SolidWorks 2022 Advanced: Sheet Metal

Name: SolidWorks 2022 Advanced: Sheet Metal
Author: Will Tenney

Learn how to create and edit sheet metal parts using tools from the SolidWorks sheet metal library

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Course: On-Demand

Hi, my name is Will Tenney, and in this lesson we will have an introduction into sheet metal design workflow. So what we see here is a basic sheet metal part made in SolidWorks. It's just a basic pan. We can tell that it's a basic sheet metal part because there is a consistent thickness across all sides and bends of the entire piece implying that it was made out of a single sheet. There are reliefs at the bends, or areas where the bends don't overlap. And also if we want to, we can flatten it to get an idea of what the cut would be before the bends are made. So when we create a sheet metal part, we'll need to use the sheet metal tools, which we'll find here on this tab in the Command Manager. If you don't have this tab already you can right click anywhere on the Command Manager, go to Tabs, and look for Sheet Metal, make sure that it's checked. You'll find some basic tools like base-flange or convert to sheet metal. As well as edge-flange, hem, jog, things like that. Usually a sheet metal part will start off with a base-flange. It's essentially the first surface of the sheet metal part that you intend to make. And you'll usually make that by creating a sketch, so long as it's a closed contour sketch, and then turning that into a base-flange, and in which case we've done that here. Which is essentially an extrusion that we set at a certain distance representing the sheet metal thickness. From there, you have the ability to make bends, make jogs, make bosses, anything you need to create the type of sheet metal design that you're looking for. You'll also immediately gain access to two separate functions. The first we just saw, which is flat-pattern, the ability to take everything you've made and flatten it out into a single sheet. And you'll also get this folder here to appear, which is the sheet metal parameters. If you right=click on this we can edit the parameters that we set when we created the base-flange in the first place, including what the standard bend radius is gonna be every time we make a bend, the thickness of the piece, the K-factor, and anything else that would affect the size of the piece when it's flattened out. Thank you for listening. In the next lesson, we'll show the differences between creating a sheet metal body using base-flanges versus converting an existing body into sheet metal.

Advanced Provider : Will Tenney 11 Lessons · 1h 7m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese

Course Description

In these lessons, we’ll take an in-depth look into sheet metal design using the unique sheet metal features library in SolidWorks. Sheet metal design by nature must come with certain implications in mind: consistent sheet thickness, bending limitations, raw material size limitations, k-factor, corner reliefs, etc. These implications are built into the sheet metal features themselves. Therefore, when designing sheet metal parts, it makes sense to familiarize yourself with the features dedicated to them as they will help guide the design in a direction that ultimately will yield a product that can be fabricated as well as does not violate any general material limitations or laws.

We’ll cover how to use sheet metal features including Base Flange, Edge Flange, Miter Flange, Jog, Hem, Fold and Unfold, Relief Cuts, and more. You will also learn how and when to execute these features to build a variety of sheet metal parts, from simple pans all the way to complex folded structures. Finally, we’ll go over best practices for representing sheet metal parts in drawing files so you can provide a fabricator with all the design information they will need to a part to your exact specifications.

What You'll Learn

Set and edit sheet metal design parameters, including sheet thickness, k-factor, and corner reliefs, to ensure a realistic, fabricable final product
Create base flanges using multiple methods within the SolidWorks sheet metal features library
Create all types of bends in sheet metal design using features such as Edge Flange, Miter Flange, Jog, and Hem
Access, use, and customize the SolidWorks sheet metal plug-and-play feature library, including the Forming Tool Library and custom forming tools
Build a variety of sheet metal parts, from simple pans to complex folded structures, using Fold and Unfold and Relief Cuts
Apply best practices for representing sheet metal parts in drawing files to provide a fabricator with complete design information

Key Takeaways

Sheet metal design must account for implications such as consistent sheet thickness, bending limitations, raw material size limitations, k-factor, and corner reliefs, which are built into the sheet metal features themselves.
Using the dedicated sheet metal features helps guide a design toward a product that can be fabricated without violating general material limitations.
The course covers sheet metal features including Base Flange, Edge Flange, Miter Flange, Jog, Hem, Fold and Unfold, and Relief Cuts.
Learners study how and when to execute these features to build parts ranging from simple pans to complex folded structures.
Properly representing sheet metal parts in drawing files lets you provide a fabricator with all the design information needed to make a part to exact specifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this course cover?

It takes an in-depth look at sheet metal design using the SolidWorks sheet metal features library, covering features including Base Flange, Edge Flange, Miter Flange, Jog, Hem, Fold and Unfold, and Relief Cuts, along with how and when to use them to build a variety of sheet metal parts.

What kinds of parts will I learn to build?

You will learn how and when to execute these features to build a variety of sheet metal parts, from simple pans all the way to complex folded structures.

Does the course address preparing parts for fabrication?

Yes. It covers best practices for representing sheet metal parts in drawing files so you can provide a fabricator with all the design information they need to make a part to your exact specifications.

What design parameters are discussed?

The course addresses sheet metal implications such as consistent sheet thickness, bending limitations, raw material size limitations, k-factor, and corner reliefs, and how to set and edit these design parameters.

Does the course cover forming tools?

Yes. It includes lessons on the Forming Tool Library and creating custom forming tools, and on how to access, use, and customize the SolidWorks sheet metal plug-and-play feature library.