Sheetmetal Flat Pattern drawing view macro

When a drawing is created for a sheetmetal part, and a flat pattern
view is inserted, all the bend lines are the same whether the flange
bends >up or down. For example, in our factory they know that the
flange bends up if it is dashed and bends down if it is solid-dashed.
Some CAM programs put a note "Bend up" or "Bend down" over each line.
I have automated our process to create a solidworks drawing and a DXF
file from the drawing, but if I still have to go back in to manually
change the bend lines in the drawing to the two styles I mentioned it
takes away from the automation.

Question, is there a macro out there that changes these lines
automatically? It seems like SolidWorks should have something like
this incorporated already. Ive seen a macro that put "Bend Up" and
"Bend Down" notes, but this would change our process in manufacturing,
so I would rather use a macro that changes the lines
(dashed/solid-dashed).

 

How about hiding SW's bend lines and generating a sketch with appropriate
solid/dashed settings? (either in the part itself or in the drawing)

- mvk

 

Seems like it would be easier to change the bend line "line type". Do
you have this macro already? I would love to give it a try.

Just to clarify what we do here. 1.) We have a sheetmetal part, lets
say a bracket with (2) 90 degree bends, (1) bend up, (1) bend down.
When we open a drawing, we choose the "Flat Pattern" view that
Solidworks automatically generates. Solidworks automatically makes
both lines solid-dashed, so we choose the line that needs to be bent
up, and make it dashed line type.

Why doesnt Solidworks automate this process of displaying whats bent
up, and whats bent down?


What do most companies do to show this on a drawing?

 

I don't have a macro that does what you have described. I feel the
SW API is deficient in giving access to the flat-pattern features.

You do this in SolidWorks or some other program like AutoCAD?

We (my vendors...) use "DIST - ANGLE - DIR" like "50 - 45 DEG - U".
One of the several possibilities I guess.

- mvk

 

We do this in Solidworks. Simply pick the line, and choose another
linetype.

It seems like this is possible automatically. Have you or anyone else
seen any macros for making sheetmetal drawings?

 

You can download "swBendsQu" from <http://www.markkulehtola.net/sw/> and
modify it to suit your needs...

- mvk