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How to flatten a cone.

How to flatten a cone.

How to flatten a cone.

(OP)
O.K. I was just trying to figure out how to flatten a cone and went through some of the old topics on this subject.  The most recent ones were from 2007, and I think SW has changed enough that this would be a good time to revisit this recurrent topic.  I've done this before but it seems like I have to relearn it every time.

Here is the method I used:

1.  I created a sketch with a centerline and a single line slanted WRT the centerline.  Note It asks if you want to close the sketch, answer no since you want a thin feature.

2.  I revolved this around the centerline.  Interesting problem I had was that in my nutty preferrence for maximum accuracy I chose to revolve it 359.99°.  This breaks SW.  If you revolve 359.95 it works fine.  I don't know why.

3.  I then click Insert --> Sheet Metal --> Bends and select an edge of the cut where the cone was not quite closed.  I have a question here.  What does the bend radius dimension here control?  To start it is some random small number.  I then set it to .1"  but the bend radius is really 2.97" at least at the narrow end, when I look at the flat pattern.

4.  At this point I was expecting the usual sheet metal tools and I have Sheet-Metal1, Flatten-Bends1 and Process-Bends1,  but no flat pattern.   No worries though because when I create a drawing a flat pattern is available.  

There is a link to the file below.

Please feel free to comment on my process, suggest best practices and alternate methods such as the lofted bends.

Hope this helps anyone else who has to remember how to do this every time it comes up.

-Kirby

Kirby Wilkerson

Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.

RE: How to flatten a cone.

That sounds like the process I would use.  Though I would have used that process back in 2004 also... so I don't think sheetmetal has evolved that much in this regard since then.  I believe you will get greater accuracy with this method over a lofted bend.  Do a little experiment if you will?  Create the same cone with a lofted bend and see how much different the flat is.

Also, post some links to the older threads you found.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional
Certified COSMOSWorks Designer Specialist
Certified SolidWorks Advanced Sheet Metal Specialist
Certified SolidWorks Advanced Weldment Specialist
 

RE: How to flatten a cone.

You could also use configurations to drive 2 different features the revolve and a planar surface.

Rob Stupplebeen

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