With Solidworks, I have tried several ways to make a sheet metal part with a "tendril" but I never get a suitable unfolded part to have it laser cut.
In attachment, an approximation of the part I want to make: it's almost good but the folded is not a straight strip. (Moreover with this method you have to calculate the equations to have a proximatively the shape I want at the beginning.
I also tried with the torsion function with a depard sheet, but solidworks does not unfold the part and does not seem to take into account the loss at the bend.
We are on Solidworks 2015, which probably explains why some people cannot read the file.
Bart, I tried the "trajectory" function but it doesn't seem possible to make a 3D trajectory. in any case I tried several sketches and it doesn't work.
Sbadenis, Yes what I want is an archimedes' screw type (it's relatively simple to do in sheet metal but not on a computer)
Opiep27, In fact the boss function is not a problem to unfold. What is problematic with the transition sheet tool is the equation of the trajectory (which must be changed each time the thickness of the sheet is changed) and unfolding it, which is not a straight sheet but slightly at an angle to the extension of the sheet.
When I unfold my attachment as an attachment, what is annoying is that it is not a straight line but it is slightly broken. it gets more pronounced if I put a K factor other than 0.5. In fact this defect is due to my trajectory which is a bit approximate.
My question is so is is there a tool that allows you to do this more simply on solidworks or at least more precisely?
For me solidworks does not manage well the unfolded of this type in 2014 it does not manage to do so.
I'm surprised that the 2015 version manages to do it, but on the other hand I'd be even more surprised if the development is good because it's extremely complicated to calculate.
Indeed, it changes according to the thickness of the width of the sheet metal and the height of the tendril, the technique used to obtain this shape, stamping, or strip of sheet metal stuck in a vice and twisted with a wrench with a handover!
So my answer is no tool to calculate a precise press.
If a series part, only tests will be able to make the development of your part, if a single part, imagine the cost...
Otherwise, another solution is to order a piece of stamped coil from a supplier and weld it on 2 pieces of sheet metal.
Yes, that's right, Sbadenis, the unfolding of a twisted sheet depends on many parameters, and the equations are not easy to calculate. I manage to get the beginning of a result using a trajectory based on trigonometry equations but I have to change them as soon as I change the thickness or width of my initial sheet. And it's quite approximate because we easily have many decimals after the decimal point which lead to approximations that themselves cause defects (that's where my shift probably comes from).
Thank you for your contributions
And the conclusion that seems to be there is no suitable tool to make this type of shape with solidworks.