Sketch from Sheetmetal Pattern

steve_maietta

Generating a sketch from sheetmetal flat pattern.  So I could easily add tabs, flaps etc.

  Either using the "project" tool or a one click convert would be nice and useful.

Otherwise it's not apparently possible without putting the pattern into an assembly and then generating a sketch from that.  Which works but kinda clunky and ends up giving many doubled sketch entities.

thanks
~Steve

romeograham

@steve_maietta Don't forget to vote for your own IR!

lougallo

@steve_maietta Do you have an example?  You can sketch in the flat today but I just want to make sure the steps in your workflow before I write up an improvement  or suggest a solution.

steve_maietta

@lougallo, My example is a simple box (package design) with the intent of making it from paperboard.  I need "tabs" that get folded under the sides and are glued to seal up the specific edges.  At this point, I have been able to add these as tabs in the original sheet metal part studio.
I went ahead in the project and was trying to force it on a project that was almost finished. .  It ended up being alot easier to start again and add them in the beginning.  So I do not need this anymore
BUT - it still seems like a good basic functionality.  One click to turn a sheetmetal pattern into a sketch.  Select the plane, select the origin, boom new sketch disassociated from the orignal pattern.

Thanks for looking at the request LOU!

~Steve

lougallo

I still think you might be able to add these into the flat area today but I would need an example.  I will reach out.

steve_maietta

@lougallo
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/f832c9927ab7e920371aaa66/w/d8333d7d92fedf3d7bf6acb6/e/52b1a5348cc916b24d92b3e9

Heres a simple box.  I could add tabs on the model using a sketch and the tab tool.  But I think it would be useful to be able to have the pattern "exportable" as a sketch.  Somehow to turn the pattern into a sketch    I realized that I approached the project with the wrong sequence originally, but still this ability may be useful.
I tried adding in the flat area but I believe interference was happening..  something was keeping them from building successfully..

~Steve