Book Image

Mastering SOLIDWORKS Sheet Metal

By : Johno Ellison
Book Image

Mastering SOLIDWORKS Sheet Metal

By: Johno Ellison

Overview of this book

SOLIDWORKS© is the premier software choice for 3D engineering and product design applications across a wide range of industries, and the Sheet Metal module forms an important part of this powerful program. This book will help you to understand exactly what Sheet Metal is, why it is used, and how you can make the most of this fundamental design feature. You’ll start by understanding the basic tools, including Base Flanges and Sketched Bends, before moving on to more complex features such as Custom Forming Tools and Lofted Bends. The book covers all the necessary tools in a step-by-step manner and shares practical manufacturing tips and tricks that will allow you to apply the skills that you learn to real-world situations. By the end of this SOLIDWORKS book, you’ll have understood how to make the best use of SOLIDWORKS Sheet Metal tools and be able to create a whole range of 3D models and designs confidently.

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Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Preface
Preface
Who this book is for
What this book covers
To get the most out of this book
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Conventions used
Get in touch
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1
Section 1: Getting Started with the Sheet Metal Module
Section 1: Getting Started with the Sheet Metal Module
Free Chapter
2
Chapter 1: Sheet Metal Basics – Exploring Sheet Metal Properties and Material Selection
Chapter 1: Sheet Metal Basics – Exploring Sheet Metal Properties and Material Selection
Technical requirements
Introducing Sheet Metal
Creating a Base Flange
Sheet Metal properties
Other Base Flange options and flattening parts
Considerations when selecting sheet metal materials
Summary
3
Chapter 2: Adding Bends Using Edge Flanges
Chapter 2: Adding Bends Using Edge Flanges
Using Edge Flanges
Edge Flanges – advanced options
Summary
4
Chapter 3: Getting Familiar with Basic Tools in Sheet Metal
Chapter 3: Getting Familiar with Basic Tools in Sheet Metal
Adding and removing material using Tabs, Cuts, and Holes
Using the Miter Flange tool
Using the Hem feature
Adding Sketched Bends
Creating and using Jogs
Summary
5
Chapter 4: Creating Sheet Metal Drawings and Exporting Files
Chapter 4: Creating Sheet Metal Drawings and Exporting Files
SolidWorks Drawings overview
Creating basic 2D drawings of Sheet Metal parts
Using Flat Pattern views
Exporting Sheet Metal parts for manufacturing
Summary
6
Section 2: Advanced Sheet Metal Tools
Section 2: Advanced Sheet Metal Tools
7
Chapter 5: Creating Complex Parts Using Swept Flanges and the Fold/Unfold Tools
Chapter 5: Creating Complex Parts Using Swept Flanges and the Fold/Unfold Tools
How to use Swept Flanges
Swept Flange versus Miter Flange
Folding and unfolding
Why use Fold/Unfold?
Unfolding versus flattening
Summary
8
Chapter 6: Utilizing Gussets, Cross Breaks, and Vents to Add Part Details
Chapter 6: Utilizing Gussets, Cross Breaks, and Vents to Add Part Details
Working with Gussets
Using Cross Breaks
Using Vents
Summary
9
Chapter 7: Producing Advanced Shapes Using Lofted Bends
Chapter 7: Producing Advanced Shapes Using Lofted Bends
Creating Formed Lofted Bends
Adding Bent Lofted Bends
Summary
10
Chapter 8: Joining Multi-Sheet Parts Using Tab and Slot Features
Chapter 8: Joining Multi-Sheet Parts Using Tab and Slot Features
Adding Tab and Slot features
Adjusting Tab and Slot properties
Summary
11
Chapter 9: Finishing Off Models Using Corner Details
Chapter 9: Finishing Off Models Using Corner Details
Reducing gaps by using Closed Corners
Removing corner gaps by adding Welded Corners
Getting rid of sharp corners with the Break-Corner/Corner-Trim tool
Preparing your model for manufacturing using Corner Relief
Summary
12
Chapter 10: Adding 3D Details to Models with Forming Tools
Chapter 10: Adding 3D Details to Models with Forming Tools
Using Forming Tools
Modifying existing Forming Tools
Creating Custom Forming Tools
Summary
13
Section 3: Converting 3D Parts to Sheet Metal and Creating a Sheet Metal Enclosure
Section 3: Converting 3D Parts to Sheet Metal and Creating a Sheet Metal Enclosure
14
Chapter 11: Converting to Sheet Metal Using the Insert Bends Tool
Chapter 11: Converting to Sheet Metal Using the Insert Bends Tool
Using the Insert Bends tool with Shelled parts
Using the Insert Bends tool with Thin Feature parts
Summary
15
Chapter 12: Building Sheet Metal Parts Using the Convert to Sheet Metal Tool
Chapter 12: Building Sheet Metal Parts Using the Convert to Sheet Metal Tool
Using the Convert to Sheet Metal tool
Convert to Sheet Metal – Advanced Options
Solving conversion issues
Summary
16
Chapter 13: Practical Example: The Sheet Metal Enclosure
Chapter 13: Practical Example: The Sheet Metal Enclosure
Creating the enclosure base
Adding more details to the enclosure
Creating an enclosure lid
Adding final details to the enclosure
Summary
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17
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Reducing gaps by using Closed Corners

The Corner tools are a set of four similar tools that are grouped together because they all deal with corner details. Individually, the tools are fairly simple but they can be useful for saving time or creating a specific feature in your models.

The first tool is the Closed Corner. This can be used to reduce the gaps that can occur between two adjacent flanges.

To show an example of the Closed Corner tool, first we will create a simple part with some adjacent flanges:

  1. Start a new part document and use the Center Rectangle tool to create a Base Flange that is fixed to the Origin and is 50x50mm in size and 2mm thick. The default Sheet Metal properties can be used.
  2. Add two Edge Flanges to any of the adjacent edges (Figure 9.1). Make these 30mm high and at a 90° angle.
Figure 9.1: Creating a Base Flange with two adjacent Edge Flanges

Figure 9.1: Creating a Base Flange with two adjacent Edge Flanges

  1. Spin the model around and note that we currently have...
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