During my whole career as an automotive engineer I have never given out dimensions for the flat piece alone. It was always done with our specialist in manufacturing in the shop. Their decade long experience and knowledge is absolutely invaluable. Those were also stamped and deep drawn parts.
"Bend radius should never be smaller than the wall thickness" I would rephrase that to "Bend radius should always be bigger than the wall thickness" Because people usually assume that, well it is the same as wall thickness this is fine right ? But this is incorrect for most materials. Ideally bend radius is about 2x material thickness. Not as big as the material thickness but bigger, the bigger the better.
Hi, At 46 min you made an example of sheet metal part with the radius that is pretty equal to the thickness except the Last part with a big radius.now i would like to divide the big radius into multiple radius similar to the thickness of the sheet metal part. Which is the Best way to approach this type of work and develop in the flat pattern mode?
It's good to see and hear about convert to sheet metal from somebody who knows👌 I thought it was just cheating, and better and more interesting to use base flange tab 🤣
There is no such thing as cheating in the world of design. We use the best methods and design flows to get the desired results we seek to achieve. There are various ways to use design software to create the product/mechanical designs we want. I sometimes use a hybrid design approach where I use solid modeling with surface modeling to get a design the way I want it. That doesn't mean I'm cheating. It's using a combination of modeling methods that the software allows the user to work with. Anyway, when 3D modeling software was created it didn't take long for hardcore users to develop modeling techniques that later were added by the software companies from examples created by powerusers of the software. I'm, glad that 3D modeling software became part of my design tools. I started with AutoCAD 11 in 1993. In 1996 ProEngineer came into the arena. I became proficient with that software package but it was UNIX based. So if you made errors in the modeling process the software would crash and it didn't save all your work so it was a little risky if you had made many changes to the 3D models. Anyway, in 1997 I was introduced to SolidWorks because after many company acquisitions of smaller companies ( Boston Scientific Corporation, my employer at the time, acquired over 8 smaller companies) those companies used SolidWorks. SO, I took all the classroom lessons form the resellers of SolidWorks and became highly proficient using it. But, there was a big difference. SolidWorks was WINDOWS - BASED!! This was a game changer. It performed on most PCs with enough system memory and fast CPUs. You didn't need special PCs to run it. Later video cards were the next great thing that allowed faster processing for the 3D models. Anyway, I have made a career using 3D modeling software as tools for my mechanical design work. Medical, Aviation, Consumer Products, Plastic Part Design, Sheetmetal Design, Machine Design. It's been a nice ride. I started at 31 years old. Now I'm 58. Time flies!!! Have a great day.
Hey Toby! Love your video's. THANK YOU! The problem I'm having is. I get a lot of Sheet metal parts from our customers. I want to flatten them. To do this I need to convert to sheet metal. But..... Every time I try to do this, I get the Rebuild errors. "The geometry in the bend region is to complex." Could you please help me with this. Thank you.
Check your bend calculation tool. It's probably set to "bend deduction" or "bend allowance". Set it to k-factor with a value of 0.5, then try again. Lmk
Flatten from surface could also help depending on the part. I usually have a similar problem because our parts are not simply bend they are always stamped, deep drawn and bend. Many times it´s a surface part rather than sheet metal.
No - Maybe I'll do something later this year. I'm really grinding learning Onshape right now so I just have to see if I can get it into my schedule - otherwise I'll probably do one featuring Onshape sheet metal.
Hey Toby, I ran into an issue with sheet metal today while working on an edge flange. When an edge is deleted, the entire edge flange in feature tree manager turns yellow, and reselecting the edge requires re-sketching it from scratch. Do you have any solutions for this, or know of any helpful videos? Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
I dont have a solution - I'd have to see it. If you join the TTT discord and post the question in there I'll take a look. The SolidWorks discord is good too and has a dedicated "help" section. Good luck man!
111111111 - Wish I could have been there live. I did get a lot out of this. Question on display states. BTW, I watched both of your display states videos when you worked for Prism Engineering. Those are gold. My question. I work on a lot of large assemblies. I create a specific configuration for all the bom items I want on the drawing. So, I would suppress all the parts I want excluded from the bom. This has worked fine. Then I started researching videos, like yours, on display states. I found that my way is bad practice; that I should have been using display states that are linked to configurations, and the functionality of envelopes. This way you don't suppress the mates and the parts/assemblies that are added to the envelope will be omitted from the bom. Now after watching this I'm a little worried about derived configurations and how linked display states will affect them. Should I be concerned? Sorry for the bloated comment. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Suggestion for the next tips and tricks: WELDMENTS!!!
Years ago when I started using sheetmetal mode in SW I would dimension the flat patterns in the drawings. But, with every different shop I used they all told me to don't do this. Because what they needed to know was the final folded part dimensions. They said because of their specific bending equipment they had their own bend allowance settings to assure they made the folded sheetmetal parts correctly. So these days If I have to create a sheetmetal part I always provide folded sheetmetal part drawings. They figure out all the bend details to make the part to folded dimensions. Afterall, in the end what we all want to receive is the final folded part to be correct. But it's obvious that you worked in a shop and understand the nuisances of how SW creates bends depending on the various parameters in the feature design manager. Thanks for these explanations. It reinforces that if you are not a skilled sheetmetal shop tech then let the experts handle the bend details. Anyway, that's worked for me quite well in the past 28 years using SW. Have a great day!
Yeah exactly - you gotta really work with shop floor if you want to get the process dialed in. What we do in 3D CAD is great, but often times its the toolmakers who are the true wizards :-)
I learned everything I know about sheet metal from a guy on the shop floor. He gave me all the rules of thumb, how he likes to see the cad files, and we proceeded to creat some great stuff together for years! It’s great to know about the K factor, etc, but just as you say, I let the shop make these tweaks. I have a general note about bend radius not to exceed one material thickness (because I know that will be plenty, and say it’s up to them to adjust the bend radius, bend deduction, K factor, etc. Every shop seems to have slightly different preferences. They love it when I provide the native solidworks file. I have had 100% success with this method. We have to give the fabricators what they like, and they do the same for us :)
Yes I will make assemblies tutorials in the new future (but they might be in onshape) ;-) I also teach a SW assemblies class - www.TooTallToby.com/training
Any way to overlap the flange edges where you created the blend? So instead of having that 90 degree weld gap, you have one of the faces go to the outer face? Update: asked too soon.
Ohhhh - that's pretty cool! Love that workflow! And I miss using a comparator :-) For some reason it always reminded me of a piece of equipment from a sub-marine :-)
That´s pretty cool. I always got yelled at due to my design by our manufacturing specialist for creating shitty incorrect drawings. Because I have used CATIA without any added values and manufacturing of course uses their own much better suited software for figuiring out EXACTLY what the blank would look like xD Good times
Another great presentation, Toby. Definitely learnt a lot of new things. Look forward to advance sheet metal and Def. Need one on surfacing one day! Great stuff
I dont think so - I think that's hard coded into the feature when it's created. Its based on the current user profile. Maybe you could try this: 1. INSERT 1 part into another part 2. Maintain all the features 3. Dissolve all the absorbed features That might leave you with features that are "created" by the current user (I'd have to try it) of course the time stamps will be off - they will reflect the current time, not the original created date...
When you start out with a solid part and then convert to sheet metal you should not be trying to do sheet metal tutorials, you dont know s&&& about sheet metal
I absolutely disagree. The covert to sheet metal function is the most useful there is. Starting out developing a part you often have the installation space and general purpose for the part, where it attaches to for example. This way you can quickly create a boxed frame design and have a quick first layout for a new part in no time while also being associative to the easy to handle solid part. Other times itßs easier to use base flange with some stamped functions, but I would never say somebody doesn´t know their stuff just because they do this or that. There is no one right or wrong it highly depends on what you are doing.
@@428Mario Dude I develop designs like A B C pillar trim, Dashboards and body in white parts for BMW, VW, Mercedes or Ford. You are making a fool of yourself online by pretending other people are not as competent as you are. You should humble yourself. Toby obviously knows his shit. He might not have certain in depth experience with sheet metal specific designs but he knows his tools.
@@mrwagnermail6289 that's how I understand K-factor as well. Please cite the time signature where I said something which is contradictory, and I will take a look.
the worst nonsense I have ever heard. sheet thickness equal to bends radius. I have been in the profession for 30 years. still uses radius 0.5 all the way up to 6mm steel
@@TooTallToby I thought you had experience. plate thickness equal to the radius is something a company that makes bending machines has come up with. if you want strong constructions don't bend like that.
@@mrwagnermail6289 I think it would be best if you "pushed back from the keyboard" and examined what the overall point of this lecture was. My goal in delivering this lecture was to help users who are a little newer to the world of sheet metal understand the basic concepts, at a GENERAL level. You pointing out that, in your experience, you have found a more refined way of bending specific material types using specific bending processes, doesn't contradict my advice. I even said, repeatedly, that to get the best results you should work with the shop floor - as they will have the experience that YOU clearly have - and they will be able to provide the best advice as to how to set k-factor or bend calculation values. (or not to use it at all, and simply provide them with a formed model - so they can do the flat calculations). If you have a specific time stamp you want me to look at, because you believe it is factually incorrect, send me the time stamp and I will take a look. Otherwise - I think you and I more or less agree on sheet metal "how to" and "best practices" topics - so maybe there are better ways for both of us to spend our valuable holiday weekend hours. Happy TG 🦃🦃🦃
During my whole career as an automotive engineer I have never given out dimensions for the flat piece alone. It was always done with our specialist in manufacturing in the shop.
Their decade long experience and knowledge is absolutely invaluable. Those were also stamped and deep drawn parts.
Yeah deep drawn parts are really interesting
best video for sheet metal pure gold
Wow thanks!
Thanks!
aWww yeah thanks PETER!!
This guy is a CAD rockstar!
Thanks Brian!! Appreciate the kind words!
"Bend radius should never be smaller than the wall thickness" I would rephrase that to "Bend radius should always be bigger than the wall thickness"
Because people usually assume that, well it is the same as wall thickness this is fine right ? But this is incorrect for most materials. Ideally bend radius is about 2x material thickness. Not as big as the material thickness but bigger, the bigger the better.
Great points!
awesome video big hoss! finally no indian accents
lol
@@TooTallToby I am sure you can add that right ? Maybe with AI " ello and welcame here to the sheet metal RRRrrrreview" xD
Hi,
At 46 min you made an example of sheet metal part with the radius that is pretty equal to the thickness except the Last part with a big radius.now i would like to divide the big radius into multiple radius similar to the thickness of the sheet metal part. Which is the Best way to approach this type of work and develop in the flat pattern mode?
Hi Luigi! Here is your answer! ruclips.net/video/otXIagZ7Rnk/видео.htmlsi=9xLbatsh1JH6sk0b
In order to know sheet metal you must first KNOW SHEET METAL
indeed!
True
You must TASTE the sheet metal ...you must SMELL the sheet metal YOU MUST BECOME THE SHEET METAL ITSELF! xD
Make car bumber. Off road car plz
ok
It's good to see and hear about convert to sheet metal from somebody who knows👌
I thought it was just cheating, and better and more interesting to use base flange tab 🤣
Thanks Simon! I LOOOVE convert to sheet metal - it's FIRE!!
There is no such thing as cheating in the world of design. We use the best methods and design flows to get the desired results we seek to achieve. There are various ways to use design software to create the product/mechanical designs we want. I sometimes use a hybrid design approach where I use solid modeling with surface modeling to get a design the way I want it. That doesn't mean I'm cheating. It's using a combination of modeling methods that the software allows the user to work with. Anyway, when 3D modeling software was created it didn't take long for hardcore users to develop modeling techniques that later were added by the software companies from examples created by powerusers of the software. I'm, glad that 3D modeling software became part of my design tools. I started with AutoCAD 11 in 1993. In 1996 ProEngineer came into the arena. I became proficient with that software package but it was UNIX based. So if you made errors in the modeling process the software would crash and it didn't save all your work so it was a little risky if you had made many changes to the 3D models. Anyway, in 1997 I was introduced to SolidWorks because after many company acquisitions of smaller companies ( Boston Scientific Corporation, my employer at the time, acquired over 8 smaller companies) those companies used SolidWorks. SO, I took all the classroom lessons form the resellers of SolidWorks and became highly proficient using it. But, there was a big difference. SolidWorks was WINDOWS - BASED!! This was a game changer. It performed on most PCs with enough system memory and fast CPUs. You didn't need special PCs to run it. Later video cards were the next great thing that allowed faster processing for the 3D models. Anyway, I have made a career using 3D modeling software as tools for my mechanical design work. Medical, Aviation, Consumer Products, Plastic Part Design, Sheetmetal Design, Machine Design. It's been a nice ride. I started at 31 years old. Now I'm 58. Time flies!!! Have a great day.
Hey Toby! Love your video's. THANK YOU! The problem I'm having is. I get a lot of Sheet metal parts from our customers. I want to flatten them. To do this I need to convert to sheet metal. But..... Every time I try to do this, I get the Rebuild errors. "The geometry in the bend region is to complex." Could you please help me with this. Thank you.
Check your bend calculation tool. It's probably set to "bend deduction" or "bend allowance". Set it to k-factor with a value of 0.5, then try again. Lmk
Flatten from surface could also help depending on the part. I usually have a similar problem because our parts are not simply bend they are always stamped, deep drawn and bend. Many times it´s a surface part rather than sheet metal.
Did you ever do that advanced sheet metal stream?
No - Maybe I'll do something later this year. I'm really grinding learning Onshape right now so I just have to see if I can get it into my schedule - otherwise I'll probably do one featuring Onshape sheet metal.
Hey Toby,
I ran into an issue with sheet metal today while working on an edge flange. When an edge is deleted, the entire edge flange in feature tree manager turns yellow, and reselecting the edge requires re-sketching it from scratch. Do you have any solutions for this, or know of any helpful videos? Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
I dont have a solution - I'd have to see it. If you join the TTT discord and post the question in there I'll take a look.
The SolidWorks discord is good too and has a dedicated "help" section.
Good luck man!
How could you text over display ? Is that a shortcut ?
Its called ZoomIt
Pure gold man! So much better than most SW sheet metal guides here on YT! Thanks a lot!
Awesome thanks Nick!
111111111 - Wish I could have been there live. I did get a lot out of this.
Question on display states. BTW, I watched both of your display states videos when you worked for Prism Engineering. Those are gold.
My question. I work on a lot of large assemblies. I create a specific configuration for all the bom items I want on the drawing. So, I would suppress all the parts I want excluded from the bom.
This has worked fine. Then I started researching videos, like yours, on display states. I found that my way is bad practice; that I should have been using display states that are linked to configurations, and the functionality of envelopes. This way you don't suppress the mates and the parts/assemblies that are added to the envelope will be omitted from the bom.
Now after watching this I'm a little worried about derived configurations and how linked display states will affect them. Should I be concerned?
Sorry for the bloated comment. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Suggestion for the next tips and tricks: WELDMENTS!!!
Years ago when I started using sheetmetal mode in SW I would dimension the flat patterns in the drawings. But, with every different shop I used they all told me to don't do this. Because what they needed to know was the final folded part dimensions. They said because of their specific bending equipment they had their own bend allowance settings to assure they made the folded sheetmetal parts correctly. So these days If I have to create a sheetmetal part I always provide folded sheetmetal part drawings. They figure out all the bend details to make the part to folded dimensions. Afterall, in the end what we all want to receive is the final folded part to be correct. But it's obvious that you worked in a shop and understand the nuisances of how SW creates bends depending on the various parameters in the feature design manager. Thanks for these explanations. It reinforces that if you are not a skilled sheetmetal shop tech then let the experts handle the bend details. Anyway, that's worked for me quite well in the past 28 years using SW. Have a great day!
Yeah exactly - you gotta really work with shop floor if you want to get the process dialed in. What we do in 3D CAD is great, but often times its the toolmakers who are the true wizards :-)
I learned everything I know about sheet metal from a guy on the shop floor. He gave me all the rules of thumb, how he likes to see the cad files, and we proceeded to creat some great stuff together for years!
It’s great to know about the K factor, etc, but just as you say, I let the shop make these tweaks. I have a general note about bend radius not to exceed one material thickness (because I know that will be plenty, and say it’s up to them to adjust the bend radius, bend deduction, K factor, etc.
Every shop seems to have slightly different preferences. They love it when I provide the native solidworks file.
I have had 100% success with this method. We have to give the fabricators what they like, and they do the same for us :)
I really tried.... But you put so much more emphasis on trying to be a cool media guy than actually showing any SW tips and tricks that I got bored.
That's ok - I wish you the best on your journey! Thanks for trying and good luck!
i can't see the whole screen, missing many moments
thanks for watch and glad you enjoyed it. Which timestamp had missing info? Maybe I can fill in the gaps :-)
can you make tutorial on assembly.
Yes I will make assemblies tutorials in the new future (but they might be in onshape) ;-)
I also teach a SW assemblies class - www.TooTallToby.com/training
This presentation made you look at very exciting ways to create SHEET METAL parts, thnx Toby.
Thanks for explaining the flat pattern conundrum.💯
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed this one!
Awesome video, I learned a lot from this video. The "Convert to Sheet Metal" is really time saver at times, hope to see more examples in future.
Thanks Frank!
11
Awww yeah - glad you liked this one!
I love your effort in order to do a pedagogical presentation one. You are the best.
Wow thanks albert and glad this was helpful! (and glad that you like my style of teaching! )
You're one cool dude, Toby. Keep it up!
Thanks!
This lecture is very well sir
Thank you!
Super sir
Thanks!
Any way to overlap the flange edges where you created the blend? So instead of having that 90 degree weld gap, you have one of the faces go to the outer face? Update: asked too soon.
Awww yeah - Glad I answered it!
What do you use for sketching on the screen while you are using Solidworks?
Zoom it
@@TooTallToby Cheers Mate, that will be really useful in Team's presentations.
I always bend sample piece to work out bend deduction, I use optical comparator to measure bend radius. From there I can reverse engineer k factor.
Ohhhh - that's pretty cool! Love that workflow! And I miss using a comparator :-) For some reason it always reminded me of a piece of equipment from a sub-marine :-)
That´s pretty cool. I always got yelled at due to my design by our manufacturing specialist for creating shitty incorrect drawings. Because I have used CATIA without any added values and manufacturing of course uses their own much better suited software for figuiring out EXACTLY what the blank would look like xD Good times
Another great presentation, Toby. Definitely learnt a lot of new things. Look forward to advance sheet metal and Def. Need one on surfacing one day! Great stuff
Awwww yeah! Thanks Train Driver!! - ruclips.net/user/liveAP1njQ6uwJw?feature=share - an oldie but a goodie!
great vid bro, im still a cad amateur and i learned a lot from this vid, i subbed
Awesome! Welcome to the community and glad these are helpful tips!
Dude, this is the best SW or CAD content on YT. Thanks as always!
Wow thanks! So glad you like it!!
Great. Video don’t let the negative comments tear you down.
Lol - thanks bro :-) Glad this was helpful!
Dude, you know your stuff. Hats off to you.
Thanks!
My templates date's 2006... and SW date's 2021
Nice - Probably a good time to update the templates - you want something AFTER 2011. LMK if you need help
The best video of SW sheet metal of world! TOP!!!
Thanks Ricardo!!
Hi Toby. You're the best
Thanks very much Alfredo!
Can we change the created by name in feature properties?
I dont think so - I think that's hard coded into the feature when it's created. Its based on the current user profile.
Maybe you could try this:
1. INSERT 1 part into another part
2. Maintain all the features
3. Dissolve all the absorbed features
That might leave you with features that are "created" by the current user (I'd have to try it)
of course the time stamps will be off - they will reflect the current time, not the original created date...
Thanks
you're on the top of the game
thanks!
Thank You soo much Sir. 1111111111111111
Awww yeah!!!
very good :-) thank you
Glad you liked this one - lots of good Sheet metal Tricks!
Great to see new ways to model, cheers Pete
Nice - glad you enjoyed this stream!
Great Tips Thank You
May pleasure! Glad you enjoyed these!
Thanks!
Awww yeah!!! Thanks very much NTAK!!
When you start out with a solid part and then convert to sheet metal you should not be trying to do sheet metal tutorials, you dont know s&&& about sheet metal
Thanks!
I absolutely disagree. The covert to sheet metal function is the most useful there is. Starting out developing a part you often have the installation space and general purpose for the part, where it attaches to for example. This way you can quickly create a boxed frame design and have a quick first layout for a new part in no time while also being associative to the easy to handle solid part. Other times itßs easier to use base flange with some stamped functions, but I would never say somebody doesn´t know their stuff just because they do this or that. There is no one right or wrong it highly depends on what you are doing.
@@sierraecho884 all of which says you are a weak modeller if you have to work that way.
@@428Mario Dude I develop designs like A B C pillar trim, Dashboards and body in white parts for BMW, VW, Mercedes or Ford. You are making a fool of yourself online by pretending other people are not as competent as you are. You should humble yourself. Toby obviously knows his shit. He might not have certain in depth experience with sheet metal specific designs but he knows his tools.
@@sierraecho884 good for you, unfortunate you are using the wrong tools.
the part with k-factor it is completely crazy. what you say is completely wrong.
Reference a specific timestamp or quote?
@@TooTallToby your k-factor 0.333 I don't know if I have used one like that. k-factor times plate thickness gives neutral line.
@@mrwagnermail6289 that's how I understand K-factor as well. Please cite the time signature where I said something which is contradictory, and I will take a look.
the worst nonsense I have ever heard. sheet thickness equal to bends radius. I have been in the profession for 30 years. still uses radius 0.5 all the way up to 6mm steel
lol. Sounds like you are citing a fringe case and trying to say this invalidates the “general advice”. I respectfully disagree.
@@TooTallToby I thought you had experience. plate thickness equal to the radius is something a company that makes bending machines has come up with. if you want strong constructions don't bend like that.
@@mrwagnermail6289 I think it would be best if you "pushed back from the keyboard" and examined what the overall point of this lecture was. My goal in delivering this lecture was to help users who are a little newer to the world of sheet metal understand the basic concepts, at a GENERAL level.
You pointing out that, in your experience, you have found a more refined way of bending specific material types using specific bending processes, doesn't contradict my advice.
I even said, repeatedly, that to get the best results you should work with the shop floor - as they will have the experience that YOU clearly have - and they will be able to provide the best advice as to how to set k-factor or bend calculation values. (or not to use it at all, and simply provide them with a formed model - so they can do the flat calculations).
If you have a specific time stamp you want me to look at, because you believe it is factually incorrect, send me the time stamp and I will take a look.
Otherwise - I think you and I more or less agree on sheet metal "how to" and "best practices" topics - so maybe there are better ways for both of us to spend our valuable holiday weekend hours.
Happy TG 🦃🦃🦃
@@TooTallToby you misinform people. if you are in doubt about what neutral line is and how to get there you know where i am
@@mrwagnermail6289 thanks again for the feedback - please send me a specific time stamp and I will look into it