Flatten a solid

I'm looking for a solution to the following:

I have a part. It's like a propeller of a prop plane. It's close to
the same profile along the length, but twists axially. I need to make
a model that shows what that propellor would look like if it was
untwisted as close as flat as possible without distorting the
crossectional profile. I've used the deform feature in SW but it does
not work. I can change the shape, but the mass changes also. It's more
of a geometrical deformation instead of a physical deformation. It
breaks laws of physics. I know this is not what those tools were
designed to do. My question is, is there a tool in SW that can do what
I'm looking for? If not, is there any other software package that can
do this?

Thanks.

 

I have done such things. I requires a working knowledge of descriptive
geometry and a lot of patience. The project I did this on was with
warped sheet metal and the accuracy of the finished part only needed to
be +/-1/16". In other words, there is no automatic way to do this. You
have to use the old methods you would have used on the drawing board.

TOP

 

Thanks.

For this, I need very good accuracy, and the geometry is very complex.
That's why I was hoping there was a package out there that could do
it. I ahve heard a rumor that something exists, but have been unable
to locate it. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

Blankworks, perhaps?

 

Consider a non-linear FEA package, such as LS-Dyna?
http://www.lstc.com/lsdyna.htm
http://www.lstc.com/applications.htm

 

"Blankworks, perhaps?"

Forming Technologies has a range of products for this purpose and they are
avaliable directly or as part of Vero Internationals progeressive die design
package.

JC

 

Just a dumb thought here:

1. create a series of parallel planes that cut the twisted profile.
2. on each plane create a contour of the outline of the prop.
3. using derived sketches stack the profiles on a plane parallel to the
original prop.
4. loft (centerline loft)
5. check volume as a sanity check.

How many planes you will need is up to you. There is obvious deformation
needed to get what you want. So what is acceptable is up to you.

TOP
Sometimes there is just no easy solution.

 

Thanks for the many suggestions. Sounds like some good leads here, and
I will be investigating all of them. I really appreciate the help.

- Luther

 

I have done something similar to produce a label for a bottle, I
downloaded a 15 day trial version of geometryworks (http://
www.cadcamcomponents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=products.details_3d)
which allows you to extract a curved surface and then flatten it out -
you can then use this data to create a solid.

For me it was a one off request - and I didn't buy as it was quite
expensive as I recall - However, I think you can now do something
similar using Rhino - probably for a lot less expenditure.

Hope this helps,


Kev

 

Let us know what works out.

Cheers
TOP

 

I will let you know how it goes. It will probably be a bit before I
have an answer though. Thanks again for the help!

- Luther