Pro/Sheetmetal Bend Question

[ptc-4610314]

Hi I am trying to make the attached picture out of angle iron in pro sheetmetal. I can get the first basic wall, and bend and unbend it, but I cannot add the pattern shown. It makes a "C" shape. Anyone have any input?

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[dgschaefer]

What do you mean the pattern makes a C shape?

[ptc-4610314]

When the 45 degree notches are punched out of the angle iron the shape of the final object would be a "C".

[dgschaefer]

So the picture isn't the final shape? I'm guessing the final shape is taking that image and bending it at each notch to create a C. Are you trying to start with this and bend it to the final? Typically it's better to model the final shape rather than model the unbent and bend it.

That shape shouldn't be difficult, assuming I understand it correctly. I guess I'm confused at where you are having trouble. Perhaps opost a model or an image of what you are trying to create.

[ptc-4610314]

Doug, I attached an igs. of what i am trying to do.

Lets call wall "A" the wall that is bent, and wall "B" is the wall that has the notches in it.

I started off with wall "A" in the bent configuration, and am able to do do my unbend and bend functions.

I am adding flats off of the bends, and have successfully been able to add one flat into the geometry that will correctly unbend/ bend

[ptc-4610314]

It seems like I am doing this correctly now, if there is a 1/16" gap inbetween the corner and the flat it will happily accept this configuration.

[jkilhoffer-2]

Hi, All.

I'm using Creo Wildfire 5

I've had much the same problem as was described in this post. Mine is a sheetmetal blend created between two sketches. I can't even create edge bends, which leads me to believe I did something very wrong. The steps I took are as follows:

Insert

Unattached

Blend

Then, once in the blend options:

General

Select Sketch

Straight

Chain Selection of two curves (my two sketches)

Material Direction Out

Attached is a picture of the part.

Thanks, Jonathon Kilihoffer

[TomD.inPDX]

Sheetmetal is a strange application when it comes to non-traditional shapes. It can do a lot but that 1st feature is key to successful follow on features. It looks like you are merge a representation of an arc to an ellipse on parallel planes. You might have to come at this in a much more complex manner if you want it to recognize an upbend or flat pattern feature.

[jkilhoffer-2]

Hi, Antonius.

You're right. More specifically it is an arc made up of 13 flat sides merged to an elipse of an equal number (13) sides. I'm going to poke around at it some more. What is the more complex procedure that you were thinking of?

Thanks,

Jonathon Kilhoffer

[jkilhoffer-2]

So I figured out what was causing my misery in this case. I think it was two things and I'll put the most straight-forward one first.

As soon as I made the sides parallel, it worked. My co-worker suggested that the shape may have been warping because some sides were twisting in while other where twisting out. He beleived that since this isn't realistic for real sheetmetal, that Pro didn't like it either.

Of course, I had made the sides parallel at a different time, when I was merging the top sketch to a non-parallel plane. However, in this case (as I saw from a previous post on some forum) this made it so that the edges were all diagonal (which sheetmetal usually doesn't like) Pro couldn't unbend it. So I extended out to a parallel plane and cut along the diagonal I wanted. The thing that makes this a headache is figuring out where things are supposed to go past that diagonal cutting plane (and that was a whole different trial that I will not write about in this post).

So to summarize:

Parallel sides.

Diagonal cut made after extending to parallel plane.

Thanks, Antonius, for your post. I've attached a picture of the finisthed geometry and its unbent state.

Jonathon Kilhoffer

[TomD.inPDX]

I was thinking to start with a small 1st surface and adding walls to it using the sketched shapes. "Unbend" the feature and trim the shape, and "Bend Back".

For the sketched wall, you can re-use the same sketch for each segment.

Technically, this is a very common practice in sheet metal. A series of breaks to simulate a rounded body or even make a square to round transition. It really should be a lot easier in Pro|E.

[TomD.inPDX]

This is what I was thinking. It does have some real challenges in working out the math to fit a certain shape.

But mine are parallel planes and it looks like yours are not. Now seeing the flat edge on your unfolded version makes that clear.

In that case, you just make all the walls the same length and extrude w/ remove material the angle on the lower edge.