Designers, unless you are working in a sheetmetal shop orhave extensive experience with sheetmetal, creating flat patternsis a waste of your time for the following reasons:
1. The materials chosen may not exactly match the materials useddue to lot to lot variation.
2. The choice of Bend allowance or bend deduction will ultimatelybe done by the person making the part.
3. K factor, enough said.
4. The form tools called out in SW may not be the tools that themanufacturer will use. Most likely not is more accurate.
5. The designer would be much better served by spending their timedimensioning the formed part, as that is what we will useregardless. To develop the flat pattern, select tools, form thepart, and inspect the part.
SolidworksSheet Metal
1. The materials chosen may not exactly match the materials useddue to lot to lot variation.
2. The choice of Bend allowance or bend deduction will ultimatelybe done by the person making the part.
3. K factor, enough said.
4. The form tools called out in SW may not be the tools that themanufacturer will use. Most likely not is more accurate.
5. The designer would be much better served by spending their timedimensioning the formed part, as that is what we will useregardless. To develop the flat pattern, select tools, form thepart, and inspect the part.
SolidworksSheet Metal
