How to bend a solid part

[GJ_9991298]

I have a plastic moulded part, in which a part will be installed by inserting over top portions which is having two pivot points. I have tried warp bend option in creo 8.0 which is bending the whole part. How can I define the bend pivot point and bending a particular portion of a single body component.

[tbraxton]

If you are seeking insight into the behavior of the parts as they are assembled, then you should use an FEA solver to deform the parts. The nature of the deflection is both geometry and material dependent and Creo modeling features will not reproduce this with any fidelity.

Creo simulate structure is an option for this.

[Patriot_1776]

'Sup Tom!

So, if there is a defined zone of deformation, will the FEA solver then modify the geometry of the molded part in that zone as if it were being formed over a die and keep the same material volume for that zone?  If so, that's pretty awesome and I wanna learn how to do it!  I get what you're saying about being material dependent, as some materials will stretch easier, meaning that material from outside that zone won't want to get pulled into the zone, whereas if the material dost not stretch, it'll either want to crack/split or pull material into the zone and distort geometry outside of the zone.

I'm assuming that's a separate module?

[tbraxton]

Structure FEA is the evolution of the old Rasna Mechanica FEA code. I do not believe it is capable of simulating what you are postulating. There are codes that are specific to metal drawing and forming that will do this, I have not used them.

My response was based on the assumption that the plastic molded part in the OP is only stressed momentarily and then relaxed when assembled and does not go into plastic deformation. For that, Creo simulate structure should be capable of providing results that correlate to the real parts.

We do work on non-linear large deformation models but do not use PTC products for those structural simulations. 

[Patriot_1776]

Hmmm, could be, but his attempt at using "Warp" led me to think that it was a permanent deformation of some sort.  There have been plenty of times, one recently, where I had no tools to "deform" geometry, and had to simulate something (in the last case a crimped tube) using surfaces.  fun, and challenging, but sometimes I wish there were deformation tools to use...  But then, I'm still waiting (endlessly) for real solid body sweeps so I don't have to simulate those, so...  But hey, in the meantime, we have "Bold New Icons"!  LOL (*sarcasm*)

[TomD.inPDX]

There used to be a 'spinal bend' that does some precise morphing of geometry back in Creo 2-3.  I can only hope the old dialog has been upgraded.

[tbraxton]

Spinal bend is still available. It is generally preferrable to warp for engineered geometry as it does offer explicit control over dimensions. It is in the model tab under engineering features.

[TomD.inPDX]

Glad to hear Warp has improved.  I had much more control over with spinal bend as it followed sketches perfectly in Creo 2.  Warp was less friendly about making specific adjustments back then.