Chapter 10Sheet Metal Design

• After completing this chapter, you will be able to perform the following:– Start the Autodesk Inventor sheet metal

environment – Modify settings for sheet metal design – Create sheet metal parts – Modify sheet metal parts to match

design requirements – Create sheet metal flat patterns – Create drawing views of sheet metal

parts

Chapter 10 - Objectives

Sheet Metal Fabrication• Sheet Metal Uses

– Enclosures– Brackets– Structures or Frames

Sheet Metal Fabrication• Bend Tables

• L=A+B-x Construction• L Unfolded Length• A Length of folded face 1• B Length of folded face 2• x Adjustment from bend

table

• Measurements A and B are to the intersection of the extended outer faces on either side of the bend. This intersection is used when the angle of the bend is less than or equal to 90 degrees.

Sheet Metal Fabrication• Bend Tables

– L=A+B-x Construction• L Unfolded Length• A Length of folded face 1• B Length of folded face 2• x Adjustment from bend

table

• Use these measurements when the bend angle is greater than 90 degrees. The measurements are parallel to the face, and tangent to the outer surface of the bend. The same formula is used to determine the unfolded length of the part.

Sheet Metal Parts• Sheet Metal Design Methods

– Folded State– Flat State– Disjointed Solids– Shelled Parts

Sheet Metal Parts• Sheet Metal Part Template(s)

• Sheet Metal Environment

Sheet Metal Tools• Sheet Metal Styles

– Stores sheet metal specific parameters of a part

– Multiple sheet metal styles can be included

Sheet Metal Tools• Sheet Metal Styles

– Bend Tab

Sheet Metal Tools• Sheet Metal Styles

– Bend Transitions– Controls the intersection of edges across

a bend in the flattened sheet.

Sheet Metal Tools• Sheet Metal Styles

– Corner Tab– Relief Shape– Jacobi Corner

Sheet Metal Tools• Sheet Metal Face

– Extrudes a closed profile a distance equal to the sheet metal thickness

• Unfold Options• Relief Options

Sheet Metal Tools• Contour Flange

– Created from an open sketch profile• Bends are added at sharp intersections

Sheet Metal Tools• Flange

– Creates a sheet metal face and bend to an existing face

– Extends the full length of the selected edge

Exercise 10-1

• Creating Sheet Metal Parts

Sheet Metal Tools• Hem

– Eliminate sharp edges– Strengthen an open edge of a face– Material is folded back over a face with a

small gap

Exercise 10-2

• Creating Hems

Sheet Metal Tools• Fold

– Turns a flat pattern into a folded model– Add folds at sketched lines

Sheet Metal Tools• Bend

– Child objects of other features

• When two faced connect

– Connect disjointed face

Exercise 10-3

• Modifying Sheet Metal Parts

Sheet Metal Tools• Cut

– Sheet Metal implementation of Extrude > Cut• Distance of the cut is equal to the Thickness

parameter– Project Flat Pattern

• Cut Across Bend• Define Distance

Exercise 10-4

• Cut Across Bend

Sheet Metal Tools• Corner Seam

– Created when three faces meet– Create mitered gaps between coplanar faces

Sheet Metal Tools• Corner Round

– Sheet Metal specific Fillet tool

• Corner Chamfer

– Sheet Metal specific Chamfer tool

Sheet Metal Tools• Create Punch

– iFeature• Center Point• Parameters• Punch ID• Custom Depth• Simplified Sketch

Sheet Metal Tools• PunchTool

– Center Point required– Creates Cuts and 3D

Deformations• Dimples• Louvers

– Punch Folder• Applications Options >

iFeature tab

– Flat Pattern • Representation

Exercise 10-5

• Punch Tool

Sheet Metal Tools• Flat Pattern

– Represents the starting point for sheet metal part manufacturing

– Creates a 3D model of the unfolded part

• Displayed in a 2D drawing view

• Flat Pattern – Browser

Sheet Metal Tools• Flat Pattern

– Extents– Edit Definition

• Punch Representation

– Flat Patten Features• Effect Flat Pattern Only

Sheet Metal Tools• Common Tools -Similar to the part Features

Panel Bar– Work Features

– Holes

– Catalog Tools

– Feature Patterns

– Mirror

– Copy Object

– Derived Component

– Parameters

– Create iMate

Detailing Sheet Metal Designs• Detailing Sheet Metal Designs

– 3D Model and Flat Patterns

Exercise 10-6

• Documenting Sheet Metal Designs

Applying Your Skills• Skill Exercise 10-1