Complex Sheet Metal Parts Solidworks

Sheet metal parts are generally used as enclosures for components or to provide support to other components.
Complex sheet metal parts solidworks. 14 gauge steel is used for this model. These methods are explained through a truck bumper example. You can design a sheet metal part on its own without any references to the parts it will enclose you can design the part in the context of an assembly that contains the enclosed components or you can design the part within another part document in a multibody environment. A 90 degree edge flange is created using the material inside option.
This month i chose to write about how to flatten complex sheet metal parts with solidworks lofted bends. Sketch out your profile make sure your sketch is fully defined and that straight entities are tangent to arcs. Complex sheet metal components can be modelled easily by modelling the volume or the outside shape of the finished component and then using the convert to sh. Complex sheet metal tutorial part 6.
The article has a detailed example of how we can build a model and then use the edges of that part to create the profiles needed to create a lofted bend in sheet. Sheet metal features determines the thickness bend radius and k factor. Select your sketch in the feature tree then in the command manager select the base flange. This is a sheet metal part symmetric vertically with respect to the right plane sheet metal features are used so that the part can be flattened out to create a flat pattern.
A sheet metal design made in solidworks source. Cad cam tutorial via youtube the first version of solidworks was released in 1995 by solidworks corporation but it was acquired by dassault systemes two years later. Complex sheet metal part 6. Each body has its own sheet metal and material definition flat pattern and custom properties.
Sheet metal features are used so that the part can be flattened out to create a flat pattern. A closed corner adds material to the end of the edge flange. The hem is closed using the bend outside option. Multibody sheet metal parts can consist of multiple sheet metal bodies or a combination of sheet metal and other bodies such as weldment bodies.
How to model complex sheet metal parts in solidworks step 1. The article is based upon some common questions that we get from customers.