strong-back bends (sheetmetal bend gussets)

I know this has been discussed in the past. I was wondering if someone has
come up with an elegant (i.e. easy) way to represent these on sheetmetal
parts? I'm still on 2006, maybe 2007 addresses this directly since
Solidedge now has this feature. I have a gusset in my design library that I
picked up somewhere but I can't figure out how to place it on a part.

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

Well to answer my on post. I got through the project requiring the strong
backs but the way I did them is not pretty and actually I hope no one ever
sees the part file. I did one using extrude, then draft, then fillet (2x),
then a cut and more fillets. It looked great so I decided to array/mirror
it all over the part but SW wouldn't let me do this. So I arrayed/mirroed
what I could and then finish out each individual gusset (there were 12 of
them). What a PITA!

 

I've done pretty much the same thing. Make one part with extrudes and
cuts depending on which side of the part the gussets are formed, draft,
fillet, then shell, that represents the finished folded part. This part
won't turn into sheet metal - no bends found. So then I make a separate
sheet metal part, without the gussets that can be unfolded for the flat
layout. You can add a sketch for the location of the gussets in the
flat part if needed. Not pretty but it works.

I'd tried applying a forming tool I made to put in the gussets after
adding a flatten feature, but it failed to fold back up. I also tried
putting in a forming tool from a plane at 45 degrees from one surface.
That didn't work either. I haven't seen anything added in SW2007 to do
this either. This is a very common sheet metal operation for both
stamping and press brake work, but must be difficult to program. The
only other thing I've wanted for sheet metal functionality was added
when lofted sheet metal parts were added a couple releases ago.

Don't be embarrassed or shy about the part you created. If someone
rolls their eyes at it ask them to demonstrate a more elegant method.
If you are sending the part to a client be proud of your work. The
limitation in this case seems to be software, not your skills.

Regards, Diego

 

Diego,

Just one thought about your post. Even though it sounds like we went
through the same process, you might want to consider separate configurations
instead of files. I have one config with the strongbacks that show up on
the formed views and another config where they are supressed. I use the
config with the supressed strongbacks to place the flat layout view since
the strongbacks in theory do not affect the flat layout (the press brake
operators will argue this point.). Thanks for the encouragement, we all
need some of that from day to day.

Have a great day,
Jeff

 

i posted one a while back.
http://tinyurl.com/27n2ex

i don't have the link on my page any longer.

use the default config for the flat-pattern.
add a configuration to display the strong backs.

the reason the part will not unfold is the forming tool goes across a bend.
regardless of where it lands on a part, no forming tool will unfold.

i can you send an example.

kenneth

 

Who knows what if would take to alter the forum's charter to allow image
attachments? What percentage of us are so bandwidth limited that we can't
afford to download images? I realize some out there still pay per byte, but
is it really that expensive versus the benefits?

 

Links to web provision are allowed, are they not?

 

I know of no reason why links to images elsewhere should be a problem.

Looking into it a bit, it seems that the goup would have to become
comp.cad.solidworks.binaries in order for it to be good manners to post
pictures here. I suppose there aren't enough people who care enough to go
to the bother of basically creating a new group. Ah well. We'd only get
spammed with porn anyway, right?

 

That does sound like a bigger problem. Thanks for the education.