Creating Sheet Metal Parts In Solidworks

Click make drawing from part assembly standard toolbar and click ok to open the drawing sheet.

Creating sheet metal parts in solidworks.

Create a part by sketching the part profile then extruding a thin feature part. The fixed face remains in place when the part is flattened. If creating a sheet metal part with one or more conical faces you must select k factor as the type of bend allowance. Click insert bends or click insert sheet metal bends.

Select a format or click ok to use the default format. To convert a solid part to a sheet metal part. Create new bodies in an existing sheet metal part using base flange convert to sheet metal insert bends and lofted bend commands. There are specific sheet metal features you can use to create sheet metal bodies quickly.

Insert one or more sheet metal weldment or other bodies into an existing sheet metal part. Select use gauge table. Solidworks has a great feature if you right click on any flat surface and select export to dxf dwg you can save the flat pattern to be imported into cam nesting software for cnc cutting. To create a multibody sheet metal part.

Create the solid part. In the propertymanager under bend parameters. In select table select a gauge table to use or click browse and browse to a gauge table. Select the fixed face on the model.

If you selected k factor bend allowance or bend deduction enter a value. However in some circumstances when the design requires certain types of geometry you can use non sheet metal feature tools then insert bends or convert the part to sheet metal. Sketch an open contour arc. Alternatively you can add your part to a drawing you will find that you can select the flat pattern in the configurations drop down then add any information like grade of steel and quantity and save as a dxf.

The arc can also be tangent to a line. Single open contours can be used for extrudes revolves sections paths guides and sheet metal. Click convert to sheet metal sheet metal toolbar or insert sheet metal convert to sheet metal. The name of the face is displayed in the fixed face or edge box.

Open the sheet metal part for which you want to add a drawing.