Now the customer wants them dimensioned in flat pattern. To save time, can I use the same dimensions I made when the sheet metals were bent to use in a flat pattern view? Or do I have to start the detailing dimensions again when I make flatten sheet metal parts?
You could used your bent dimensions on the Flat pattern, but not sure about an overall dimensions! that you may have to detailing again (Dim Expert in 3D model)..any other suggest..
If you use the dimensions that you have in bent form and attempt to use them in flat pattern they definitely won't be the same because you have to account for the bends and the material that it takes up. I don't know how you've modelled your part, but in SW 2011 if you just need the overall size of the flat pattern, you can get the 'bounding box' to display when after you've inserted a flat pattern onto a drawing, from the drawing view properties. Then you can dimension off of that (you may get it off of import option- never tried). You should also be able to open your sheet metal part, and go to the cut-list properties and it will tell you the bounding box size.
Will the customer be forming the parts, or using a sheet metal shop?
Either way, unless you detail the flat to suit the tooling, settings and practices used by the fabricator, the formed part will probably not match the expected finished part.
The flat should only be used as a guide ... an approximation.
Ernie,
Check out this thread.
https://forum.solidworks.com/message/156311#156311