Indent Features

[Kriegen]

I am trying to design ribs for a sheet metal piece. I would like to have the sheet metal stamped out when it is flat then formed. Does anyone know how to simulate that in SW. I am also trying to do indent features and can successfully do it when the shape is a square, but when I change the shape to a different polygon SW says it cannot handle the case.
Any help would be nice.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Have you used the Design Library > Forming Tools > Ribs?

You can copy a rib from there and modify to suit.

If you haven't used the forming tools before, you will need to RMB on the folder and select Forming Tools Folder. This allows SW to recognise the contents of the folder as forming tools?????

 

[TheTick]

I would like to have the sheet metal stamped out when it is flat then formed. Does anyone know how to simulate that in SW.

I know how to make all kinds of mistakes, including this one.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

TheTick,
I'm curious as to why you consider that a mistake? I have often done this. If a part is being punched out on a CNC turret press, it makes sense to do as much as possible of the punching and forming prior to bending. Oftentimes the bending makes subsequent punching/forming impossible.

 

[Kriegen]

I don't understand why you think doing this is such a mistake.
Should be no problem trying to simulate the forming and stamping of a sheet metal part. Doing this would make the workers job easier.

 

[MadMango]

You will not be able to generate the correct flat pattern for a stamped part using SW alone. Stamp blanks are irregular in shape and takes into consideration the stretching/compression of the material involved, something that SW Sheet Metal features cannot accomplish.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Foofire,

I think we have some different interpretations of what you are trying to do. Perhaps some images or sketches would help to clarify.

 

[TheTick]

I'm all for DFM. However, trying to simulate manufacturing processes in CAD generally leads to ungainly models that do not hold up well over the life of a product.

Processes can change many times over the life of a part. Machines are replaced; vendors go out of business. The design still needs to work.

Picture something as simple as a U- or L-shaped bracket where positions of holes on one flange need to be controlled w.r.t. holes on another flange. Simple change to a bend radius or K-factor (material change!) results in the need to adjust dimensions controlling hole positions in order to maintain their final design positions.

Whose job are you making easier? You may save a manufacturing engineer a few minutes. Meanwhile, you are doing manufacturing engineering's work (and now they expect it) while the design work and ECN's are piling up. It is counterproductive use a CAD model to do the work of a process drawing or work instruction.

If you still waznt to do it this way, fine. I'm paid by the hour. More $$$ for me.