the flat pattern shape is the person programming the laser cutter.  Everyone else cares about the formed shape.  Model that and let Inventor calculate the flat based on the k-factor for the tooling, press, material and thickness.  
• The final shape will not flip around the origin workplanes.  This is useful when constraining the component in upper level assemblies.  It also makes the default view cube in the drawing file better match your component.

I used a contour flange to make the shape (by sketching the outside of the cross section), then added the holes.  This may still break some hole sketches when the small tabs are deleted from the flange sketch, but that should be a quick origin re-define or other basic sketch edit to repair.

[stevenhcox001]

Thanks Igor!  That works great.

[stevenhcox001]

Sam,

Thanks for the notes.  I have copied these to my "play with" list.  I will circle back and learn each of those features when I get this assembly finished up.

I reworked two other panels yesterday based on your suggestions and it was much easier and faster.

I really appreciate all the help y'all provide.

Thanks, Steven

[IgorMir]

Hi guys,

I believe - we have covered the topic of general modeling of the part well.  But here is an interesting phenomena with the rectangular array. Please see the attached IV2018 part. The first row of the holes on the horizontal side is on angle. If we change the parameter d29 (spacing) to 45 mm - the holes look all right. It has something to do with the radius in the array's direction. But I would say - there is a room for improvement. Since the part as is doesn't look right. What's your take on it?

Cheers,

Igor.

[SBix26]

@IgorMir , I think it's because the hole is offset from the start point of the path (Direction 1).  The first hole after the bend is taking its direction from the path in the bend.  I was able to correct the situation by adding a point on the path in line with the hole, and changing the Direction 1 start point to that location.  Attached file is 2018 format.

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2020.0.1 | Windows 7 SP1
LinkedIn

[IgorMir]

Thanks, Sam;

Yes, it does indeed fix the array. Still, I fail to see the logic in Array going wrong in my original part. Appart of the conclusion that the array pass should always start from the origin of the first arrayed element I can't see any other answer to it.

Cheers,

Igor.