This is my first attempt at a sheetmetal part in SWX.
I can't figure out how to add the tab in FIG 12.80 with bends
or
Insert bends into FIG 12.80_rev1

The finished part as an Inventor ipt and also in STEP is included.
The files are in rolled up or suppressed state.
Figures are from Howard & Musto Introduction to Solid Modeling Using SWX.

Please supply help as it relates to r2006 as edu license is limited to current release -1.

JD

OK, I started the problem over and this time it accepted the Insert Bends. Now to figure out what the difference between files is...

The hole doesn't look correct in the SWX flat pattern?

Is this what you're after? See attached.

For the tabs, do an edge flange, then edit the underlying sketch and drag the endpoints, then you can dimension the tab size and location.

_________________
Jason
-I don't know if I'm alive and dreaming, or dead and remembering.

"Chuck Norris can speak braille."

Jason,
That took care of the problem with the hole but not the tabs.
I opened your file without reading your comments and it took me 30 minutes to figure out how you got Sketch6.
Anyhow, the tabs should be flush with the edge of the part (red is your solution, green is design intent).

Modify the settings in the Flange Position dialog in the Feature Manager (see attached). You should be able to achieve what you want by modifying the settings there.

Regards,

_________________
Anna Wood
SW2008 SP3.0, Windows Vista SP1
IBM ThinkPad T61p, T7800, FX570M, 4 gigs of RAM
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/solidmuse
http://www.phxswug.com

Can you post an example? Offset changed the height of the tab. After changing offset I had to edit the sketch and to do some measures and adjustment to get the center-to edge distance correct as in my last jpeg. My next step is to change the distance to the more likely engineering measurement - a center-to-center distance between tab holes. I'm studying to take the CSWP next month and I'm trying to find the best method to model the part.

I am working in SW 2007 so that would not work for you. Can you post a scan of the example that you are creating from your workbook. I may have a different answer when I see that.

Otherwise, yes it would be a measure and adjust to get what you want if you are going to pull a tab with the Edge-Flange Feature.

Let me think a bit more I have another idea on a solution for you.

Regards,

_________________
Anna Wood
SW2008 SP3.0, Windows Vista SP1
IBM ThinkPad T61p, T7800, FX570M, 4 gigs of RAM
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/solidmuse
http://www.phxswug.com

Think this is what you want. Select Bend from Virtual Sharp as the Flange Position.

I think editing the flange sketch is easiest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEtiYNXsAKw
(may take a while for vid to show on Utube)

CerberaLM,

Ah Ha..... I went and looked at what you did and now understand the workflow required.

What I did was to first invoke the Edge-Flange command, then I selected the edge to place the flange, then adjusted the settings. See attached jpeg.

Thanks for the tip to get headed in the correct direction for creating the feature in JDMather's part. Learned something new today.

There are a lot of combinations that can be created in that feature manager, I have to remember to play with them more to see all the possibilities for sheet metal.

Regards,

_________________
Anna Wood
SW2008 SP3.0, Windows Vista SP1
IBM ThinkPad T61p, T7800, FX570M, 4 gigs of RAM
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/solidmuse
http://www.phxswug.com

In order to master sheet metal one need to try everything in the software. There are so many options to do the same thing you can only learn from trial and error. Also remember sheet metal is not exact science, don't kill yourself trying to get it right. Most the time its better to check with the shop to see how it could be done. Usually that will result in better, easier and cheaper parts.

We can always draw fancy parts on computer, question is how much it'll cost to make them. Sheet metal design is worse then machining. If you haven't seen how the parts are made, chances are you'll draw parts that are hard to make and cost a lot.

Pineapple,

So true.... We get a lot of parts for manufacture that could never be done in sheetmetal they way the customer has them modeled. We work with many of our customers to modify their designs so they can be manufactured, let alone manufactured cost effectively.

I find though that we can get stuck in a rut using our CAD systems. Need to go out and play every once in a while to expand one's horizons on the possibilities within any software package. The solution to JD's query was very simple, we just needed a reminder on where to look.

Regards,

_________________
Anna Wood
SW2008 SP3.0, Windows Vista SP1
IBM ThinkPad T61p, T7800, FX570M, 4 gigs of RAM
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/solidmuse
http://www.phxswug.com