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HELP!! Unwraping a Tubular Part

greg_piercey

New member
Hello All,

I have some complex joints of tubular parts which
intersect at odd angles. I would like to unwrap each tube to a flat
view such that a template can be printed for fabrication. I once did
this sort of thing in Inventor by creating the tube with a thin slice
removed and then using sheet metal to flatten it. I have attempted a
similar method in Solidworks 2004, but to no avail, it will not allow
me to create a sheet metal bend from the hollow cylinder. I'm fairly
new to Solidworks, but have used both Inventor and Pro/E before. I was
wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to how to approach this
problem? Any Help would be Appreciated!! Thanks.

-Greg
 
Solidworks is very similar to inventor.


1. Draw a circle on a plane. You have totrim a small gap in the circle (I leave a 1/16 in my parts) so that solidworks can flatten the part.


2.Use the Base - Flange/Tab on the sheet metal toolbar to create your tube to whatever length you want similar to extrude command.


3. Draw a second sketch that represents where the second tube will intersect the tube you are drawing.


4. Cut this sketch through your part.


5. Click the flatten command.


This should give you a flat pattern.
 

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