Lofted Bends (symetrical part)? 1

[Stugots]

I am trying to create a symmetrical sheetmetal part using Lofted Bend in SW'06 SP5.1. I understand that when you select the sketches it depends where you select them to define the path from sketch to sketch. I would assume that I need to define more than one path. Problem is....It twists the side that is not defined. (I want my part symmetrical!) i.e. I have two sketches. One is a curled mustache shape with a flat bottom that curls up with radius' on each end. The other is (2) full radius' with the gap at the top.

 

[JMirisola]

Going off your example, I was able to create a loft with no problem. Can you post your sketch?

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP2.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[Stugots]

Can you tell me how to post a sketch?

Stugots
Mechanical Designer
SW '06 SP5.1

 

[JMirisola]

Check out this FAQ:

http://www.eng-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=1177

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP2.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[Stugots]

Cool...thanks!

Here is the link to the part file.

http://www.mooload.com/new/file.php?file=file01/050707/1183662733/LOFTED_BEND.SLDPRT&s=t

Stugots
Mechanical Designer
SW '06 SP5.1

 

[JMirisola]

Rather than creating two separate radiuses, use a centerpoint arc. I think you're getting the funny result because of the joint between the two arcs on the "round" end. I'm using SW '07, so you won't be able to open my file.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP2.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[Stugots]

Thanks Jeff that worked for my application. I guess that not only are you limited to a total of (2) sketches(ridiculous), but one of the sketches has to be a single sketch feature. That is kinda sad don't you think? Have they fixed this in '07?

Kinda like how the lofted extrusion feature doesn't make straight lines from one sketch to the next..it seems to use a spline and curves the "straight edges".

Stugots
Mechanical Designer
SW '06 SP5.1

 

[JMirisola]

The way you had it originally sketched up, SW was adding a third guide line from the point where the two arcs came together back to another merge point on the mustache. No, it still behaves the same in '07.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP2.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[draftsman101]

why didn't you do half and then a mirror?
just wondering.

B. Long
Dell Precision 380
P 4 2.80 GHz
2.5 Gig Ram
Solidworks Office 2007 Sp. 2.2
AutoCAD 2005

 

[Stugots]

"draftsman101" I assume you are refering to mirroring the sketch not the part.

Coming from a Pro/E background, I guess its never been my practice to mirror within a "sketch". I didn't think of it at the time, but since have realized that SW treats mirred sketch entities differently. It recognized it as a single entity for some strange reason. Strange, but good to know.

Stugots
Mechanical Designer
SW '06 SP5.1