How can I create a rip joint on a face?

jeff_davis

First, thank you for the awesome sheet metal functionality!! I am working on a semi complex part. Sheet metal got it almost there with very little effort. The only issue is that I need to create a rip joint on the highlighted line to allow the part to unfold. What is the best way to do this? I tried extruding the solid before converting to sheet metal, but that seemed to cause even more issues. 

lana

@jeff_davis
Please see how I've used your sketch to split the face of the input body 
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/8c34cf827eec23a32eeb8b63/w/48f718b6075b44bb8c793348/e/cac65e1d0593c4a0847acc00

NeilCooke

Hi @jeff_davis - it's hard to see what's going on in that image. Is it something you can post a link to, or at least create some geometry that is similar? I am sure @lana would be interested.

Jake_Rosenfeld

Hi @jeff_davis

We don't currently have the capability to add arbitrary rips; it would be great if you could add an improvement request for this on the the 'improvement request' section of this forum.

For now, there may be a few different ways to get the geometry you want (we'd have to see the part you're converting though), could you either post a link to your document (if you don't mind it being public), or use the ? menu > 'Feedback' button from inside your document to report the issue you're having.

FYI @lana

jeff_davis

I quickly recreated in a new doc that should be public:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/8c34cf827eec23a32eeb8b63/w/48f718b6075b44bb8c793348/e/cac65e1d0593c4a0847acc00

- I also included a very similar part that was created in solidworks with the geometry I am after.

Tim_Fries

Hey @jeff_davis

Please have a look https://cad.onshape.com/documents/ee29a79c8487beed4477908a/w/33e47c072d54704a3c2896d9/e/a19dea01a51705d73dce09a2

This should be something similar to what you're after.

jeff_davis

Thank you @Tim_Fries. It does essentially create the part I am after, but it's a pretty complex way to drive the major part geometry.

Tim_Fries

True @jeff_davis...definitely would still suggest submitting an Improvement Request like @Jake_Rosenfeld has suggested.

lana

@jeff_davis
Please see how I've used your sketch to split the face of the input body 
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/8c34cf827eec23a32eeb8b63/w/48f718b6075b44bb8c793348/e/cac65e1d0593c4a0847acc00

jeff_davis

Well @lana , that is exactly what I was trying to do! Not I guess I gave up too soon. Thank you very much for the help! So essentially you just need to split the face before it becomes a sheet metal model. 

I did put in a feature request, but this seems like it does what is needed in most all cases. I'll see if I can put a link to this post in the feature request.

lana

@jeff_davis
Glad it worked. The fact that split before convert gets you the same geometry allowed us to de-prioritize Split feature for sheet metal. We'll get to that IR at some point.