Unfolding sheet metal

 

Unfolding a form. Outlines are shown on the unfolded part on the side on which they were placed. Only the topmost outlines of forms are displayed. Form outlines are on the Bends layer, which is hidden by default.

 

 

Unfolding a flange form.

 

The unfolded view of a sheet metal part can be placed next to the folded view in order to work simultaneously on both views. Changes made to the part in one view updates in the other view.

You can use the PullTool used to distort or deform geometry. Use the Pull tool to offset, extrude, revolve, sweep, draft, and blend faces; or to round, chamfer, or extrude edges. When converting a sketch to 3D, pulling a line creates a surface and pulling a surface creates a solid. tool to make the following changes, and the change will be reflected in the unfolded view:

• Punch holes in planar and cylindrical walls

• Pull walls to change their height or width, or pull to change the dimensions of a hole

• Use the annotation dimensions that are automatically created with an unfolded part to change the height or width of a wall (see the animated example below)

To place views next to each other, click and drag the tab for a Design2D or 3D model that contains at least one top-level component. window and drop it next to another view.

 

 

Examples

 

Using the Pull tool and annotation dimensions to change the height of a wall on the unfolded part (on top); the changes are reflected in the folded part (on the bottom).

 

 

Using the Pull tool to put a hole in an unfolded cylinder also creates the hole in the folded part.

 

1. Unfold the sheet metal part in the drawing sheet.

   MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. the mouse to preview the unfolded part.

2. Click the drawing sheet to place a general view at that location.

    

To add bend dimensions to an unfolded view

1. Select the view.
2. RMB > Show Bend DimensionsValues or expressions you enter for precise control during the creation or modification of a design. You can dimension every element, from lines in sketches to faces of solids. See Ordinate dimensions, Progressive dimensions, Ruler dimension.
3. Make sure the Bend Dimensions layer is turned on.

With this option enabled, any changes made to the model will automatically update the drawing sheet bend dimensions.

 

1. Place the desired dimensions and notes on the unfolded view using the tools in the Detailing tab.
2. Set the Graphics Style in the Display tab to WireframeViewOrientation settings that you can apply to your design, including spin, pan, and zoom. You can adjust these settings individually or you can apply one of the following preconfigured views: Trimetric, Isometric, Top, Bottom, Front, Back, Right, Left. You can also select Snap View and click a face to view it head-on. mode in which all edges of the part or assembly are displayed..

   This step prepares the model for dxf export and shows you what the resulting image will look like.

3. Select Save As from the SpaceClaim menu and specify AutoCADSoftware application for 2D and 3D design and drafting by Autodesk, Inc. AutoCAD's native file format is DWGAutoCAD native drawing format. You can open and insert drawings, parts, and assemblies. Drawings can be inserted as layouts. You can export parts, assemblies, drawing sheets, and 3D markup slides., its interchange file format is DXFDrawing Interchange Format or Drawing Exchange Format. CAD data file format developed by Autodesk for enabling data interoperability between AutoCAD and other programs. You can open and insert drawings, parts, and assemblies.Drawings can be inserted as layouts. You can export parts, assemblies, drawing sheets, and 3D markup slides., and its format for publishing CAD data is DWF. files (*.dxf) as the export type.

   The unfolded model is saved as a 2D dxf file with the included annotations and can be used in manufacturing.