Welcome to the Onshape forum! Ask questions and join in the discussions about everything Onshape.
First time visiting? Here are some places to start:- Looking for a certain topic? Check out the categories filter or use Search (upper right).
- Need support? Ask a question to our Community Support category.
- Please submit support tickets for bugs but you can request improvements in the Product Feedback category.
- Be respectful, on topic and if you see a problem, Flag it.
If you would like to contact our Community Manager personally, feel free to send a private message or an email.
Sheet metal design problems
curtis_pope
Member Posts: 4 ✭
Hey Onshape gurus, I am struggling with a sheetmetal part I am hoping someone can help me with. I have an extrusion which will make up part of an enclosure. It mounts to a sheet metal bracket that forms the bottom and front of the enclosure. What I want is for the front to be all the way across, but cut out in the bottom so that the extrusion will sit flush in there. I took the sheetmetal and cut out a notch to form that cutout, but I can't figure out now how to extend the top down to match the bottom of the curve. I understand there will be a bend relief right before the bend and I'm OK with that. I have tried extrude, move, etc. and nothing seems to want to work. Any help i appreciated, I am a total onshape amateur and just learning how to use this awesome tool!
Curtis
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/cf78b84f9d1b5633da4b7442/w/46e36a5dfaf76addb50882ec/e/e481c8845c2a571bb33393ed?renderMode=0&rightPanel=sheetMetalPanel&uiState=66e76dabc05cc1779f5e1c0a
Comments
Use the "tab" feature. or draw it in the flat as an "add"
In addition to eric's reply - be mindful of the manufacturing processes needed to cut the cope on such a tab (if indeed, you are going to make this part).
Hey Curtis
Here is a sample of what I think you're trying to accomplish. Note the methods used which make things much faster and no clutter of transforms. This does require some study of assemblies and in context editing, The learning center is very useful with lots of free stuff.
https://learn.onshape.com/
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/703909ffe67529444f0f5f95/w/9d497920e87b2d685d920461/e/e5f721869ca1141e4abe873b
Wow Glen, that is great! I will certainly look at some of the techniques you used, much more efficient than my "hacking around". Still trying to figure out how you did a couple of things, like the sketches. How did you get the original "Sketch 1" from the extrusion and "Sketch 4" from the connector?
The only other piece I have to figure out is I need a rectangular cutout where the mounting feature of the extrusion (thin rectangular area that is perpendicular to the main extruded face) interferes with the bend in the panel. I had that on my original drawing, will try to add that here, hopefully it is just a sketch and extrude that will work.
Thanks again for the assist! Learning a lot and a lot more to learn.
Curtis
@curtis_pope
If you look at the original extrusion you'll see that I added a bevel for bend clearance instead of a cutout in the sheet metal. Can be done quickly with a hand file on aluminum. Also note that unless you're working with a very ductile material the inside bend radius probably wants to be at least 2 x material.
The extraction of geometry from original extrusion profile into Sketch 1 & 4 is done with the 'use' function. This is done with 'in context' editing.
In the part studio switch the context view from none to context 1. The part studio was started from the assembly.