Hi everyone,
I'm trying to model a sheet metal part with a complex flange around its perimeter. The perimeter is curved and there are a lot of relief cuts in the part. The picture shows the part and the tool that is is formed on. I already have the flat pattern geometry including the flange. I've tried the 'Bend' command, but it will not work on curves--only straight lines. I've also tried making a die form (basically the inverse of the real tool with a recess in a block of material. I can't get this to work either--I think it is because it is bending around the perimeter that it won't work, but I'm not totally sure. The only other thing I can think of is trying to use the 'Flange' tool around a continuous perimeter, then unbend, then add the relief cutouts, and then rebend. This will be a lot more work, though--especially when I've got about 25 of these parts. Does anybody have an suggested approaches?
Thank you!
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Hey Aero,
I have been playing around with this for a little while trying various techniques, and found that the best is to create your base planar surface, then create your flange, then us extrude to cut in the features I guess your calling the reliefs. It takes some doing but it is the only way I have found that will still give you your flat pattern shown below.
Hope it helps!
Buddy Hudson
Sorry but your final observation it the right way. Unbend and bend back is a very nice tool to have. Imagine not having that 
Hey Aero,
I have been playing around with this for a little while trying various techniques, and found that the best is to create your base planar surface, then create your flange, then us extrude to cut in the features I guess your calling the reliefs. It takes some doing but it is the only way I have found that will still give you your flat pattern shown below.
Hope it helps!
Buddy Hudson
I think I've got it. I guess my 'try to avoid approach' was the best one. I used a 'Flange' around the entire perimeter of a base planar surface and then unbent, cut, and rebent. It seems to work, but the regeneration gets a little sketchy on some of the complex radii running through the bend. I had to turn up the model accuracy to get it to regenerate. It definitely makes the computer work. Thank you to Antonius and Bryant for pushing me off the ledge!
