Part VII: Working with Specialized Functionality
Note
When a conical sheet metal part is created, it does not receive the Flat Pattern feature at the end of the
FeatureManager. This is because none of the new Base Flange method features are allowed on this type
of part. n
Mixing methods
If you use the Insert Bend tool on a part, you can still use the more advanced tools available
through the Base Flange method, unless it is a cylindrical or conical part. A Flat Pattern feature is
added to the bottom of most feature trees, and the presence of this feature is what signifies that the
current part has now become a sheet metal part to the Base Flange features.However, it is recommended that you avoid mixing the different techniques to flatten parts; for
example, suppressing bends under Flatten and Process Bends, as well as using the Flat Pattern.Using Multi-body Techniques
with Sheet Metal
As of SolidWorks 2010, you can now use multi-body techniques with sheet metal models. For
many of the same reasons you might want to make any other kind of model using multi-body
techniques, you may also want to make sheet metal parts using similar techniques. The new rules
have several implications for old limitations of sheet metal parts such as:l (^) You can now have multiple Base Flange features.
l With multiple Base Flange features you also get multiple Flat Pattern features.
l (^) If you have multiple bent bodies, you can only show one body flattened at a time.
l Merging sheet metal bodies eliminates one Flat Pattern feature.
l (^) You can use the Split feature to create multiple sheet metal bodies.
l The commands that can create new bodies in sheet metal parts are as follows:
l (^) Convert to Sheet Metal
l Lofted Bend
l (^) Insert Bends
l Base Flange
l (^) Insert Part
l Split
l (^) The commands that can merge bodies in sheet metal parts are as follows:
l Edge Flange
l (^) Combine