How To Flatten Sheet Metal In Solidworks Drawing

In the sheet metal view area select flat pattern view.

How to flatten sheet metal in solidworks drawing.

To create a drawing of a flat pattern. In this configuration the sheet metal option flatten is selected. Click place views tab create panel base. Select a format or click ok to use the default format.

Flatten tool is selected this results in the flat pattern feature being unsupressed and the part will be flattened. When you create a drawing of your sheet metal part a flat pattern is automatically created. In the flat pattern propertymanager under parameters select recreate flat pattern. Drawings of sheet metal parts can also contain views of the bent sheet metal part.

Insert bends is great for an imported model that didn t start out as sheet metal but has a constant thickness. Some items to note about the flat pattern feature. Open the sheet metal part for which you want to add a drawing. In the drawing view dialog box select a sheet metal component as file.

The default configuration of a sheet metal part contains a derived configuration called defaultsm flat pattern. To hide the bend lines expand flat pattern1 right click bend lines and select hide. The bend lines are shown by default when you unsuppress flat pattern1. You can create dxf files of sheet metal flat patterns without creating a drawing.

Bend radii and thicknesses are measured from the model and maintained making this one of the easiest ways to convert any design to a sheet metal part and get a flat pattern even if you don t have any flat faces at all. In a sheet metal part create a new configuration. Right click flat pattern and select unsuppress. Select process bends and all of the features after it.

Click make drawing from part assembly standard toolbar and click ok to open the drawing sheet. From the view palette drag the flat pattern. If appropriate select or clear the selection of the recover punch center option. To flatten the entire part if the flat pattern1 feature is present unsuppress flat pattern1 or click flatten on the sheet metal toolbar.