sheet metal

[precision]

How can I bend the part attached with out bending the whole flange that protrudes beyond the bend.

I tried all fashions of bounding the bend line to stay to the projected part edge.

Thank You

[precision]

I cannot save out as older version as inventor is based on the latest features released and wont convert down to an older version.
you can import and bring up but not save down.

Thank you
Relstl

[gmwi]

This is a weak point of the sheet metal feature because you can not reference dim's in flat pattern form back to the finished part. I've done a work around for this because I've made form dies and needed to know the intermediate steps.

[cadman777]

If you have the true flatpattern, you can save it as STEP and post.

That's the best starting point.

[cadman777]

"you can not reference dim's in flat pattern form back to the finished part"

That's the PRETENSE behind the Bend command in the normal part file.

This is just another not-so-complete functionality in Inventor...sadly, only one among many!

[precision]

flat pattern

[cadman777]

Thanx.

Let me see if I can do any better this time around...

[cadman777]

First thing I Notice is the ear with the hole in it is different from the 2d drawing.

Did this design change between when you shared that file and the STEP file?

It's missing the little bump on the sloped part going down to the radius.

[precision]

About 10 times
It's there blank
What's important is over all length of part

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Folks,

Indeed, there isn't an easy way to pass the flat pattern parameters to folded environment out-of-box. But, iLogic can help. Basically, you can access it via API. The flat pattern parameter expression can be accessed in folded mode. See below thread.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-customization/flat-pattern-reference-parameter-in-ilogic/td-...

Many thanks!

[IgorMir]

Hi Chris,

I haven't done a complete model. The original question was - how to keep the portion of the flange protruded straight above the bend. It is pretty straight forward task, really.
After the whole hell broke loose in this post and people were trying to create absolutely correct part as per image posted by OP - I too had a look at it. But didn't go far with that. The image posted was lacking some dimensions, not to mention the imperial units. And the design intent is not very clear either. Besides - now the discussion is about creating an accurate flat pattern and then - fold it up. Which to me is a complete nonsense. So, I have withdrawn from the competition, so to speak. 🙂
If you still want to have a look at a screen shot of the models I made - please let me know.

Cheers,

Igor.

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@cadman777 wrote:

@precision 

Seems to me the key for this project is possessing a fully detailed flat pattern (blank) instead of a dimensioned 'formed' part. The place where you get 'challenged' is @ the bend transition. That's where you have to mess around w/it till you find a way to do it. That's why I wanted to see @JDMather's solution to see how he handled it.

Same w/ @IgorMir. Any chance you can show me how you did yours? I can't view your files on my older version of Inventor.

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[cadman777]

I gave it a good try and couldn't do it.

My previous model method was as close as I could get, so I modified that file to reflect the flatpattern you gave me.

The revision is "n". Only thing is it's .008" off at the top of the flange (circle hole).

I tried a different method using the sheetmetal 'bend' feature on the "k" revision.

It worked great except for the flange being off dimension

Notice the dimension w/the ***_*** around it..

Problem w/that version is, I couldn't figure out how to subtract the bend radius from the top of the neck to move the flange up enough to be the correct dimension (.9375").

I tried at least 14 different methods, using combinations of commands, to get this done, but can't seem to find a command or command-combo that works. I'm not going to try using surfacing techniques to do this b/c it's a sheetmetal challenge and should be done in that module.

I'm curious if anybody else figured this one out and posted a model in here of the finished product?

[cadman777]

I agree: 'design intent'. But I didn't belabor that point. Is the fit i.s. or o.s. or a combination? Do the hole positions relate to the mounting faces? Et cetera.

Yes sir, I'd still like to see how you did it.

Just so you know, the reason I said that about the flat pattern, is b/c the OP specifically stated the customer wants to work from the blank. But the blank keeps changing, so that's another curve ball in the game!

Incidentally, I've had customers who insisted on doing the design a certain crazy way...wahwah! cry babies. So when they saw the 'engineering' price, they changed their tune. But when 'the customer is always right', you give them what they want, even when they disregard your good advice. Then you let nature take its course...

[IgorMir]

Hi Chris,

Here are two images attached. As I have said - there is not much to look at. I was answering to the question about the protrusion over the flange, that's all.

Cheers,

Igor.

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@cadman777 wrote:

I agree: 'design intent'. But I didn't belabor that point. Is the fit i.s. or o.s. or a combination? Do the hole positions relate to the mounting faces? Et cetera.

Yes sir, I'd still like to see how you did it.

Just so you know, the reason I said that about the flat pattern, is b/c the OP specifically stated the customer wants to work from the blank. But the blank keeps changing, so that's another curve ball in the game!

Incidentally, I've had customers who insisted on doing the design a certain crazy way...wahwah! cry babies. So when they saw the 'engineering' price, they changed their tune. But when 'the customer is always right', you give them what they want, even when they disregard your good advice. Then you let nature take its course...

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[cadman777]

Thanx for obliging.

I guess it was a simple flange where you didn't include all features along the bend line.

[precision · Accepted solution]

it is a simple thing of the bend tangent line and the 

when the dimension is at 2.430 it doesn't reach the slot termination point pic 1&2

but when it reaches the required dimension 2.454 it breaches the slot termination and the bend follows the whole flange. pic 3

I already passed that point and solid modeled the bent part for stock strip layout.

I only wanted to be able to use it to create a stock strip layout for a progressive stamping die.

The part has been lasered and manually bent to prove assembly and reliability a dozen times so more alterations is not an option.

Good thinkers in the forum.

I haven't been on in eons and used to do AUGIE.

Relstl.

Thanks.

[cadman777]

Yes, that's what I was working to achieve using Bend. BUT, Bend makes the bend on the surface and not @.34 K-factor from the surface, which is incorrect for a sheetmetal part.

Sure, I can see that this would be simple to manually bend even in a vice.

But that's not what I have to work with.
I have a computer w/Inventor software, which is the tool I used to try to make this simple part.

I didn't think to use Fold, which maybe is my problem,

Just goes to show, if you want to get the job done, you MUST know all the commands!

So did you accomplish your objective using a flatpattern blank and then Fold?

[SBix26]

Here is your part (2021 format), true to the blank length and true to the drawing's finished sizes (not completely dimensioned, though).  I fiddled with the sheet metal rule's bend radius and the unfold rule's K-factor.  I ended up with bend radius of 1/4 the thickness (pretty tight), and the K-factor at .964, which is not typical of most forming processes (very little stretch, mostly compression?).

I avoided using the Bend tool by doing a simple flange (used the Face tool, but could have just as easily used the Flange tool), then unfolding it, adding the rest of the face, then re-folding it.

Hope this helps,

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2022.0.1 | Windows 10 Home 20H2
LinkedIn

[cadman777]

Just got thru trying it w/Fold and couldn't do it.

I tried all the previous methods, but none of them could do it w/Fold.

Fold is a similar command to Bend in both sheetmetal and normal part.

Did you get it to work yet?

[cadman777]

Sam,

Lookin good!

2 things:
1. the 5.0 is the inside dim

2. The bend radius is 1mm.

That's what I keep struggling with.

I can do it if I change the bend radius, no probs.

[IgorMir]

That's true. Because my initial understanding of the question was just as I have described it before. 
As well as why I have stopped working on the part afterwards.
Cheers,

Igor.

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@cadman777 wrote:

Thanx for obliging.

I guess it was a simple flange where you didn't include all features along the bend line.

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