How to convert a solid to sheet metal in SolidWorks

Chris Schoener

28 Feb, 2012 07:56 PM

How to convert a solid to sheet metal.
See #’s relating to each instruction.
The ScreenCapture.ismv is a video.
Remeber to click "It Worked" if you like it, if you didnt let me know how to improve it. thanks

1. Step 1:

   Here we have a solid body that I would like to convert into a sheet metal box then get the flat pattern to make it.
   

   

2. Step 2:

   1. If you don’t have the sheet metal tab open right click in the area where the #1 arrow points, then click Sheet Metal.
   2. click Convert to Sheet Metal
   3. pick the a face that will be fixed plane of the flattened sheet
   4. enter the material thickness you want
   5. enter a default inside radius for the bends. Later you can change each individual bend radius to what ever you want.

   

3. Step 3:

   Now, Chose the Bend Edges.
   1. These will be the bend locations, the part must end up as one piece of metal so work your way from the fixed face out.
   2 SolidWorks will pick the rip edges for you by process of elimination.
   3 When all edges have been added to the two groups hit the green check.

   

4. Step 4:

   Here is your sheet metal box. Notice the three features added; Sheet-Metal, Convert and Flat Pattern (suppressed).
   

   

5. Step 5:

   To flatten the part either unsuppress the Flat Pattern feature or click Flatten.
   

   

6. Step 6:

   If you right click on the Sheet-Metal feature you will find K-Factor. Here you can change it to adjust it so your flat pattern matches you real world part. For more information on K-factor see
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-factor_(sheet_metal)#K-factor

7. Step 7:

   Here is the finished file version for your reference.
   Solid to Sheet metal box
   Please click "It Worked" if you like it.