SpaceClaim Online Help

Identifying sheet metal

When you use the Convert tool to convert a body to sheet metal, or, are working with an existing sheet metal body, only the sheet metal faces that are separated by the default sheet metal thickness are shown in blue, but sheet metal that varies in thickness from the default, as shown in the image below, does not display in blue:

After you have converted a design to sheet metal, you can use the  Identify tool in the Import ribbon group on the Sheet Metal tab to call out sheet metal geometry such as forms, hems, joggles, beads, notches, and gussets.

You can also use Select>Using Box to identify sheet metal geometry. Box selecting selects front and back faces of the pre-identified sheet metal geometry.

Some geometry is automatically identified and other geometry must be manually assigned. As the geometry is identified, the highlighting color changes to indicate. the sheet metal object. 

Objects in a converted sheet metal part must be identified before they can be unfolded.

To identify sheet metal geometry

1. Click the  Identify tool in the Import group on the Sheet Metal tab.

2. Identify each of the following objects as needed by clicking the appropriate tool guide. Click Complete when finished.

   • Beads: Select highlighted beads or select the faces to identify as a bead.

   • Forms: Select highlighted forms or select the faces to identify as a form.

   • Formed Bends: Select highlighted formed bends or select the faces to identify as a formed bend.

   • Gussets: Select highlighted gussets or select the faces to identify as a gusset.

   • Hems: Select highlighted hems or select the faces to identify as a hem.

   • Joggles: Select highlighted joggles or select the faces to identify as a joggle.

   • Notches: Select highlighted notches or select the faces to identify as a notch.

   • Tabs: Select highlighted tabs or select the faces to identify as a tab.

Highlighting sheet metal objects

Select All, or some of the options, from the Highlight drop down in the Show group on the Sheet Metal tab, as shown in the image below:

Examples

Automatically identifying forms.

Automatically identifying a hem.

Selecting two bends to identify a joggle.

Selecting the front faces and back faces to identify a bead.

Selecting the thickness edges to identify a notch.

Automatically identifying gussets.

Unfolding a sheet metal design after identifying the geometry.

Tool guides