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Formed sheet metal tools
bryan_lagrange
Member, User Group Leader Posts: 794 ✭✭✭✭✭
I
wanted to start this discussion to see how the Onshape community is
representing formed tools in there sheet metal models.
Since
the model features of the formed tools needs to transfer to the flat
pattern to get a location for manufacturing I have this work
around.
I
don't need the shape of the formed tools on the flat pattern just the
center location (if I am doing dimples) or a laser kerf width cut
that I need for louvers (since we create louvers on our press
brake).
The
CAM software we use has a criteria for width. If I create a slot
width of .0001" The CAM software reads this as a single line.
This is good because I can have this geometry read in as a laser kerf
width cut or in the case of a cross hair a location center point.
My
work around is to put these cuts first then finish the sheet metal
model. I then add the 3D feature of the formed tool. This allows me
to keep the 3D representation and get the 2D feature I need in the
flat pattern.
Hopefully
once Onshape has the ability to add these features I won't have to do
this work around any more.
Here is my example:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/9da6a5d6e4ce2ce60d83ddd5/w/970ad634ad96dad4d69c0622/e/df2eec05c0659f0b4f9e6801
I just wanted to know how other Onshape users are creating these features.
Comments
The trick here is working out what everyone wants to see on the flat pattern/drawing/dxf to make sure we have a smooth transfer to production. I am sure there are going to be different requirements for different users but hopefully, Onshape will be able to accommodate these. At the moment having a different part of the formed louver shape is not really acceptable for professional CAD.
Twitter: @onshapetricks & @babart1977
@bryan_lagrange
I have just made a forming tool FS: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/a752e0db24eb071ebb6f5aa0
Please try it out and let me know what you think
IR for AS/NZS 1100
Twitter: @onshapetricks & @babart1977
That implementation is very close to what we have in mind, except that we'll have to do some work so that calling sheetMetalEnd will not be necessary and there will be some representation of the formed tool in flat. So if users of this feature build a library of configured forming tools, they will be able to keep using it when native forming feature becomes available.
IR for AS/NZS 1100
Twitter: @BryanLAGdesign