Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
(OP)
Hi all,
I've been told by my manager that I will be doing some sheet metal design work in a couple of weeks, I think it's something like transition cones, and a few boxes. I'm OK at creating the parts but I have no idea how to detail up a sheet metal drawing.
I know that SW's automatically puts in the bend orientation on a flatten sheet drawing, but how would I include all the bend radi, bend allowance, and so on.
Could someone please upload a pdf or jpeg of a fully detailed sheet metal drawing so that I could do a little learnin' please.
Thanks all.
I've been told by my manager that I will be doing some sheet metal design work in a couple of weeks, I think it's something like transition cones, and a few boxes. I'm OK at creating the parts but I have no idea how to detail up a sheet metal drawing.
I know that SW's automatically puts in the bend orientation on a flatten sheet drawing, but how would I include all the bend radi, bend allowance, and so on.
Could someone please upload a pdf or jpeg of a fully detailed sheet metal drawing so that I could do a little learnin' please.
Thanks all.






RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
mzn
RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
Patrick
RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
Many thanks
Hi Patrick, Thanks for the info. I'm going to ask the company that does the work for their bend tables.
RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
If you are buying a complete part from a vendor then you really should not need to supply a flat pattern. Technically you do not care how they arrive at the finished part so long as they meet your specifications. However, there are many sheet metal shops that are using SWX or other 3D products so having your finished part in a suitable solid format is typically a huge benefit. It saves them the time and trouble of recreating the part from your drawing.
You definitely should confer with your vendor and find out what you can do (drawing and solid file of the finished part at least) to make it easy for them to be successful for you. That is mutually beneficial.
- - -Updraft
RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
- - -Updraft
RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
Matt Lorono, CSWP
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion
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RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
A flat view is helpful for estimating cost and tooling. You can mark your flat layout reference only. On a complicated sheet metal part - multiple bends with limited gaging edges, a note stating optional construction methods may be acceptable will sometimes gain you a less expensive part.
One final note, the sheet metal shop will want to customize the flat blank to work with their tooling. For edge flanges use the flange position inside or outside, not the bend outside. It makes it simpler for them to make changes without reworking the model too much.
regards, Diego
RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
Thanks for the reply. I asked the company who's going to manufacturer the part from my drawings for their bend tables and so on.
fcsuper,
Thanks for the advice. I'm starting to realize that doing a sheet metal drawing is the pretty much the same as any other part drawing.
Hi ctopher,
What I mean by "detail up" is putting the dimensions, notes, and so on on the drawing.
Hi Diego,
Thank for the advice, that's very helpful.
Should I include geometrical tolerancing on the drawing? Or is that going over the top. Because a lot of the drawings that I do do not require this.
RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
That way the manufacturer can change bend radi and k-factor and not change any of the critical to function dimensions on your overall formed part.
StrykerTECH Engineering Staff
Milwaukee, WI
http://www.stryker-tech.com/
RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
Your mileage may vary. I love our customer who intelligently applies Gtol because it gives us freedom to make the part to fit. I also love our customer who intelligently applies linear tolerance because their manufacturing engineering review allows for normal variation.
If you make the outside dimension of the inside part the same as the inside dimension of the outside part, did you allow for variation? Can you use a slot in place of a hole? If you haven't been in a sheet metal fabrication shop, take the time to visit your vendor or your own shop, and see the equipment, processes and talk to some fabricators.
Regards, Diego
RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
Matt Lorono, CSWP
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion
Follow me on Twitter
RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing
RE: Detailing up a Sheet Metal Drawing