The resulting open corner typically leaves material that must be removed.” One small problem, and I quote the help here “ You can rip a corner seam to open an edge between faces. It creates the required break in the faces so that model can be flattened. The Rip option is purposely built to work with part models converted to sheet metal. Now lets add a Corner Seam using the Rip option. Within the Sheet Metal Defaults dialog, I can either edit the rule to define the thickness or as in this example I override the rule thickness and specify the value to use I know as a shelled box we’ve got a model with a consistent thickness, I just need to tell Inventor what to use. This actually does more than just activate a set of tools, it automatically creates a set of parameters, the ones required for the sheet metal “ magic” to happen “ that’s simple, we don’t model anything like that“… but we’re going to use this shelled box to showcase the features required for the conversion.Ĭonverting Models to Sheet Metal with Autodesk Inventorįirst step, activate the Sheet Metal Environment. Rule #4 Although Inventor now supports sharp corners there still needs to be a round (fillet) on the outside edge.Rule #3 You cannot have one continuous face, there must be some type of gap.Rule #2 Your sheet metal thickness parameter MUST match the thickness of the model.Rule #1 You must have a consistent thickness.Let’s start with the rules of sheet metal Which means, regardless where the model geometry originates, you can convert it to sheet metal, add sheet metal features, and generate the flat pattern.
There isn’t really an order that they have to be read, but you can start with the first one here Holy Sheet Metal Batman!Īutodesk Inventor allows for converting models to sheet metal.
This is my continuation of a series taking a deep dive into Inventor’s Sheet Metal environment. but then it happens, you realize it should have been made in the sheet metal environment! Or a different scenario, you’ve imported a model but its come in as a solid blob and you need to flatten it out. You’ve started a new model, worked hard, and it’s looking good….