SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Part VII: Working with Specialized Functionality

FIGURE 29.38

Using Convert to Sheet Metal

Selecting Bend Edges is the next step, with the implication that any edge that is not a bend will be

ripped. Also note that three bend edges cannot intersect at a point or one bend edge cannot inter-

sect at the middle of another edge.

Setting default bend radius, thickness, and Auto Relief options are the same as in other sheet metal

functions.

Using Other Methods

The sheet metal tools have been available in SolidWorks for quite some time, and have had some

time to mature and for users to become well acquainted with them and develop effective tech-

niques using them.

Working with imported geometry

Working with imported geometry starts at the point where you use the Rip feature. While

imported geometry can be geometrically manipulated to some extent in SolidWorks, this is beyond

the scope of this chapter. The need for a model with walls of constant thickness still exists, even if

the imported model has filleted edges showing bend geometry already in the model.

FeatureWorks may be used to recognize sheet metal features or to fully or partially deconstruct the

model by removing bend faces as fillets. While FeatureWorks is not covered in this book, the tech-

nique may be useful when editing imported parts with overall prismatic geometry that is common

to sheet metal parts.

When a sheet metal part is imported, whether it meets the requirements immediately or must be

edited in one way or another to make a sheet metal part of it, you can simply use the Insert Bends

feature or even the Convert to Sheet Metal feature.