Sheet metal design
Sheet metal design
(OP)
Being a designer of mechanical parts, my knowledge of sheet metal design is very limited and I don't get to use it much other than an occasional bracket. Do you professional sheet metal designers have a favorite book, handbook, or manual that you could recommend? The SW part I can learn when needed. Thank you.






RE: Sheet metal design
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 05
AutoCAD 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
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RE: Sheet metal design
http://www.sheetmetaldesign.com/
RE: Sheet metal design
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RE: Sheet metal design
Best Regards,
Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
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RE: Sheet metal design
Yanceman
RE: Sheet metal design
Flores
SW06 SP3.0
RE: Sheet metal design
Here is a forum that deals specifically with sheet metal issues. you can lurk over there or you can log in and join the discussion. http://www.metalforming.com/forum/default.cfm
Have fun .
B.E.
RE: Sheet metal design
RE: Sheet metal design
The sheet metal guys I deal with tell me that the next bigger bend tool they have creates a .125" radius. This matters if you are specifying aluminium. You cannot get the exact radius the aluminium catalogues tell you to specify.
JHG
RE: Sheet metal design
.125" is a pretty big radius for a press brake, particularly if you are needing a sharp bend. In the past during my old AutoCAD days, I used 1/2 material thickness for my bend radius as a general rule.
RE: Sheet metal design
If it's sheet metal forming in general there are quite a few different disciplines involved. Roll forming, Press Braking, Deep Drawing, Vacuum & Hydroforming, Punching & Stamping, Spinning and probably others. Prior to the forming aspect there is "blanking" of the material which could involve Shearing, Turret Press, Laser, Plasma or Water Jet processes.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you will need several or many books to cover all the processes involved. Or shortlist which processes you think you will need. Learning the capabilities of the sheet metal manufacturers your company uses, would be most beneficial. Then you can design the product to suit their capabilities & limitations.
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
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