Creating Formed Lofted Bends
Lofted Bends are used to create a bent transition between two different profile shapes. This can be useful in many different ways, such as when you need to join a square profile to a more rounded profile like a tube.
In SolidWorks Sheet Metal, Lofted Bends can be either Bent or Formed, and this describes the way the bends would actually be produced. In general, the Formed option produces a smoother bend and one that is harder to manufacture, whereas the Bent option approximates the bend shape and is easier to physically make.
Both Bent and Formed types are created using the same tool—the Lofted Bend tool, and both start in the same way: with two open profiles. For this reason, Lofted Bends are one of the few Sheet Metal tools that don't require a pre-existing Base Flange.
To create a Formed Lofted Bend:
- Start a new part document and sketch the first bend profile (see Figure 7.1) on the Front Plane. This can be drawn using...