Flatten a non-sheet metal part

[ady_mech]

Hi there

I have a very thin hollow part (like paper) that was created by making a cone and then shelling it, then cutting a slit across it. Now I want to see what it looks like when I flatten it. I need this so that I can make a 2D drawinng that can be given to a fabricator so that he can make that out of a flat sheet of metal. I can't seem to do this in Solidworks 2006.

There is a feature to flatten parts but inly if they are made using sheet metal features.

Any ideas how I can do this?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Zevel]

You can do this by adding a sheet metal feature to your existing part. Have a look at the help files for sheet metal, there is an example of flattening a cone or cylinder that should help

Trevor

 

[ady_mech]

You can do this by adding a sheet metal feature to your existing part. Have a look at the help files for sheet metal, there is an example of flattening a cone or cylinder that should help

Trevor

Thanks for the reply.
What if the surface I want to flatten is not a planar face? let's say, the surface is a slice of a sphere obtained by slicing a spehere by 2 parallel planes at a distance away from the origin of the sphere? Is it even possible to flatten such a surface?

thanks

 

[fcsuper]

Thanks for the reply.
What if the surface I want to flatten is not a planar face? let's say, the surface is a slice of a sphere obtained by slicing a spehere by 2 parallel planes at a distance away from the origin of the sphere? Is it even possible to flatten such a surface?

thanks

I'd actually recommend posting this query over at SolidWorks 3D CAD products Forum - Eng-Tips. There's several regulars on that board that might already know this answer.