Sheetmetal

f2018

Is there any possible way to make forms or bulges for sheet metal model in Onshape?

brucebartlett

Currently, sheet metal can only do folds and roll forms which caters for most forms you can do in a standard sheet metal shop. You can not use forming tools (used in turret punches) or add any kind of organic shape? 

john_mcclary

If you model it up as a solid part, you could try using exact flat in the app store to give you a flat pattern.

f2018

@john_mcclary
Thanks John. Modelling solid parts doesn't work. It fails to generate organic shapes.

f2018

@brucebartlett
Thanks Bruce.Unfortunately what  I need was to add some organic shapes 

john_mcclary

What do you mean by organic?

brucebartlett

f2018 said:

@john_mcclary
Thanks John. Modelling solid parts doesn't work. It fails to generate organic shapes.

I think what John is meaning is model it using the normal tools you have in Onshape, not sheetmetal and then export that to the partner app exact flat which will flatten non-uniform forms. 

Another option for your model if it is a hybrid of normal sheet metal with organic form on certain faces is creating as sheet metal then use the finish sheet metal command and add features after here but they will not appear on the flat pattern. 

f2018

@john_mcclary
By organic shapes I mean body with curvatures and spline, actually I stole that word from Bruce . But I didn't take your comment in right meaning. After Bruce's explanation I got to realise my mistake. 
I will try Exact flat app and notify you back

f2018

@brucebartlett thank you so much and I really appreciate you for the time you spend for explaining the matter. 

Actually I was about to try your second method of  designing the feature after finish sheet metal command.
 Ofcourse I cannot get flat pattern for the features added after finish sheet metal command.
But what I planed was to use feature script 'Flat without redundant edges' which was a failure. So now the only option is  'Exact flat'

john_mcclary

All flatten without redundant edges is for is to remove the bend lines from a flat pattern (see Image 1). This helps when exporting to CAM software like mastercam. Because mastercam will stop and ask for a path direction at every "fork in the road" where more than 2 lines meet in a profile (see image 2).
Basically it reduces the amount of clicking for a CAM programmer, from which I hear nothing but endless whining where I work

Image 1:



Image 2

f2018

@john_mcclary I got you. Thank you so much for detailed explanation