Trying to do weld tabs on a 3d profile metal sheet with 2015 version.
I wish I had 2018 with automatic weld tab feature!
I tried:
Lofted bend of the top and bottom 3d sketch curve . It works with some geometries , but not with everything, at least not with the attached curves. I can select the curves but I have a self intersecting geometry. I doesnt like sharp edges, so I have arc fillets on corners.
Any guidance on how to model in sheet metal a curved 3d metal sheet with weld tabs is appreciated. I am flexible about the tabs shape and position. However not flexible on the curve general profile. See attached file.
Ali T.
Ali,,, There is way too much to explain here but I will attach my file and hope you will get the idea. In the first screenshot you will notice that the right portion of my lofted sheet metal part dose not match identically to yours. There is about a .05" variation. It looks like your Surface fill is creating a bulge resulting in a compound bend which the sheet metal loft can't duplicate. That bulging is common with Surface Fills. If you need the bulging you won't be able to flatten this with the sheet metal tools... . Surface flatten is not available in 2015. Note the tabs (extremities) are really close. I have done this two ways and have two configurations in the model. The default config cuts the tabs out in the formed model and the other config cuts the tabs out between an unfold and fold. In that config I randomly made the cut on one side so you can get the idea. I'm assuming you would like the tabs to be uniform and equal size and spacing so this would probably be the way to go with this. Note in your part the tabs vary due to the way they were projected.
Doing a sheet metal loft on this almost works with you original sketches (tabs included). I bet it can be done if you taper your tabs a bit. Larger at the base,, narrower at the extremities. Your thickened part is in blue.