Flat Pattern not displaying correctly
Flat Pattern not displaying correctly
(OP)
I'm having trouble with sheet metal flat pattern parts not displaying correctly in my drawing sheets.
The Setup:
I've got some parts with a hole pattern controlled by an equation. If I open the drawing first I get a correct formed view but the hole spacing is incorrect on the flat pattern view. If I have the assembly open first and then open the drawing file everything updates fine. However, our CNC programming software is designed to open a part, flatten it, and close all SW files. So the programs are incorrect.
Is there anyway to get solidworks to actually rebuild and save the part files (without opening each one and toggling the flat pattern)?
The Setup:
I've got some parts with a hole pattern controlled by an equation. If I open the drawing first I get a correct formed view but the hole spacing is incorrect on the flat pattern view. If I have the assembly open first and then open the drawing file everything updates fine. However, our CNC programming software is designed to open a part, flatten it, and close all SW files. So the programs are incorrect.
Is there anyway to get solidworks to actually rebuild and save the part files (without opening each one and toggling the flat pattern)?






RE: Flat Pattern not displaying correctly
Does your CNC read SW format (.slddrw) files?
SW09 can save DXF/DWG directly from the formed model.
RE: Flat Pattern not displaying correctly
The CNC program opens the part, inserts the 1:1 scale flat on the "drawing" template, then imports that information.
The problem isn't with the CNC program. The flat in SW won't update correctly. If I linked the DXF to the part I would likely never get correct CNC information because the flat is only correct if the assembly is open to drive the information first. The drawing will fail to produce a correct flat pattern when open first.
RE: Flat Pattern not displaying correctly
If yes, does it need to be? Many users break the in-context associations before releasing to production to eliminate this type of problem.
Can the in-contexting be "reversed"? i.e. Make the sheet metal part drive the hole pattern in the other parts.
Are you using the derived config flat pattern created by SW. or a manually created flat pattern config?
RE: Flat Pattern not displaying correctly
I tried that and ended up the incorrect size part still.
Yes, but the overall length of the part is assembly defined, and that won't update correctly.
I'm using the derived flat pattern.
If I could pass assembly information (dimensions) back to the parts I'd set it up to be part driven. I'm fairly certain that isn't a supported feature.
RE: Flat Pattern not displaying correctly
Have you tried driving the parts using a layout sketch at the assy level?
RE: Flat Pattern not displaying correctly
I've also tried having a sketch on the assembly level that is tied to a "dimensionless" cut on the part. The only relations are the external-coincident relations between circle centerpoints and the assembly level sketch.
How is an assembly level layout sketch different?
RE: Flat Pattern not displaying correctly
It's not consistent however. Some people can rebuild and have the parts update correctly while others cannot. I'm still missing the option(s) that cause the assembly to work correctly.
Any suggestions?