Sheet metal seam problem...

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I've created a sheet metal panel and I'm having trouble filling in the top and bottom of it with flanges. I've done the top but I cant get the software to make a tidy seem - it leaves a hole at the bend. The material is polished stainless steel which means we cant weld it to fill the hole, we can only bend it. The bottom of the panel is angled and I havent even attempted to do that yet as I cant even to the top one properly.

I cant use the corner seam tool as there is only one vertical edge. How can I close the gap so there is no hole? The panel is for a light box so I cant have any light spill coming through the hole.

I'm using Inventor R2017

I've attached the part.

Thanks in advance...

Vinny

[IgorMir]

Hi Vinny,

I can't see your part (different IV version) but maybe the attached part of mine will give you some ideas how to handle your task.

Cheers,

Igor.

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hi,

I've created a sheet metal panel and I'm having trouble filling in the top and bottom of it with flanges. I've done the top but I cant get the software to make a tidy seem - it leaves a hole at the bend. The material is polished stainless steel which means we cant weld it to fill the hole, we can only bend it. The bottom of the panel is angled and I havent even attempted to do that yet as I cant even to the top one properly.

I cant use the corner seam tool as there is only one vertical edge. How can I close the gap so there is no hole? The panel is for a light box so I cant have any light spill coming through the hole.

I'm using Inventor R2017

I've attached the part.

Thanks in advance...

Vinny

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[Anonymous]

Hi Igor,

Mine is different (its not a box), the panel angles are not 90 degrees which seems to make the software put a big slot at the side of the flange.

I'm a bit stumped on this one!

Vinny

[Anonymous]

Ok, I've managed to improve it but I cant attach the end cap to the main body using the bend tool without making a big hole at the side of the flange...

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@IgorMir wrote:

Hi Vinny,

I can't see your part (different IV version) but maybe the attached part of mine will give you some ideas how to handle your task.

Cheers,

Igor. 

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See attached. (edited from original)

[Anonymous]

Igor,

Thats exactly what I'm trying to achieve but how did you do it?

[TheCADWhisperer]

What arc would be tangent to both the bottom and the side?

[Anonymous]

I dont understand???

[Anonymous]

Can anyone help?

[Anonymous]

thanks for taking the time to do the video, much appreciated.

I still cant get it to work though.

I have the internal bend radius set up to 2mm (I cant change this as its 16swg material and the our Vee tool on the Brake Press is a 2mm radius.

[Thomas_Savage]

Hello Vinny,

That way has just the radius smaller, which does not work due to having to be bent on a press brake. Are you going to weld the corners up? It is also better if you do not use projected geometry and offset in your sketch for the face. I will do a model and show you the best I can get it.

Thomas

[Anonymous]

No we cant weld it otherwise we could fill the hole.

We can only bend it on the brake press.

Thanks Thomas, that'd be great!

Cheers

[Thomas_Savage]

Hello,

Is this gap still too big?

Thomas

[Anonymous]

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for doing that.

You're almost there. Problem is, I need the top end cap to sit inside level with the end of the side flanges.

So basically, the top end cap needs to sit lower than you've modelled it.

The gap around the top end cap profile is also too big.

Vinny

[Thomas_Savage]

Hello,

This is the best I can get it at the minute. The top cap sits lower. But it is hard to get a good corner seam because the bends are different angles.

Thomas

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your efforts.

Its more like what I'm trying to achieve.

Cheers Thomas,

Vinny

[Thomas_Savage]

You're welcome Vinny

Hope it goes well.

Thomas

[IgorMir]

Hi Vinny,

It appears that you can have ether a model which looks right for you, or a model which can be unfolded. But not both.

Here is  quick try by me to accomplish the task. Please see the attached. Play with the corner's parameters and you will see, what I mean.

Just out of curiosity - why welding of the corners is not an option? Too many parts to make, lack if welding capabilities or is there something else?

Cheers,

Igor.

[Thomas_Savage]

Hello Vinny,

I have Come up with this, gives a better corner. And flat patterns. What do you think?

It is unfolding the part, adding material, then refolding. And still will flat pattern and bend fine. The gap at the top could be smaller, it is just your sketch dimensions. I just wanted to show you the corner.

Thomas