Chapter 10 Sheet Metal Design

Chapter 10 - Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to perform the following:
Start the Autodesk Inventor sheet metal environment Modify settings for sheet metal design Create sheet metal parts Modify sheet metal parts to match design requirements Create sheet metal flat patterns Create drawing views of sheet metal parts

Sheet Metal Fabrication

Sheet Metal Uses
Enclosures Brackets Structures or Frames

Sheet Metal Fabrication

Bend Tables L=A+B-x Construction
L Unfolded Length A Length of folded face 1 B Length of folded face 2 x Adjustment from bend table

Measurements A and B are to the intersection of the extended outer faces on either side of the bend. This intersection is used when the angle of the bend is less than or equal to 90 degrees.

Sheet Metal Fabrication

Bend Tables
L=A+B-x Construction
L Unfolded Length A Length of folded face 1 B Length of folded face 2 x Adjustment from bend table

Use these measurements when the bend angle is greater than 90 degrees. The measurements are parallel to the face, and tangent to the outer surface of the bend. The same formula is used to determine the unfolded length of the part.

Sheet Metal Parts

Sheet Metal Design Methods
Folded State Flat State Disjointed Solids Shelled Parts

Sheet Metal Parts

Sheet Metal Part Template(s) Sheet Metal Environment

Sheet Metal Tools

Sheet Metal Rules
Click the Style and Standard Editor from the Format menu Sheet metal specific parameters driven by rules

 Sheet Metal Styles

Bend Tab

Sheet Metal Tools

Sheet Metal Tools

Sheet Metal Styles
Bend Transitions Controls the intersection of edges across a bend in the flattened sheet.

Sheet Metal Tools

Sheet Metal Styles
Corner Tab Relief Shape Jacobi Corner

Sheet Metal Tools

Sheet Metal Unfold Method
Linear KFactor Value Bend Table

Sheet Metal Tools

Sheet Metal Defaults
After you define sheet metal rules Use the Sheet Metal Defaults tool to select the rule that is active for the sheet metal part

Sheet Metal Tools

Sheet Metal Face
Extrudes a closed profile a distance equal to the sheet metal thickness
Unfold Options Relief Options

Sheet Metal Tools

Contour Flange
Created from an open sketch profile
Bends are added at sharp intersections

Sheet Metal Tools

Flange
Creates a sheet metal face and bend to an existing face Extends the full length of the selected edge Corner Edits click glyph in corner

Exercise 10-1
Creating Sheet Metal Parts

 Hem

Sheet Metal Tools

Eliminate sharp edges Strengthen an open edge of a face Material is folded back over a face with a small gap

Exercise 10-2
Hems

 Fold

Sheet Metal Tools

Turns a flat pattern into a folded model Add folds at sketched lines

Sheet Metal Tools

Bend
Child objects of other features
When two faced connect

Connect disjointed face

Exercise 10-3
Modifying Sheet Metal Parts

 Cut

Sheet Metal Tools

Sheet Metal implementation of Extrude > Cut

Distance of the cut is equal to the Thickness parameter

Project Flat Pattern

Cut Across Bend Define Distance

Exercise 10-4
Cut Across Bend

Sheet Metal Tools

Corner Seam
Created when three faces meet Create mitered gaps between coplanar faces

Sheet Metal Tools

Corner Round
Sheet Metal specific Fillet tool Corner Chamfer

Sheet Metal specific Chamfer tool

Sheet Metal Tools

Create Punch
iFeature
Center Point Parameters Punch ID Custom Depth Simplified Sketch

Sheet Metal Tools

PunchTool
Center Point required Creates Cuts and 3D Deformations
Dimples Louvers

Punch Folder
Applications Options > iFeature tab

Flat Pattern
Representation

Exercise 10-5
Punch Tool

 Flat Pattern

Sheet Metal Tools

Represents the starting point for sheet metal part manufacturing Creates a 3D model of the unfolded part
Displayed in a 2D drawing view Flat Pattern Browser Flat Pattern Extents, area

Sheet Metal Tools

Flat Pattern
Extents, area Edit Definition
Punch Representation

Flat Patten Features

Effect Flat Pattern Only

Sheet Metal Tools

Common Tools -Similar to the part Features Panel Bar
Work Features Holes Catalog Tools Feature Patterns Mirror Copy Object Derived Component Parameters Create iMate

Detailing Sheet Metal Designs

Detailing Sheet Metal Designs
3D Model and Flat Patterns

Exercise 10-6
Documenting Sheet Metal Designs

Applying Your Skills

Skill Exercise 10-1

Project Exercise Chapter 10 Sheet Metal Design

In Appendix A

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2.

3.

4.

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

The base feature of a sheet metal part is most often a: 1. Revolve 2. Face 3. Extrude 4. Flange What is the correct procedure to change the edges connected by a bend feature? 1. Suppress the existing bend, and add a new bend. 2. Delete the existing bend, and add a new bend. 3. Edit the bend, and select the new edges. 4. Create a corner seam between the desired faces. Which tool would you use to create a full-length rectangular face off of an existing face edge? 1. Flange 2. Extrude 3. Face 4. Bend What action is required to update a flat pattern model? 1. Right-click on the flat pattern in the browser, and select Update. 2. Erase the existing flat pattern, and recreate it. 3. Create a new flat pattern drawing view. 4. The flat pattern is updated automatically. Sheet metal parts can contain features created with Autodesk Inventor modeling tools. Sheet Metal Style settings cannot be overridden; a new style must be created for different settings. During the creation of a sheet metal face, the face can extend to meet another face and connect to it with a bend. A sheet metal cut that used the Distance extents option must be created equal to the Thickness parameter. What is a common term for a three-bend intersection? When creating a sheet metal punch, you can select an alternate 2D representation to display in flat patterns and drawing views.

Checking Your Skills