How to sketch on a sheet metal cylinder
How to sketch on a sheet metal cylinder
(OP)
Is there any way to sketch on a sheet metal cylinder while it is rolled, and then flatten the peice out and still have the sketch on it. I was thinking that there was a surface sketch or something that might work, but I haven't found it. We laser cut our parts, and if I have a sketch on it where something welds on I can have the laser put an etch mark to locate the tabs to be welded. Otherwise it is much more difficult for the guys in the shop to locate it on a part like this. I appriciate any help.
Thanks,
Jeremy
Thanks,
Jeremy






RE: How to sketch on a sheet metal cylinder
Use the index tab and type "Sheet metal"
The sub directory is "Cylindrical Faces"
It shows you how to make this.
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies
www.3dvisiontech.com
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376
FAQ559-716 - SW Fora Users
RE: How to sketch on a sheet metal cylinder
Thanks,
Jeremy
RE: How to sketch on a sheet metal cylinder
How about making some temporary or reference "points" on the cylinder that would represent the boundaries of the sketch and then unrolling the cylinder to show where they would be in the flattened state. I think you would have to make these a through cut such as a hole or rectangle. I don't think you can have just a set of points sketched onto a cylinder and have them unroll properly with the flat pattern. Conversely, you can put some cut features in the flat pattern and then roll the part to see where they lie, making adjustments to get them in the right place to line up. This latter method is iterative, but you can actually home in on the solution very quickly.
If this works for you as a work-around you might use configurations: one with the reference holes to determine where to locate things and one without the reference holes so you don't laser them into the actual part.
- - -Dennyd
RE: How to sketch on a sheet metal cylinder
Jeremy
RE: How to sketch on a sheet metal cylinder
Could you not use a split line, 3dsketch, or a Wrap feature to scribe and area on your sheet metal part?
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies
www.3dvisiontech.com
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376
FAQ559-716 - SW Fora Users
RE: How to sketch on a sheet metal cylinder
Thanks,
Jeremy
RE: How to sketch on a sheet metal cylinder
Jeremy
RE: How to sketch on a sheet metal cylinder
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies
www.3dvisiontech.com
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376
FAQ559-716 - SW Fora Users
RE: How to sketch on a sheet metal cylinder
Another common option I use is to just sketch it in the flat configuration. We etch alot of our parts for an automated forming machine, the etch signifies the corner of the part to be loaded into the machine. We do this for most of our odd stuff like what you are trying to do. Our cam system was written in house and cuts all solid lines from our dxf files, problem we have is punched features. We create a second flat config that is outside of the drawing views the will be picked up by the cam software, the punched features are all suppressed there, the flat on the drawing shows all the features and thier dimensions.
Another option, odd as it may seem is usually the most simple, add a locating hole if you can, if the portion of the part is covered, in most instances a hole under a bracket is not a problem.