Intro to Sheetmetal Modelling

Ganapathy Kunda
Product Manager Sheetmetal, Sketching & Modelling Technology

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Gan Kunda Product Manager

Background Product Manager ST6 to . Sheetmetal Modelling Technology Sketching & Planes 2 years in Planning ST4 to ST5 Modelling Technology 15 years in Development V2 to ST3 Synchronous Technology Surfacing Part, Sheetmetal, Frames, Harnesses Areas of Expertise Synchronous Modelling Surfacing Sheetmetal
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Topics
Solid Edge Sheetmetal - Introduction Sheetmetal Features Defining Gage Defining Bend Properties Creating Sheetmetal in Part (ST5) Overriding Sheetmetal Properties (Ordered) Overriding Sheetmetal Properties (Sync) Bending Flat lengths What is Neutral Factor (K-Factor)? Defining Neutral Factor in SE Transforming regular parts to Sheetmetal Etch & DXF Sync Sheetmetal Why & When? Ordered Sheetmetal Why & When? Want more?
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Solid Edge Sheetmetal - Introduction

Dedicated document type (.psm) Dedicated environments Modelling (Synchronous & Ordered) Creation of Sheetmetal model with dedicated Sheetmetal commands
Demo

Flatten Create flat patterns for drawings with bend centerlines

Simplify Simplify Sheetmetal models for large assemblies

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Sheetmetal Features
Advanced features Contour Flange Lofted Flange Hem Deform features Dimples Louver Drawn cutouts Beads Gusset X-Brake Etch Supporting features Insert Bend Unbend Re-bend Jog Detailing features Holes Slots (ST5) Cuts Normal Cuts Break Corner Corners 2 bend corners 3 bend corners
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Defining Gage
Material Application->Properties->Material Table->Material Tab Gage Application- >Properties->Material Table->Gage Tab
Demo

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Defining Bend Properties

Bend Radius Application- >Properties->Material Table->Bend Radius Tools->Variables->BendRadius Bend Relief Application- >Properties->Material Table->Relief<Width/Depth> Tools->Variables-> Relief<Width/Depth>
Demo

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Creating Sheetmetal in Part (ST5)

Creating Sheetmetal parts in Part documents Typical usage Change in design intent i.e., starts as regular part but it needs to be a Sheetmetal part now Translated parts ST5 Commands Switch to Sheetmetal Enabled in ST5 Add Body feature New in ST5 Behaviour Document type is unchanged i.e., still a Part document Sheetmetal properties added to the Part document Sheetmetal environment activated Sheetmetal parts can be created and edited like in native Sheetmetal documents
Demo

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Overriding Sheetmetal Properties (Ordered)

Bend parameters (Radius and Bend relief) can be overridden locally Feature->Options
Demo

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Overriding Sheetmetal Properties (Sync)

Bend parameters (Radius and Bend relief) can be overridden locally Bend->Bend Handle->Options
Demo

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Bending
Bending causes the inside surface to be compressed and outside to be stretched. In practice what this means is that using the bend arc length on either layer face for determining the flat length will be incorrect. Or using the plate lengths including the bends will also result in incorrect flat length
Demo

-Use outer layer lengths 191.42 -Use inner layer lengths 175.71 -Use just plate lengths up to bends 200.00 Or what happens when you create a bend on a flat?
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Flat lengths
Computation of flat correct lengths involves accounting for the material transition during the bending process. The constants are the tab lengths either to the inside of the bend or to the outside of the bend

Flat length = A + B Bend Deduction Flat length = C + D + Bend Allowance

Bend allowance (BA) PI * (inside bend radius + neutral factor * material thickness) * bend angle/180 Bend deduction (BD) = 2 * outside set back Bend Allowance
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What is Neutral Factor (K-Factor)?

Between the inside and the outside surfaces, there is a layer which is neither compressed nor stretched. This is known as the neutral layer.

Neutral factor helps determine the location of the neutral layer. Neutral factor depends on bend radius, bend angle, ambient temperature, direction of material grain, bending methods etc. Neutral layer helps determine the correct length of bend. References: Wiki Article, look at the references section in the article for more details
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Defining Neutral Factor in SE

Neutral Factor Application- >Properties->Material Table>Gage Tab Use Excel File Users can use Gagetable.xls to define their own materials, bend radii, bend reliefs and also neutral factors for various bend radii and bend angles. Bend Equation group Users can define their own neutral factor through a VB program Tools->Variables->Neutral Factor Neutral factor can also be defined for each individual bend in Sync or per feature in Ordered
Demo

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Transforming regular parts to Sheetmetal

Demo Typical workflow Translated Parts Need to flatten or change thickness Change in requirements Starts as Part and needs to be Sheetmetal now Feature(s) Transform to Sync Sheetmetal (Ordered/Sync) Transform to Sheetmetal (Ordered) Automatically adds bends Option to rip the model Cut Users can custom rip the part Note Transform commands are enabled in Part documents from ST5 If in Part and want to work in Ordered, Transition to Ordered, Switch To Part and then run Transform to Sheetmetal command Page 15 Siemens AG 2012. All Rights Reserved. Siemens PLM Software

Etch & DXF

Demo General guide lines for creating text on SE models Always use Solid Edge Stencil or Stencil font Prefer Etch instead of creating a SE feature to add or remove material Etch is lighter by nature as it does not modify the solid Translating to DXF Application->Save->Save As Flat By default the file type is set to DXF format Go into Options dialog Set the option to Export Etch text as text box to post process in AutoCAD the text box to stick type font Go into Font Mapping tab on Options dialog and ensure that the stencil font is mapped to one of AutoCADs stick font e.g., txt.shx, monotxt.shx Ensure that in Sesmf.ini file the following entry is present under [Write Text Fonts] Solid Edge Stencil=txt.shx AutoCAD Converting text boxes to stick type font Use AutoCAD command - Express Tools\Modify Text\Explode Siemens AG 2012. All Rights Reserved. Siemens PLM Software

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Sync Sheetmetal Why & When?

Demo The Why? Easy creation Easier edits Multiple flange creation Easy creation of straight break bends Individual bend control Non-orthogonal plates/tabs Translated parts Transform to Sync Sheetmetal command to creates native tabs and flanges Can change thickness and bend radii values And a lot more. The When? Straight break bend parts Start with Tabs, Flanges and holes Graduate towards Contour Flanges, Patterns, Mirror Remember Hybrid Page 17 Siemens AG 2012. All Rights Reserved. Siemens PLM Software

Ordered Sheetmetal Why & When?

Ordered Rolled Parts Lofted Flange Arcs to lines and vice-versa Contour Flange along arcs Unbend/Re-bend Smart Cuts (cuts across bends) 3 bend Corners Holes on bends Features across bends Creating Part features . . .

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Want more?

What: A hand on experience Where: Governors Ballroom C When: 10:30 AM to 12:30 AM Who: Doug Stainbrook

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Thank You!
Questions?

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