Recover unfolded state sheet metal for second part?

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1

Hi all

I have a sheet metal part whose development is calculated directly in the unfolded state.
Except that I would like to recover this unfolded state to make new folds and thus obtain a second piece, different from the first, but having the same development.

To do this, I wanted to create a new part, then "Insert / Part... " when I went to get my original sheet metal.
So far so good, SolidWorks inserts my original sheet metal into its current configuration (in "folded" configuration), except that I can't find how to change the configuration to put it in an unfolded state.

So, I wanted to be clever by opening my base sheet, putting it in an unfolded configuration, then inserting it into a new part... except that SolidWorks sends me into a frenzy, telling me: "Impossible to insert the part [...]. There is still an unfolded state function in the source or destination part. Remove all the Unfolded State functions and try again."
Shit, it's a mess!

Does anyone have a solution to my problem please?

Thank you in advance,

Julian.

2

Hello

 

Why not use the "Unfold" function to unfold the piece and continue working on it.

All you have to do is put the "fold" function to fold the piece.

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3

I think the best is to create another piece since it's not the same room

So you take your basic part in a folded state

you create your new folds you save this new part with a different name

and you do a unfolded

so you will have 2 pieces  folded and unfolded

@+

4

@Bart,

I thought I was stupid when I read your answer:)

Except that no, it doesn't work.  When I unfold my part, I no longer have access to the sheet metal functions (the icons are grayed out).

 

@gt22,

It's an idea of rescue that I only half like, because suddenly I lose the link with the unfolded sheet of my base sheet... which in my case can be a source of problems in the future.

But I think that's what I'll do if no other solutions;)

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5

Ah, sorry Bart, I didn't know the Unfold function "ER" and not "é" (I just switched from SW-2013 to SW-2017, I still have some stuff to discover)!

Thank you very much;)

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6

So it's almost perfect... except that when I use the Unfold function, it divides my part into several surfaces (corresponding to all the tangent arcs of my folded configuration; see the attached image)

Is there a way to merge all these surfaces to have something cleaner before I make my new folds?


deplier.jpg
7

I will save the unfolded part in dxf then import and convert to sheet metal.

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8

Arf, but suddenly I lose the link with my initial unfolded...

Well, I'll wait a little while until someone knows a miracle trick; but failing that, I'll tinker with ;)

Thank you for your help!

9

Hello @littleworm, there is however one thing not to be neglected when you use an unfolded in two different pieces (or more) is that if one of the pieces has a modification well the two cuts could not look the same anymore and therefore it could quickly be a mess.

In addition, for solidworks, the fact of making several parts in one, it weighs down the file and it could easily make it lose its footing (with the bugs that go well).

 

I would also be of the opinion that you make an outer cut that you then insert into your new piece in order to have several files.

On the other hand, you do an unfolded and then a config. Piece 1 folded

then a config. Folded piece 2 etc...

In short, very cumbersome to manage, not always useful...

Personally, too bad I make a cut for each piece, even if they are identical.

Kind regards

G.

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10

Hello G.

Yes, it's indeed the "cleanest" way to do it if I had known from the design that I would have to make 2 different pieces with the same unfolded... Unfortunately, the basic piece has already been around for a while and I can't afford to review its hierarchy.

However, I found a hack to allow me to do what I want:

  • - I create a new configuration in my base sheet,
  • - in this one, I use the Unfoldfunction,
  • - I then create a sketch with the "Convert entities" tool corresponding to the cut of my unfolded,
  • - I remove the body (so nothing on the screen),
  • - then recreate the flat sheet metal thanks to my sketch; which gives me a usable unfold for any new fold, and directly linked to the unfolded of my original piece.

I grant you, this is completely unacceptable! :)

But it allows me to change the unfolded of my 2 parts (and therefore the shape of my 2nd folded sheet) by modifying the sketch dimensions of my 1st folded sheet, while being sure that they both keep the same unfolded... It's very exceptional, but that's what I'm trying to do.

Thank you all!

 

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11
  • - I create a new configuration in my base sheet,
  • - in this one, I use the Unfoldfunction,
  • - I then create a sketch with the "Convert entities" tool corresponding to the cut of my unfolded,
  • - I remove the body (so nothing on the screen),
  • - then recreate the flat sheet metal thanks to my sketch; which gives me a usable unfold for any new fold, and directly linked to the unfolded of my original piece.

I grant you, this is completely unacceptable! :)

But it allows me to change the unfolded of my 2 parts (and therefore the shape of my 2nd folded sheet) by modifying the sketch dimensions of my 1st folded sheet, while being sure that they both keep the same unfolded... It's very exceptional, but that's what I'm trying to do.

1 Like