How To Work With Sheet Metal In Solidworks

The real power of solidworks comes when you have to design bent sheet metal a task which looks simple but really isn t.

How to work with sheet metal in solidworks.

Forming tools are parts that act as dies that bend stretch or otherwise form sheet metal to create form features such as louvers lances flanges and ribs. Before any bending you have to cut the sheet metal. First create a new part. Solidworks multibody part functionality lets you work with several bodies in one part to create.

By choosing k factor bend allowance or bend deduction from the pull down menu a specific value can be entered. A common favorite is sketching out the profile and using the base flange tab tool see figure 2 that is usually located first on the sheet metal ribbon. Sheet metal parameters in the bend allowance section we can select how solidworks determines where the neutral axis is the flat pattern calculation. Click convert to sheet metal sheet metal toolbar or insert sheet metal convert to sheet metal.

Select use gauge table. Using forming tools with sheet metal. By choosing bend table or bend calculation an excel document can be used. Create the solid part.

Solidworks sheet metal tutorial step 1. Click on the sheet. Drawing a simple profile and using the base flange tab tool will open up the options that can be used. In the propertymanager under sheet metal gauges set options if you want to use a gauge table.

Right click on the toolbar and activate sheet metal. Multibody sheet metal parts. Now sketch and use smart dimension to give a dimension to the design.