Hello,
I have never done sheet metal before so this is probably a silly question. I am trying to use "Convert to Sheet Metal" tool to convert my solid into sheet metal but the flat pattern is turning out very "uneven". My guess is that I need to use split lines somewhere, but I just can't seem to figure it out. I'd greatly appreciate any input! Thanks!
Have you tried starting the part as sheet metal instead of converting a solid?
The way you started this is not necessarily a wrong way, but starting sheet metal earlier might have been easier. But then again maybe not based on what info you are starting with. So I tried to help you on the same direction.
Here is a part that I reworked with several changes, but also several assumptions as to what you wanted. Some areas could still be simplified based on what is important to you. Take a look at what I did and see what works better or worse for you.
But there are also several comments I need to make to help you improve your SW usage.
Sketch1, the basic extrude is not fully defined and can float. I also see that you used the countour select tool which should not be needed - the sketch is complete in itself. Not sure why that was there but I left it instead of starting over completely.
Sketch3 doesn't have a length so I guessed at what you had sitting there. But in my version, I combined some features and didn't use that one.
The cut from sketch4 leaves a little thick area per your .125 dim - I removed that as it will only cause a problem. Not sure what you intended. Same thing with sketch3.
I see that you created sketches for the holes and then used the HW on top of those. Were the original sketches in context or something? What I see makes no sense at all. Even if you have a context situation, just do it directly in the the HW sketches themselves - no external sketch needed as it only adds time, resources, and more room for errors..
The last outside fillet makes no sense at all. You had .05 but your shell produced a material thickness of .094. I put in a .03 inside radius and let the outside add itself.
If I totally messed up your part, sorry, but not knowing what you really wanted, I tried to show you several things that could help you.
WT
Thank you both! The reason the sketches were undefined and messy was that it was just an idea at first and I tried the sheet metal conversion before locking down the design. But your way really helped clarify the errors I was having with selecting bend edges. I actually tried to do the same thing you did with additional cuts but used split lines instead. I wonder whether there's any difference between those two approaches? Is one more "elegant"? Or is it more like, use whatever get the job done ? Anyway, thanks again for the help!
The way you started this is not necessarily a wrong way, but starting sheet metal earlier might have been easier. But then again maybe not based on what info you are starting with. So I tried to help you on the same direction.
Here is a part that I reworked with several changes, but also several assumptions as to what you wanted. Some areas could still be simplified based on what is important to you. Take a look at what I did and see what works better or worse for you.
But there are also several comments I need to make to help you improve your SW usage.
Sketch1, the basic extrude is not fully defined and can float. I also see that you used the countour select tool which should not be needed - the sketch is complete in itself. Not sure why that was there but I left it instead of starting over completely.
Sketch3 doesn't have a length so I guessed at what you had sitting there. But in my version, I combined some features and didn't use that one.
The cut from sketch4 leaves a little thick area per your .125 dim - I removed that as it will only cause a problem. Not sure what you intended. Same thing with sketch3.
I see that you created sketches for the holes and then used the HW on top of those. Were the original sketches in context or something? What I see makes no sense at all. Even if you have a context situation, just do it directly in the the HW sketches themselves - no external sketch needed as it only adds time, resources, and more room for errors..
The last outside fillet makes no sense at all. You had .05 but your shell produced a material thickness of .094. I put in a .03 inside radius and let the outside add itself.
If I totally messed up your part, sorry, but not knowing what you really wanted, I tried to show you several things that could help you.
WT