Unfolding Flange on Cylinder

View attachment 2870


Can anyone suggest how I can unfold the flange at the top. I added the flange after unbending all others. When I Unfold All, the flange remains. If I try to Unbend the remainging flange, WF1 says Inappropriate geometry.


Here is the unfolme.prt file: 2006-11-09_162545_unfoldme.zip

I'm trying to muddle my way thru some of the unfolding
functions so this is just a guess based on some experimentation.
_ Create the annular flange in the formed state.
_ Unbend it using xsec driven option.
_ Unbend All, specifying Deformation as shown in attached.
(Edit Def, select Deformation, click Refs, cycle thru
to show deform surface and fixed edge.)

If you do find another solution, i.e. it can be done be creating
the flange in the flat condition, sure be interested to see your
solution.
2006-11-18_091914_tube_sect_flg_end_wf2.prt.zip


View attachment 2901

I am WF1 so could not open your file. My solution was to add the flange in the formed condition as you did using INSERT- SHEET METAL WALL- SWEEP WITH RADIUS. I did not have to use deformation. I did have a problem dimensioning the holes in the flange after unfolding. I could not select the centers of the holes. I had to draw a line across each hole and then dimension to midpoint. Must be a better way I think.


Thanks for the help.


View attachment 2912


2006-11-24_152327_cyl_flange_unfold_ok.prt.zip

Glad you got it working and thanks for the file.


> problem dimensioning the holes


I'd expect that as they won't be (?) circular (or even
conic) after unfolding. I don't know an efficient way
to approx ctr. It'd be nice if you could get axes, points,
something to follow the flange when its unfolded? Mebbe
someone else.... (would you really want them in the flat
pattern, though? or drilled on assy?)

If (in real production) you want the holes to be regularly shaped, located in close tolerance and you want to keep the flange well shaped you'll want to make the holes in the curved flange after bending. So locating them on the flat pattern really is useless.


My 0.02