mirror sheetmetal components and insert bends terror

Hi all,

I have to create a left-hand version of a sheetmetal part, but after
creating the mirror-part I can't insert bend, because errors are
created in the bends.

We have got a not-so-nice-but-working workaround (mirror in the
right-hand body in the part and delete the right-hand body), but that's
not a nice way to work because you have to save the part as a copy.
This removes all references to the right-hand part. We prefer not to
use configurations, because of the PDM system ;-).

Can any of you share your experiences???

Kind regards,

JJ

 

Here we treat unfolded parts as configs of the part. So if you create the
mirror after having made the unfolded configs of your part, SW will make a
mirror part with the same configs as your base part. (from SW2004 at least),
and you won't have to insert bends.
Each config is the mirror of the same config in the base part.

If you use the 'old' Sheet metal method (geometry, insert bends at the end),
you can make a 'no sheet metal' config of your base part, and use it in the
mirror.

Hope I am clear enough.
JM

 

The problem with this approach is the mirror part doesn't have bend
lines so you are left wondering where the bends are supposed to be.
This is why you want to insert bends in the mirrored part. Especially
when the Right Hand body has some minor mods. I would suggest checking
the settings on the sheetmetal features Thickness, k-factor and such.
If these aren't identical you can run into problems with blank sizes
not matching and possibly failed bends.

Corey

 

Well, all that I described works here because I still use the 'old' sheet
metal method, and that's one of the reasons I stick with it.
'old' sheet metal method: I mean geometry first, insert bends at the end.

JM