Smooth square to round flat pattern

[Chris_TPR]

Hi everyone,

I have run into issues with trying to get a "smooth" flat pattern from a sheet metal square to round.

The issue is that Inventor is trying to create a flat plane on the round end, and when this is rolled out you end up with steps centred across the bend lines. I have tried (I feel like) every setting change and workaround and I can't seem to get a solution.

I would also like to be able to converge the square corners but again Inventor won't do it for me.

A simple program like "Sheet N Plate" does all this perfectly but having to create the parts for an assembly in Inventor and then use another program to create a separate flat pattern is not a great solution.

Does anyone have a way of doing this?

Cheers,

- Chris.

[JDMather]

Attach the *.ipt file of your attempt here.

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi Chris,

I believe you are trying to do Die Formed Lofted Flange. You need to select it on creating the Lofted Flange. Please recreate the Lofted Flange and in the dialog, change the type to Die Formed (instead of Press Brake).

Many thanks!

[Chris_TPR]

I've attached one of the lofted flanges I have been drawing. You'll probably have to break the link of the master sketch.

[Chris_TPR]

Hi Johnson,

I haven't got that option, or I'm looking in the wrong spot.

I maybe haven't articulated myself properly. The flat pattern Inventor produces will work but the guys i'm designing for at the moment prefer a smooth curve like you would traditionally get from normal sheet metal triagulation and marking out. I hope that makes sense.

Attached is a screen grab. Thanks for your help so far!

[Chris_TPR]

RE: No die formed option.

There is, I just had to delete the loft and do it again. haha! Fool!

Thanks for that, seems obvious now. As it doesn't allow for bends I'll have to overlay the flat pattern with the Inventor press braked one to ensure the chordal length is close enough etc. I'll also compare it to a "Sheet N Plate" flat pattern. Hopefully it's very similar.

[cadman777]

One thing I always do is make the 'KFactor Value' .33 for press-brake, and .5 for roll-formed.

'KFactor Value' is found in the 'Sheet Metal Defaults>Sheet Metal Rule>Edit Sheet Metal Rule (Pencil Tip)>Unfold Rule (Pencil Tip)'.

If your 'KFactor Value' setting is different, your flat pattern Extents will be not what they should be and the shop guys will not make the part correctly b/c it may be too big or too small a flatpattern piece. Your 'KFactor Value' settings may vary based on your forming process.