How do I combine two shapes to be able to then subtract another?

Mo_CH

Hi, I am a beginner and am having trouble performing a particular function.

I have made a part and then bent it using the bend sheet metal function + extruded the outcome.

I now want to boolean subtract (dark blue) but the program seems to treat my bent sheet (light blue) and the extruded element (grey) as two parts. I can't seem to boolean union the original bent metal sheet and the part I extruded from this sheet. Why is that?

Thank you

MDesign

You can use what you've got now, but you need to use the finish sheet metal model command to use boolean on it with the other objects you created.

nick_papageorge_dayjob

I'm not following your question completely…. but on sheet metal parts, you can only subtract to them, you can't add to them.

Your design does not look like typical sheetmetal parts from the picture. Are you sure that's the tool you want to use?

Please share your document for more specific help.

scarlet_john

This issue happens because the bent sheet and the extruded part are treated as separate bodies—sheet metal tools often create surfaces, not solids. To boolean them, ensure both are converted to solid bodies first. Try thickening the sheet if needed, then use a union before subtracting.

Mo_CH

Thank you for your replies.

I have tried thickening the sheet and performing a union but no matter what I do it seems like the grey and light blue parts are always 2 separate pieces.

The end result of what I am hoping to achieve is to have the grey and light blue components combined into one piece from which I can then subtract the dark blue piece.

Thank you once again for your help. I have turned on share with onshape support so hopefully you can see my document.

MDesign

https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/comment/116053#Comment_116053

you will need to post the link to your document for others to see.

shawn_crocker

I would be able to lead you in a precise direction if you were to share a link to your part studio. Sounds like possibly you have an active sheet metal part and some of the features like union will not allow that to happen until you finish the sheet metal part with the finish sheet metal feature.

nick_papageorge_dayjob

IDK why he is using the sheetmetal toolset. Nothing in the screenshot looks like sheetmetal manufacturing process to me.

Mo_CH

Thank you for all your help.

The link to the document is:

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/e965dad1ae2a71a4f8aaa901/w/8052d85f6852ed3035ab3f27/e/7ca8bdc1af26b0176756f764?renderMode=0&uiState=67f510dc7a952b3d0cfda72b

You are right, I am not making anything which requires sheet metal fabrication it will just be plastic but I couldn't work out any other way to bend my sheet. I assume from your response that there is a much simpler and more appropriate way to do this.

Thanks again for your help. Sorry I am a very new beginner.

MDesign

Model it as you see it now but don't use sheetmetal tools. use sketches, extrudes, fillets, etc.

https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/comment/116120#Comment_116120

MDesign

You can use what you've got now, but you need to use the finish sheet metal model command to use boolean on it with the other objects you created.

Mo_CH

It worked! Wonderful! Thank you all for your help.