I'm currently designing a chute for a bucket elevator, and normally I would do a surface skeleton and then project faces to make sheet metal pieces.
This chute is kind of hard to do it by extruded surfaces, so I tried to do it solid then convert to surface but couldn't find the way to.
Do you have a solution for this?
I'd try the Delete Face command. Pick a face that you will leave open in the actual chute.
If you don't like that command, you could use the Thicken/Offset command and a 0.000 offset dimension.
Steve Walton
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create working points at the top
create a closed loop using a 3d sketch
create a surface
stitching surfaces
get the result
You want to make that form out of sheet metal? Which side(s) are open? Can you attach a photo of something similar that already exists? Can you attach your attempt here? I suspect there is a relatively easy way to do what you're asking.
Sam B
Inventor Pro 2024 | Windows 10 Home 22H2
You want to make that form out of sheet metal?
Yes, I want to use it as a skeleton to make my sheet metal parts easier.
Which side(s) are open?
I don't think that really matters but attached is a picture showing how. As I replied before, deleting faces would make my piece a surface so that was really what I was looking for.
Can you attach a photo of something similar that already exists?
Attached 1. You'll see that there's a surface that I modeled so I can project edges and create sheet metal pieces.
Can you attach your attempt here?
Attached 2
att 1
att 2
I mean can you attach your Inventor file here so I don't have to make up my own dimensions? What version of Inventor are you using?
How many individual parts will make up this piece?
It looks as if you have found a pretty good technique, so I will probably not add any valuable insights, but I still like to try my hand at interesting models!
Sam B
Inventor Pro 2024 | Windows 10 Home 22H2
I mean can you attach your Inventor file here so I don't have to make up my own dimensions? What version of Inventor are you using?
It'll be somewhat difficult as there are several pieces in the assembly and I'm only allowed to attach maximum 3 files.
Currently using Inventor 2021. This would be the final result.
How many individual parts will make up this piece?
About 7-8, maybe we can optimize it to save some welding...
It looks as if you have found a pretty good technique, so I will probably not add any valuable insights, but I still like to try my hand at interesting models!
You can find a 3d view on this one... meanwhile I'll look for a way to share my assembly using this technique 😄
Zip parts and assembly together and attach-- zip is an acceptable format here.
Sam B
Inventor Pro 2024 | Windows 10 Home 22H2
Here is a different way to approach this. Attached is a 2021 part file containing seven separate solid bodies modeled in sheet metal to make up your assembly. I do not have time this evening to complete the job by using Make Components to derive the seven solids into seven parts and place them into an assembly. Just note that when you do so, the parts (and therefore the assembly) will be connected to the master part file, and changes in the master file will change the parts and the assembly. All the geometry is controlled from the one part file.
Sam B
Inventor Pro 2024 | Windows 10 Home 22H2
