Question on Sheet Metal Capabilities

I know there are numerous Users here skilled at the Sheet Metal
portion of Solidworks.
I have a general question that I would like to have answered before I
go through all the motions of attempting to model the object that I
will be attempting, and it doesn't quite work.
Do the sheet metal capabilities include the object being able to have
a bend in it? To clarify this, picture a 3" diameter pipe, with a
1/8" wall thickness being bent around something the diameter of a
telephone pole, add a single seam down the inner middle of this pipe
so that it could be opened and flattened out. Can this be made in
Solidworks Sheet Metal?
Of course my other alternative would be to extrude a 3" cylinder, bend
it to the radius that I need using the flex tool, then shelling it out
to a wall thickness.
I would much rather do it in Sheet Metal if at all possible so that I
can offer the flattened out model as the blank that would be needed to
fabricate the part.
If the above procedure is possible, I would appreciate a quick
synopsis of the method.
I am thanking all of you skilled Ladies and Gentlemen in advance.
Amy

 

You might try creating this part as a lofted bend. I had to do a tube
with an elliptical cross-section with one end cut perpendicular to the
axis and the other at a 6 degree angle. It worked fine. I won't
guarantee that this method would work, but it might. If it doesn't, you
might try your VAR to see if any of the CSWP's there can help you do it.

Bruce B.

 

Maybe I misunderstood exactly what you were asking. If you only want to
create a part like this and don't really need a flat pattern, you could
do it with a sweep.

I looked in a steel book and found that you can get 3.00" OD round
carbon steel mechanical tubing with a .125" wall thickness.

Hope this is of some help.

Bruce B.

 

It would appear that I wasn't very clear with my question. I do know
that there are several ways that I would be able to model this part.
My question is: Can an object with a bend in it be made in the Sheet
Metal mode? I really would rather do it using Sheet Metal if at all
possible, because if I could supply my clilent with a flattened part
that he could use for a template to use for his blanking tool, (used
in production), this would be a plus for me. My instincts tell me
that it must be difficult to flatten a part that has a bend in it
because of the kinks that would occur. I am hoping that someone with
more knowlege of Sheet Metal modeling than I have can answer this
question, as much as I am hoping that Solidworks has found a way
around this potential kinking problem.

Amy

 

Hi there,
I think if at all possible you would end up with a rectangular sheet,
because you would flatten all the bends out.
Regards,
David

 

Compound curvature.
Not a simple "sheet metal" bending matter ..... cannot work.
There are expensive non-linear FEM-based packages that might sort
of work but all too much depends on exact later fabrication methods,
tooling & materials.

 

The sheet metal function can only handle simple bends, i.e. about a single
bend line.
What you are describing involves plastic deformation in multiple directions.

 

Thank you all. Multiple radii involves material shrinkage,
stretching, etc., I was afraid that Solidworks would not be able to
handle that. I suppose the only way to do the job would be to
supplement the radius with an angle, and cut out a wedge shape
triangle on the blank, to the same included angle so that when it is
bent, the two edges of the blank would close to form a straight seam.
Thanks for your response.
Amy Labritto

 

<Sheesh ....>
That's not going to work either. Compound curvature.

About the best you can do lacking proper expertise & software
(or talking with the vendor that would actually make it) might
be a piece of stock as long as the distance the central (tube) radius
traverses over it's length and as wide as the neutral plane (about
at 50% of the tube's wall thickness) surface over the 360 degrees
of the tube's neutral plane circumference.

Feel free to correct me.

 

What is the material that you want to use? Aluminium flows really
nicely for this sort of thing, if you select an appropriate grade, so
does Stainless. If the blank is going to be stamped, how do you
intend to form the final shape? Will it be pressed also or rolled?
Will the part revolve through a complete 360deg.? Try cross posting
your question to alt.machine.cnc some of the folks there have heaps of
experience in this type of stuff, and I have read some really
interesting conversations in the past.

The problem in developing a pattern for this part seems really simple
because the form is not complex. If the part is going to be rolled, a
metal rolling service should be able to do some trial runs to develop
a pattern for you. However, if the part will be rolled, you generally
need 3 times the length, to get the correct form in the middle, so
developing a pattern is kind of a waste of effort.

 

<snip>

yes.
draw an arc to simulate pipe, drag arc ends to within .01 deg of each other.
invoke base flange command, select arc sketch.

 

doh, nevermind.
totally misread your post.

the answer is no.

 

I was scared there for a brief moment <g>.
WHY do people always want to unfold the unfoldable?

 

Are you trying to make a ring from a piece of pipe? if so it is pretty easy
to roll a pipe to make a ring, no flats required. Although the dia you are
asking for from the 3" dia pipe may prove to be a problem, but it is not
that difficult.



Steve R

 

That's the same as asking why Muslim fanatics are Muslims, isn't it?

 

Any superstition in a storm.
http://landoverbaptist.org/

<g>.