I need to model and get the unfolded view and drawing of this kind of part. The middle/curve portion is a partial cone.
I know two ways to make only the cone portion. I use Spanish version. I am not sure the English version commands’ names.
I model the surface and add thickness (
). It gives me the cone solid. And then I use (
) insert fold. In fact I can create the solid any other way (extrusion, revolution, etc. and it will work. I always use this method to unfold cones or cylinders. I think it works only when both ends of cone or cylinder are parallel and straight lines (parallel to its axis).
The second way is to use the command lofted fold??? (
). In this case I think it is possible even to obtain the cone with no parallel edges, or more complex lofted surfaces. Its two options “rolled” or “bended” works ok with my partial cone.
The problem is that once the cone is done, I cannot add the flat and _tangent_ panels at both edges. I am trying to use the sweep flange??? () but it fails in all cases: the cone done according to first and second point, con “rolled” or “banded”. I cannot add a flat tangent flange to existing sheet metal cone. I can add a flat flange to other existing flat flange (both flanges are on the same plane, and both flange are “tangent”/continue). With flat to flat it works ok, but with flat to cone it fails. I am trying to use also flange at edge (
) but it needs to define the angel between the existing flange (cone) and the new flat flange, and it must be more than 0. In my case (to be tangent) this angle should be 0.
Perhaps someone has modeled a similar part and could suggest the commands to be used and the sequence in which to apply them. For me, the most convenient approach would be to create a surface model (like the one in the first image) and then convert it into sheet metal. As you can see, the panels do not have all edges sight. This is just an example; in reality, some of the outer edges might be more curved. However, I believe that once the part is created, I can flatten it and then trim it while in its flatted. This step shouldn't be an issue, so I think that any way of obtain flaf+cone+flat is valid for me.
Maybe it is possible to create the panels separately and then join them together, while ensuring it is still a sheet metal part???
