Constraints on folded and unfolded sheet metal

[shehill399]

Hello,

I am having a problem with constraining or getting my sheet metal the correct distance apart. I have created a small and larger radii bent sheet metal frame. I need them to be 18.375" apart, but the only way I can constrain them with the center hole is when they are unfolded. When I refold them, they obviously lose their constraint and are no longer where I need them to be. Also, Is there an easier way to work with rolled sheet metal for conveyors so I can add shafts internally to each side frame? When I put a shaft between the metal when its unfolded, as soon as its refolded, the shaft is no longer attached to the frames

The file should be attached to the forum.

Thank you

[Sergio.D.Suárez]

Hi, As you made the perforations in the flattened sheet (here the perforation will generate a cylindrical face where you could select an axis of revolution), when you carry out the refold, the faces stop being cylindrical due to the deformation, that is why you cannot create a contraint on the axis of the figure because it is not a cylindrical face.

I would recommend that you perform the cylindrical drilling without unfold, so that the face is cylindrical in the already curved sheet, and when you obtain the flat pattern you would not have a perfect circle, you would rather have an oval. If this cannot be done because you have a circular punch tool for example, you should create an axis on each face when the sheet is already curved, and thus restrict through these workaxes.

I hope this helps with your problem. Grettings!

[Sergio.D.Suárez]

Another recommendation would be that you model the two sheet metal parts as a multibody, so the perforations would be perfectly positioned between one plate and another, I will try to make an example to explain it better

[Sergio.D.Suárez]

Here is a simple example of how to work with multibody. I hope it is useful to you.
Multibody.ipt is a kind of skeleton. you control everything from here.
You don't need to place assembly constraints, because the spatial location comes from multibody.ipt.
Greetings!!

[shehill399]

Thank you so much for your help! I have not had a chance yet to sit and go through your example but I will definitely check it out as soon as possible and let you know if it helped:)