So I have a simple part, formed from two edge flanges. One of the bend lines has dissappeared in the flat pattern. This makes it difficult to place the bend notch marks. I did so by measuring the flat with "merge faces" unselected, and then dimensioned the notch to that spot. (Just to clarify why it's in the pic)
SO, why has one bend line disappeared, while the rest remain visible?
Not a bad idea. I've had some luck with the notches following the bends in the flat pattern through bend changes.
The real mystery is why did the bend line go away? The notches are used for reference for the sheet metal press operator for DOWN bends. However, if the bend is UP, we put an etch line on the bend line. So, I really need the bend lines to stay around.
Gary,
Are these punched parts or laser? I did make a 'chisel' tool for the turret out of a worn rectangle. I just ground the rectangle to a point so we could load that into a station and mark the bends. The funny part about that was that on sharp bends they just about disappeared. The cuts as you have them may have to be weld and ground.
I also made an insert for the form up letter stamping tool. It was a chisel pointed rectangular block that fit into the holder for the individual stamps. That way I could mark on both sides using both of these tools. We had 58 station turrets.
Bernie
Message was edited by: Bernie Daraz - Later I did remember that you said 'etched line', laser then.
Gary,
Is the bend line sketch set to visible? (burried under the flat pattern feature at the bottom of the part feature tree). I don't have an understanding of what drives it, but on occasion these toggle visible and hidden without my direct input.
Daen
The bend line sketch is visible, and controls all the bend lines that are showing. Just not the one I need. Attached is the file. It is the first flat pattern, labelled as missing a bend line.
Gary,
I have seen this fairly often in multi-body parts. I just recreated the flange and the flat pattern corrected itself.
Jeff
Jeff,
When you "recreated" the flange, how did you do that? By the # of the feature, it looks like you deleted Edge-flange3 and created a new flange? Did Base-Flange 2 then have rebuild errors?
I guess it's a glitch, but a pain. I often build multi-body sheetmetal, and recreating features can cause a headache of lost edges and errors.
Just wondering what your whole process was. Thanks.
Gary,
I did delete and recreate the flange, the only error was in the plate on the end. But that was a simple reconnect of the relation to the new edge.
Jeff
Ok. It's a workaround that works. I can deal with some adjustments. Some of my sheetmetal parts get pretty complex and deleting an early flange feature can get painful.
Still wondering why this happens.
Just out of curiosity, I am going to submit to SolidWorks and see what they say.
Gary,
I would do it like this, put them in after the bends. Then your bend notches follow the bends even if you change them later.
Bernie