Yes, that is what I would like to have. There are times when I want to create a curved part with a funny profile so I create a base flange that is the curved profile, put in an unfold, cut the profile and then put in a fold. A problem arises when you cut away the face or edge that you used as the basis of the unfold - it isn't there to fold agian so you have to do something else and that changes the part. By allowing the use of a plane, I would be able to cut any type of edge and still have if go back where it was.
I'm not sure i agree 100% with yoru suggestion. But i will agree that SW needs an extra feature (broader feature scope, if you will) to allow for these situations. As i've run into this exact thing many a time myself. Very painful!
My thinking is this... On top of the existing functionality of selecting a preferred "fixed face/linear edge" why not a radio box to instead, select a plane/face to align the flatterned pattern to. Which basically would be the same as what your saying i think (not giving this much thought atm as its a rush reply). It could also have the added ability to select an axis for "X/Y/Z" direction to orient the pattern to simplifiy many things downt eh track like drawing view creation or pattern overall X,Y sizes etc etc.
Can't figure out why this kind of ER hasnt made it in the SW SM. Gosh... anyone that uses it to any kind of depth runs into this issue pretty quickly! So you have my vote
There may be a tiny bit of misunderstanding in my previous posts. I wish to see the addition of plane usage, not change to it exclusively. Most of the time a face or edge is just fine. But in the case of the visor, for example, you don't have a face or edge that will work. But as stated, a center plane would be just fine. So, my request is to add the plane to the possibilities, not replace everything with the plane.
It's not as high of a priority as mouse gestures because the sheet metal stuff isn't used by everyone, although maybe it should be! :-)
Yes it should be done. Its a useful enhancement for a number of situations not just confined to actual sheetmetal but also for plasics and product labels - and others cases awaiting discovery.
It won't be a high traffic feature but it would be just really handy to have.
As commented in this thread if you really do make creative use of the sheetmetal tools there are situations where the current arrangement prematurely limits what you can do. The functionality just needs to go that little bit further to unlock a whole lot of potential.
I had a wee moan on Matts blog recently about SW thinking and how it eliminated small but useful innovation like this in favour of market worthy ones for the masses.
Most likely this idea is not something the coders would have considered a need for but adventurous users climb all over the program and get out on a ledge. They find they have a need for a subtly improved ice axe. This is the type of 'fringe' innovation they need to pick up on and incorporate.
Thanks again Wayne. I hope SW look beyond the comfortable popular votes
Is the same issue that was exposed again in the 'Finger joint' thread and at Matts blog re the sticker?
If so I am all for an enhancement to allow bends of trimmed shapes.
Unfortunately I cant login to vote for it but perhaps someone will do on my behalf pretty please....
By all means yes have an alternative of a plane or a surface (perhaps a zero offset of the original edge?)
If it is just one radius I dont see why the bend actually has to originate at an edge either - surely it could unfold with a planar reference anywhere normal to the arc?
Say for instance for a motorcycle helmet visor you could flatten it from the middle (mirror plane) out.
(btw that example raises another issue - what about the case where you want to flatten a simple spline or parabola...ought to be possible.
...and thinking about sheetmetal overall, should you also be able to do lofted bends with trimmed edges?)
Also what say I want to start from a flat shape and bend it up, couldnt it bend at some nominated line?
Say for instance I draw a wiggly shape with a spline and extrude it 1mm , couldnt I nominate it to be a sheetmetal body and then draw a sketch line across the inner face and have it arch tangent to that? I guess thats a little like a sketched bend or say putting a section line on a dwg.
Anyway I am pleased you made the request. It really would be good to extend the functionality. This ER ought to be fairly easy to do it probably just wont make much of a splash on the radar in comparison to more mouse gestures
Yes, that is what I would like to have. There are times when I want to create a curved part with a funny profile so I create a base flange that is the curved profile, put in an unfold, cut the profile and then put in a fold. A problem arises when you cut away the face or edge that you used as the basis of the unfold - it isn't there to fold agian so you have to do something else and that changes the part. By allowing the use of a plane, I would be able to cut any type of edge and still have if go back where it was.
WT
Wayne,
I'm not sure i agree 100% with yoru suggestion. But i will agree that SW needs an extra feature (broader feature scope, if you will) to allow for these situations. As i've run into this exact thing many a time myself. Very painful!
My thinking is this... On top of the existing functionality of selecting a preferred "fixed face/linear edge" why not a radio box to instead, select a plane/face to align the flatterned pattern to. Which basically would be the same as what your saying i think (not giving this much thought atm as its a rush reply). It could also have the added ability to select an axis for "X/Y/Z" direction to orient the pattern to simplifiy many things downt eh track like drawing view creation or pattern overall X,Y sizes etc etc.
Can't figure out why this kind of ER hasnt made it in the SW SM. Gosh... anyone that uses it to any kind of depth runs into this issue pretty quickly! So you have my vote
There may be a tiny bit of misunderstanding in my previous posts. I wish to see the addition of plane usage, not change to it exclusively. Most of the time a face or edge is just fine. But in the case of the visor, for example, you don't have a face or edge that will work. But as stated, a center plane would be just fine. So, my request is to add the plane to the possibilities, not replace everything with the plane.
It's not as high of a priority as mouse gestures because the sheet metal stuff isn't used by everyone, although maybe it should be! :-)
W T
Yes it should be done. Its a useful enhancement for a number of situations not just confined to actual sheetmetal but also for plasics and product labels - and others cases awaiting discovery.
It won't be a high traffic feature but it would be just really handy to have.
As commented in this thread if you really do make creative use of the sheetmetal tools there are situations where the current arrangement prematurely limits what you can do. The functionality just needs to go that little bit further to unlock a whole lot of potential.
I had a wee moan on Matts blog recently about SW thinking and how it eliminated small but useful innovation like this in favour of market worthy ones for the masses.
Most likely this idea is not something the coders would have considered a need for but adventurous users climb all over the program and get out on a ledge. They find they have a need for a subtly improved ice axe. This is the type of 'fringe' innovation they need to pick up on and incorporate.
Thanks again Wayne. I hope SW look beyond the comfortable popular votes
Wayne,
Is the same issue that was exposed again in the 'Finger joint' thread and at Matts blog re the sticker?
If so I am all for an enhancement to allow bends of trimmed shapes.
Unfortunately I cant login to vote for it but perhaps someone will do on my behalf pretty please....
By all means yes have an alternative of a plane or a surface (perhaps a zero offset of the original edge?)
If it is just one radius I dont see why the bend actually has to originate at an edge either - surely it could unfold with a planar reference anywhere normal to the arc?
Say for instance for a motorcycle helmet visor you could flatten it from the middle (mirror plane) out.
(btw that example raises another issue - what about the case where you want to flatten a simple spline or parabola...ought to be possible.
...and thinking about sheetmetal overall, should you also be able to do lofted bends with trimmed edges?)
Also what say I want to start from a flat shape and bend it up, couldnt it bend at some nominated line?
Say for instance I draw a wiggly shape with a spline and extrude it 1mm , couldnt I nominate it to be a sheetmetal body and then draw a sketch line across the inner face and have it arch tangent to that? I guess thats a little like a sketched bend or say putting a section line on a dwg.
Anyway I am pleased you made the request. It really would be good to extend the functionality. This ER ought to be fairly easy to do it probably just wont make much of a splash on the radar in comparison to more mouse gestures
"Is the same issue that was exposed again in the 'Finger joint' thread and at Matts blog re the sticker?"
Yup, exactly.
WT