Creating Complex Sheet Metal in Inv. Pro 10

[shift1313]

I have used the sheet metal feature before and never had any trouble but the part I am creating now has some interesting bends/angles in it. Basically i was given a cad file and told to draw it in Inventor so we could flatten it.

 

Here is a picture of what I am having trouble with. Everything was drawn(by someone else) to fit a housing so i have very little wiggle room. The two sides fit over a square housing so both have to be planar. the left side in the picture gets bent at 93.65degrees. which is also like 164.56degrees to the parallel between both "ears". The problem im running into is not actually modeling the part, but modeling it in the sheet metal function in a way that it will unfold it. It will not acurately model the bend between the ear. any help is appreciated!!!!

 

Thanks

[shift1313]

i got it figured out. I wasnt able to model it how i wanted and I need to make some sacrifice from the drawing I was given. Basically I made a flange from the bottom plate and bent it to the 90+degrees i needed. I then used a sketch to subtract parts i didnt want. from there i made a flange off the side to the "ear" with the same procedure. subtracting what was un needed. since i was able to pull some angles off the cad drawing i was able to do it this way. The end will need to involve building a press to form this sheet.

 

I really would have liked to model the "ear" first because it was critical but i think i got it close for the part.

[Lazer]

Glad you got it in the end, I have just started learning the sheet metal side of Inventor, I have lots of new tricks to learn.

[shift1313]

as long as everything lies in the same plane you are good! If you have to create anything of angle and off plane like above its best to start from a base and use the Flange command and build out.

 

it really is powerful but can be picky:)