Sheetmetal conversion - can't convert - suggestions

Gurus:

Using Wildfire 1 M190.
I have a standard application part that was modeled to look like a
sheetmetal part but I'd like to convert it to the sheetmetal
application.

I've been using the driving surface method and nothing seems to work.

Is there anything to look out for, features to avoid trying to convert
etc?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Mike

 

Think of this application as one built for doing duct work: every feature and
surface needs to be developable (translatable into planar surfaces, i.e., the
traditional cone is 'translated' into a series of wedge-shaped flat surfaces that
meet at the point, and, at their base, approximate a circle.)

So, if your part is composed of planar surfaces, it is developable, you should be
able to trace a series of edge breaks through the part, and, with sufficient
breaks, unfold it. In other words, the conversion process favors boxey parts. If
you have curvey surfaces, they may not be developable and thus, not convertable.

 

I agree with what David Janes posted above. Also, suppress any Chamfers or
Rounds in the part that you are attempting to convert to a Pro/SHEETMETAL
object. Or any Cut or Slot features that would simulate swage or coin
features in the model. These types of features can prevent the conversion to
sheetmetal as well as the issues that David described above.

R.M.

 

R.M.,

Suppressing the rounds really helped out.
I've managed to get one of my parts converted.

thanks

Mike