SolidWorks® 2011 Parts Bible

CHAPTER 21

Using SolidWorks Sheet Metal Tools

IN THIS CHAPTER

Learning how to use the Base Flange controls

Using generic models to make sheet metal parts

Exploring other methods

Integrating techniques with models

Working with the Insert Bends method for sheet metal parts tutorial

Using the Base Flange Sheet Metal method tutorial

SolidWorks contains two completely separate methods for working in sheet metal. In one method you can use dedicated sheet metal features from the start, and in the other method you build a part using thin features and other generic modeling tools, and then tell SolidWorks it is sheet metal so you can flatten it.

The reason for two methods is that the generic modeling method came first, and then SolidWorks introduced a more powerful set of dedicated sheet metal features. You can use these tools together or separately, and either way you get an accurately flattened part at the end. Situations where you might want to use one or the other are covered in this chapter.

Sheet metal tools do not always represent real-world sheet metal manufacturing processes 100 percent accurately because some shapes that result from bending processes are too complex to easily represent in a CAD model. So there are times when you still have to use your imagination a little bit, particularly where bends intersect or overlap. The main point is that the Flat Patterns are always accurate because sheet metal is usually fabricated using 2D data.

Using the Base Flange Features

The features ...