Hi all,

In SW2013 we have done a major overhaul of how SolidWorks handles Multi-Bodies in Sheet Metal. This was already the focus of some Week 1 testing but we thought that we should revisit it in Week 5 as most users may not have been aware as to what was changed and how significant the changes were.

Background:

In SW2010 we re-introduced Multi-body functionality into Sheet Metal. Over the following versions we improved on and added various functionality but it soon came clear that we needed to tidy up both the Feature Manager Tree and how we handled the multiple bodies 'under the hood'. To that end we introduce in SW2013 a re-architecture of both the Feature Manager Tree, Cut-Lists and how the code handles the creation and manipulation of multiple bodies in the Sheet Metal environment.

Legacy Data:

The changes are versioned - which means your old data will not be changed on opening in SW2013. To see the new architecture in action you will have to create new parts from scratch. You should not see any changes in your legacy data but if you do please report it as a Beta issue. This includes anything out of the ordinary you might see while adding new features and bodies in SW2013.

Testing:

The areas we are interested in seeing some more testing are:

Built from scratch:

Your usual work-flows using all possible commands, e.g.Base flange, Insert bends, Convert to Sheet metal, Swept flange, Lofted bend. Mix up (by merging/dividing) insert bend bodies with base flange bodies. Look out for regressions and any strange behavior compared to earlier versions.  

Divide and Conquer:

By dividing or combining bodies, e.g. Cut, Split, Combine, Tab, Edge-Flange from one body to another, etc.

Look out for:

• How the cut-list updates
• The numbering and division of the Sheet Metal feature under the new Sheet Metal Feature parent folder
• Check the number of flat-patterns matches the number of Sheet Metal bodies.
• Check Sheet Metal Bodies are being created and not dumb geometry

Pattern, Mirror:

Mirror and pattern multiple bodies in method imaginable. Look out for the same issues outlined above.

Configurations:

Make features active in one configuration and suppressed in another, including joining and combining features.

Look out for:

• The right number of Sheet Metal Features and Flat-Patterns per Sheet Metal body
• No extra or vestigal flat patterns or sheet metal features

Drawings:

Create flat pattern drawing views of all the above created bodies.

Modify the bodies. Are the flat pattern drawing views still correct?

Please refer to the What's New documentation for further detail, but also feel free to add comments or questions to this thread.