I am trying to convert the attached file from a lofted solid to a sheet metal part. Seems like this should be pretty simple, however, I've failed at all attempts. What am I doing wrong? I tried to convert, but the model is missing a transition radius from the top to the sides, I tried to create curved surfaces which worked well, but I could not join the 5 sheet metal parts into one part that can be flattened.
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
thank you
Steve
Hi Steve,
Your best bet would be to use "Lofted Bends" found under 'Insert', 'Sheet Metal' but if you look inside that command you will see that it does not have some of the more interesting options that a solid Loft feature has. It will only allow you to select two profiles and not the three you have modeled here. You would not be able to create that complex curve without being able to select more than two profiles. From the looks of it I don't see how you would make the program produce this as a sheet metal object.
If you have SOLIDWORKS Premium though you could use the 'Surface Flatten' feature to create a flat pattern(-ish) of the Loft like the attached example.