sheet metal design

Pro/ENGINEER®

Wildfire™ 2.0

Pro/SHEETMETALTM

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Parametric Technology Corporation

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vii

Table of Contents Pro/SHEETMETAL............................................................................................ 1

Welcome to Pro/SHEETMETAL........................................................................ 1

Using Pro/SHEETMETAL ................................................................................ 1

About Sheet Metal Parts............................................................................. 1

About Sheet Metal Features........................................................................ 2

Suppressing and Resuming Sheet Metal Features ....................................... 2

To Create a New Sheet Metal Part ............................................................... 2

About Sketching in Sheet Metal................................................................... 3

To Thicken the Sheet Metal Wall:.............................................................. 4

Sheet Metal Feature Order and References ................................................... 4

About the Pro/SHEETMETAL Interface .......................................................... 5

Interacting with the Dashboard ................................................................... 5

Using the Sheet Metal Toolbar .................................................................... 5

Using the Model Tree ................................................................................. 7

Setting Up Pro/SHEETMETAL ......................................................................... 8

About Setting Up Pro/SHEETMETAL ............................................................. 8

Bend Allowance and Developed Length ........................................................ 8

About Bend Allowance and Developed Length............................................. 8

To Set Y- and K-factors ........................................................................... 9

About Y- and K-factors...........................................................................10

Bend Tables..........................................................................................11

About Sheet Metal Bend Tables ............................................................11

Sheet Metal Bend Table Menu ..............................................................15

To Edit a Bend Table ...........................................................................16

To Define a Bend Table .......................................................................17

To Set a Bend Table............................................................................17

To Reset a Bend Table.........................................................................18

To Write a Bend Table .........................................................................18

To Show a Bend Table.........................................................................18

Table of Contents

viii

To Delete a Bend Table .......................................................................19

Example: Sheet Metal Bend Table.........................................................19

Bend Order .............................................................................................21

About Bend Order Tables........................................................................21

To Create a Bend Order Table .................................................................22

To Edit a Bend Order Table .....................................................................22

To Get Bend Order Table Info .................................................................23

To Clear a Bend Order Table ...................................................................23

Example: Bend Order Table ....................................................................23

Fixed Geometry .......................................................................................24

About Fixed Geometry ...........................................................................24

To Select Fixed Geometry.......................................................................24

To Clear Fixed Geometry ........................................................................25

To Show Fixed Geometry........................................................................25

Design Rules ...........................................................................................25

About Design Rules ...............................................................................25

Design Rules Menu ................................................................................27

To Define the Design Rules .....................................................................27

To Assign the Design Rules .....................................................................28

To Show the Design Rules ......................................................................28

To Write the Design Rules ......................................................................28

To Edit the Design Rules.........................................................................29

To Delete the Design Rules .....................................................................29

To Unassign the Design Rules .................................................................29

Example: Design Rule Table....................................................................30

Defaults and Parameters ...........................................................................31

About Sheet Metal Defaults and Parameters..............................................31

List of Sheet Metal Defaults ....................................................................31

List of Sheet Metal Defaults and Parameters .............................................33

To Assign and Retrieve a Sheet Metal Defaults and Parameters File..............33

To Edit Sheet Metal Defaults and Parameters ............................................33

Table of Contents

ix

To Save Sheet Metal Defaults and Parameters...........................................34

Example: Sheet Metal Defaults and Parameters Table ................................35

Pro/Sheet Metal Design Configuration Options..............................................36

About Configuring Pro/Sheet Metal Design ................................................36

To Set Sheet Metal Configuration Options .................................................36

feat_place_follow_unbend ......................................................................37

initial_bend_y_factor .............................................................................37

merge_smt_srfs_without_seam...............................................................37

pro_sheet_met_dir ................................................................................37

pro_smt_params_dir .............................................................................38

punch_axis_points.................................................................................38

smt_bend_notes_dflt_display..................................................................38

smt_bend_notes_direction_down ............................................................38

smt_bend_notes_direction_up ................................................................38

smt_bend_notes_order ..........................................................................39

smt_bend_notes_type_formed ................................................................39

smt_bend_notes_type_rolled ..................................................................39

smt_crn_rel_display ..............................................................................39

smt_mp_method...................................................................................39

smt_outside_mold_lines.........................................................................40

system_sheetmetal_color .......................................................................40

template_sheetmetalpart .......................................................................40

Designing in Pro/SHEETMETAL......................................................................40

About Designing in Sheet Metal..................................................................40

Possible Sheet Metal Design Approach ........................................................41

Conversion..............................................................................................43

About Converting to Sheet Metal Parts .....................................................43

Converting Back to Solid Parts ................................................................44

To Convert to Sheet Metal ......................................................................45

Working with Rip Connects .....................................................................47

Example: Sheet Metal Conversion............................................................48

Table of Contents

x

Wall .......................................................................................................48

About Walls ..........................................................................................48

About Wall Relief ...................................................................................49

Types of Walls ......................................................................................50

Flat .....................................................................................................50

About Flat Walls .................................................................................50

To Create a Flat Wall Without a Bend With Flat Angle Specified.................51

To Create a Flat Wall Without a Bend With Bend Angle Specified ...............52

To Create a Flat Wall With a Bend.........................................................53

To Create an Unattached Flat Wall ........................................................55

Flanged Walls .......................................................................................56

About Flange Walls .............................................................................56

Types of Predefined Flange Wall Profiles ................................................56

Swept ...............................................................................................58

Extruded ...........................................................................................64

Revolve................................................................................................70

About Revolve Walls ...........................................................................70

To Create a Revolve Wall .....................................................................71

Blend...................................................................................................71

About Blend Walls...............................................................................71

To Create a Parallel Blend With a Regular Section ...................................72

To Create a Parallel Blend With a Projected Section.................................73

To Create a General Blend ...................................................................74

To Create a Rotational Blend ................................................................75

Offset ..................................................................................................77

About Offset Walls ..............................................................................77

To Create an Offset Wall......................................................................77

Advanced .............................................................................................77

About Advanced Walls .........................................................................77

To Create an Advanced Wall.................................................................78

To Create a Section-to-Surface Blend ....................................................78

Table of Contents

xi

To Create a Surface-to-Surface Blend....................................................79

To Import a Blend...............................................................................79

To Create a Tangent-to-Surface Blend...................................................80

Variable Section Sweep .......................................................................80

From Boundaries ................................................................................85

Swept Blend ......................................................................................88

Helical Sweep.....................................................................................97

Twist .................................................................................................101

About Twist Walls .............................................................................101

To Create a Twist Wall.......................................................................101

Extend...............................................................................................102

About Extend Walls...........................................................................102

To Create an Extend Wall ..................................................................102

Merge ................................................................................................103

About Merge Walls ............................................................................103

To Create a Merge Wall .....................................................................104

Rip.......................................................................................................104

About Rips..........................................................................................104

To Create a Regular Rip .......................................................................105

To Create a Surface Rip........................................................................105

To Create an Edge Rip .........................................................................106

Working with Edge Rips........................................................................106

Cut ......................................................................................................108

About Sheet Metal Cuts........................................................................108

About Cuts and Datum Axes .................................................................109

Projecting Datum Curves......................................................................109

To Create a Sheet Metal Cut (Solid) .......................................................110

To Create a Sheet Metal Cut (Thin)........................................................111

Form, Flatten Form ................................................................................112

Form .................................................................................................112

About Forms ....................................................................................112

Table of Contents

xii

Forms with Hollows...........................................................................113

To Create a Die Form ........................................................................113

To Create a Punch Form ....................................................................115

Tip: Creating Punch and Die Reference Parts ........................................117

Flatten Form.......................................................................................118

About Flatten Forms..........................................................................118

About Stamped Edges .......................................................................119

To Create a Flatten Form ...................................................................120

Notch and Punch....................................................................................121

About Notches and Punches..................................................................121

About Skipped References ....................................................................122

Defining Skipped References.................................................................122

To Create a Notch/Punch UDF ...............................................................123

To Place a Notch .................................................................................124

To Place a Punch .................................................................................125

Tip: Creating and Using Notches and Punches .........................................125

Bend, Unbend, Bend Back .......................................................................126

Bend .................................................................................................126

About Bends ....................................................................................126

To Change the Developed Length........................................................127

About Bend Radius ...........................................................................128

About Bend Relief .............................................................................129

About Bend Lines..............................................................................130

About Bend Line Notes ......................................................................131

To Customize Bend Line Notes............................................................133

Regular ...........................................................................................134

Planar .............................................................................................136

w/Transition ....................................................................................138

Unbend..............................................................................................140

About Unbends.................................................................................140

Unbending Undevelopable Surfaces.....................................................141

Table of Contents

xiii

To Unbend Undevelopable Surfaces.....................................................141

About Punch Axis Points ....................................................................142

To Create a Punch Axis Point..............................................................142

Best Practices: Unbend and Bend Back ................................................143

Regular ...........................................................................................143

Transition ........................................................................................144

Xsec-Driven .....................................................................................145

Bend Back..........................................................................................146

About Bend Back ..............................................................................146

To Create a Bend Back ......................................................................146

Corner Relief .........................................................................................147

About Corner Relief .............................................................................147

To Create Corner Relief (Feature) ..........................................................148

To Set Corner Relief (Default) ...............................................................148

Deform.................................................................................................149

About Deformation Areas .....................................................................149

To Create a Deformation Area ...............................................................150

Edge Bend ............................................................................................150

About Edge Bends ...............................................................................150

To Create an Edge Bend.......................................................................151

To Customize an Edge Bend..................................................................151

Inheritance ...........................................................................................152

About Sheet Metal Inheritance Features .................................................152

Inheritance Feature Behavior (Sheet Metal) ............................................152

To Create a Sheet Metal Inheritance Feature...........................................154

Preparing for Manufacture..........................................................................155

About Preparing for Manufacture ..............................................................155

Reports.................................................................................................155

About Reports.....................................................................................155

To Access Reports ...............................................................................156

Flat Pattern ...........................................................................................157

Table of Contents

xiv

About Flat Patterns..............................................................................157

To Create a Flat Pattern .......................................................................158

Example: Tweaked Flat Pattern .............................................................158

Flat State..............................................................................................159

About Flat States.................................................................................159

To Create a Flat State ..........................................................................160

To Show a Flat State............................................................................160

Detailing Your Sheet Metal Designs .............................................................160

About Detailing Your Sheet Metal Designs .................................................160

To Create a Sheet Metal Drawing .............................................................162

To Create Automatic Ordinate Dimensions .................................................163

To Display Bend Line Notes in Drawings ....................................................163

To Display Bend Order Tables in Drawings.................................................163

Index.........................................................................................................165

1

Pro/SHEETMETAL

Welcome to Pro/SHEETMETAL

Pro/SHEETMETAL is an optional module of Pro/Engineer. It enables you to design

basic and complex parts in sheet metal. You can:

• Design sheet metal parts defining the volume and support structures for the

components of an assembly.

• Add sheet metal-specific features like walls, bends, cuts, punches, notches, and

forms in either the formed or flat condition.

• Create Bend Order tables that specify the order, bend radius and bend angle

used for manufacturing.

• Calculate the developed length of material needed. Pro/SHEETMETAL accounts for

bends of different radii and material thickness.

• Flatten out the part to visualize design and manufacturing needs.

• Make Drawings of the sheet metal part, incorporating Dimensions, Bend Order

tables, Flat Patterns and fully designed parts.

Pro/SHEETMETAL, like Pro/Engineer, allows flexibility in design. Changes are made

and updated parametrically throughout the entire design process.

Using Pro/SHEETMETAL

About Sheet Metal Parts

Sheet metal parts are created in one of three fashions:

• Sheet Metal Mode—Create the part individually.

• Assembly Mode—Create with a top-down approach.

• Conversion—Convert from a solid part.

Sheet metal parts are solid models that can be represented in either the sheet metal

form or a flat model.

The parts have a constant thickness and can be modified with features. A sampling

of features includes walls, cuts, rips, bends, and corner relief. You can also get

information about the part, calculate its mass and analyze the engineering.

The sheet metal parts have driving and offset surfaces. The side (depth) surfaces are

formed only after successful regeneration. To aid viewing, the driving side is

highlighted in green by default and the offset side is white (indicates thickness).

Because of the general thinness of a sheet metal part, it is recommended to select

flat surfaces as references when placing a feature. If a flat surface is not applicable,

edges are more convenient than side surfaces.

SheetmetalDesign - Help Topic Collection

2

About Sheet Metal Features

Pro/SHEETMETAL offers specialized sheet metal environment features. You can

create:

• Datum and cosmetic features

• Walls, cuts, rips, notches, punches, bends, unbends, bend backs, forms, and

corner relief.

• Selected solid-class features applicable to sheet metal (chamfer, hole, round) are

also available.

A sheet metal unattached wall must be the first feature in your design. After you

create the wall you can add any other features to your design. You do not have to

create them in manufacturing order, rather, you should create them with your design

intent in mind.

When creating features it is recommended to select flat surfaces as references when

placing a feature. If a flat surface is not applicable, edges are more convenient than

side surfaces.

Note: You can utilize solid features, including patterns, copy/mirror, chamfers,

holes, rounds, and solid cuts when creating your sheet metal designs.

Suppressing and Resuming Sheet Metal Features

You can suppress sheet metal features to temporarily remove them from your

design. You can "unsuppress" (resume) suppressed them at any time.

You can suppress features on your sheet metal part to simplify the part model and

decrease regeneration time. For example, while you work on one end of a shaft, it

may be desirable to suppress features on the other end of the shaft.

Similarly, while working on a complex sheet metal assembly, you can suppress some

of the features and components for which the detail is not essential to the current

assembly process.

To Create a New Sheet Metal Part

1. Click . The New dialog box opens.

2. Under Type click Part.

3. Under Sub-type click Sheetmetal.

4. In the Name box, type a name for your new sheet metal part.

5. If you want to use the default template, click OK. Pro/ENGINEER opens a new

sheet metal part.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

3

Else, if you want to use a custom template:

a. Clear Use default template and click OK. The New File Options dialog

box opens.

b. Browse to the desired template. Click OK. The template file is assigned and

Pro/ENGINEER opens a new sheet metal part.

Note: If an object type is not supported by a template the Use default

template option is not available. For template-supported file types, if you always

want to see the New File Options dialog box, set the

force_new_file_options_dialog configuration option to Yes. Remember, this

configuration setting may be overridden by your system administrator in the

config.sup file.

About Sketching in Sheet Metal

Sketching in Pro/SHEETMETAL is done exactly the same as you would in any other

Pro/ENGINEER module. However, keep the following tips in mind when sketching

your sheet metal parts and features:

• The thicken command—The Thicken command adds material thickness to your

sheet metal wall while you are still in Sketcher mode. This enables you to create

and fully dimension the wall when you sketch it.

Then you do not need to add material to your wall later in the design process. If

you change the sketch you have to delete the thicken. Thicken is not used for

Flat walls. Be sure to double check your dimensions to make sure they are

located in the appropriate locations after the thicken.

We recommend using the Thicken command, in sketcher, to dimension your

extruded sheet metal surfaces. It enables you to dimension the inside radii on

opposite sides of a section and to properly dimension for sizing and clearance.

The Thicken command prevents having to add material thickness to your

dimension values.

1 Sketch line

2 Thicken line, which

enables you to fully

dimension the wall while

sketching


4

To Thicken the Sheet Metal Wall:

1. Select the type of sheet metal wall to create. Note: The Thicken command is

not used with flat walls.

2. Once you are in sketch mode, create the sketch of the wall section.

3. Click Sketch > Feature Tools > Thicken. Offset edges automatically add to

your sheet metal wall sketch. At this point, consider converting the system

dimensions to strong dimensions to insure that your dimensioning scheme is

correct.

4. When the sketch is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar.

Sheet Metal Feature Order and References

The proper feature creation order and sketch references help when modifying the

part and presenting it in a drawing. The following illustrations compare the results

from different order and reference choices.

Order of Feature Creation

Option A Option B

1 Create the cut before the bend.

2 When a bend is created new

surfaces result. The cut surface

stays in the old surface location.

3 Create the cut after the bend and

unbend.

4 When you bend back the wall the

cut section stays with the cut

features.

Note: You can obtain the same

result if you create the cut while the

wall is bent.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

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References for Feature Creation

Option A Option B

1 Horizontal sketching reference

created on an unrelated surface.

Cut alignment to local edge and

dimensioned to local vertex.

2 After bending back, the cut

section is still aligned with local

edge, but the dimensions are in the

wrong location because the

sketching references did not move.

3 Horizontal sketching reference is

created through the local edge and

normal to the sketching plane. The

cut is aligned to the local edge and

dimensioned to local vertex.

4 After bending back, feature

dimensions follow because

sketching references follow.

About the Pro/SHEETMETAL Interface

The Pro/SHEETMETAL user interface contains the following elements that increase

usability and decrease mouse selections. Highlights of the user interface can be

reached from the See Also links, however, refer to the Fundamentals module for

greater detail on the Pro/ENGINEER user interface.

Interacting with the Dashboard

As you create and modify your sheet metal designs you can add solid features, like

solid class cuts, chamfers, holes, and rounds. When you add these features to your

design you will use and interact with the Dashboard, which guides you throughout

the modeling process. The Dashboard is a context sensitive interface that monitors

your actions in the current tool and provides you with basic design requirements that

need to be satisfied to complete your feature.

The Dashboard encourages direct graphical manipulation in the graphics window and

provides you with modeling flexibility.

Note:

• See the Fundamentals module for information about the Dashboard.

• See the Part Modeling module for instructions on creating solid class features

using the Dashboard.

Using the Sheet Metal Toolbar

The sheet metal toolbar contains shortcut buttons for the most common sheet metal

design requirements. Additional functionality and less commonly used commands are

available from the main menu or the Menu Manager.


6

You can customize the sheet metal toolbar with other Pro/ENGINEER commands and

your own map-keys (Utilities > Customize Screen) by dragging the desired

buttons onto the toolbar. You can turn the toolbar on/off using the Toolbars tab

options.

The following table lists the sheet metal shortcut buttons according to their default

location on the toolbar.

Button Function Corresponding Menu Path

Conversion Insert > Conversion

Flat Wall Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Flat

Flange Wall Insert > Sheetmetal Wall >

Flange

Unattached Flat Wall Insert > Sheetmetal Wall >

Unattached > Flat

Unattached Extruded

Wall

Insert > Sheetmetal Wall >

Unattached > Extrude

Revolve Wall Insert > Sheetmetal Wall >

Unattached > Revolve

Blended Wall Insert > Sheetmetal Wall >

Unattached > Blend

Offset Wall Insert > Sheetmetal Wall >

Unattached > Offset

SMT-Class Cut Insert > Sheetmetal Cut

Extended Wall Insert > Sheetmetal Wall >

Extend

Bend Insert > Bend Operation > Bend

Edge Bend Insert > Edge Bend

Unbend Insert > Bend Operation >

Unbend

Bend Back Insert > Bend Operation > Bend

Back

Corner Relief Insert > Corner Relief

Pro/SHEETMETAL

7

Button Function Corresponding Menu Path

Punch Insert > Shape > Punch

Notch Insert > Shape > Notch

Rip Insert > Shape > Rip

Merge Walls Insert > Merge Walls

Form Insert > Shape > Form

Flatten Form Insert > Shape > Flatten Form

Deform Area Insert > Bend Operation >

Deform Area

Flat Pattern Insert > Bend Operation > Flat

Pattern

Using the Model Tree

The Model Tree provides a feature-level visual representation of your welding

project. Each feature you create in your welding project is chronologically

represented in the Model Tree.

Highlights of the Model Tree follow, however, refer to the Fundamentals

documentation for more details about the Pro/ENGINEER user interface:

• Highlight sheet metal features in the graphics window, making the features more

visible.

• Reorder features, and ultimately change the dynamic of your sheet metal design

by dragging features to various locations.

• Access shortcut menus that enable you to easily create and modify your design.

The shortcut menu may include commands to:

o Redefine and modify sheet metal features

o Suppress sheet metal features to simplify or accentuate areas of your

design

o Pattern sheet metal features to quickly meet your design intent

o Obtain information and create notes for sheet metal features

o Convert light-weight welding geometry to solid geometry (and vice versa)


8

You can customize what and how features display in the Model Tree by clicking the

Show and Settings tabs.

Setting Up Pro/SHEETMETAL

About Setting Up Pro/SHEETMETAL

The set up commands help you control your overall design process and save time by

enabling you to set defaults for common design elements. The commands assist you

in effectively capturing your design intent.

With the set up commands you can:

• Control sheet metal bend allowance and developed length by setting bend

allowance.

• Document the order in which to make bends on the finished design by setting the

bend order.

• Maintain consistency in your design process by setting fixed geometry, defaults

and parameters.

• Create a flat version, or state, of your sheet metal design for manufacturing by

setting flat state.

• Establish company or industry standards to guide your design by setting design

rules.

• Create corner reliefs automatically while unbending your sheet metal part by

setting corner relief.

• Customize your software environment and functionality by setting configuration

options.

Note: The set up commands are only available from Menu Manager.

Bend Allowance and Developed Length

About Bend Allowance and Developed Length

Bend allowance is a method used to calculate the (developed) length of flat sheet

metal required to make a bend of a specific radius and angle. The calculation

accounts for the thickness of the sheet metal, bend radii, bend angles, and other

material properties (like Y- and K-factors).

The developed length calculation also compensates for stretching in the area of a

bend. Typically, when you bend or form a piece of sheet metal, the material on the

outside of the neutral bend axis stretches while the material on the inside of the

neutral bend axis compresses. You can automatically account for this material

behavior by establishing appropriate material descriptions and formulae for

accurately calculating developed length.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

9

Accurate developed length calculations enable you to capture your design intent in

the solid model while also developing a precise flattened model that manufacturers

can use when developing the actual product. Make it a practice to determine, in

advance, how you calculate developed length.

Use one of the following to calculate the developed length in your designs:

• System default equation—Calculate the developed length using only a Y- or K-

factor.

• Provided bend table—Calculate the developed length using a predefined,

standard bend table.

• Customized bend table—Calculate the developed length using a bend table

customized in Pro/Table.

If you do not assign a customized bend table to your part, the following equation is

used to calculate developed length:

L = (Π/2 x R + Y factor x T) Θ/90

Where: L = Developed length

Π = 3.145

R = Inside radius

Y factor = The default Y factor = 0.50

T = Material thickness

Θ = Bend angle in degrees (°)

Note: If your developed length calculation is inaccurate, you can override the

inaccurate value by directly modifying the value or by assigning a unique bend table

to your design.

To Set Y- and K-factors

1. Click Edit > Setup. The PART SETUP menu appears.

2. Click Sheet Metal. The SMT SETUP menu appears.

3. Click Bend Allow. The BEND ALLOW menu appears.

4. Highlight the factor you want to change:

o K-factor—Part constant defined by the location of the neutral bend line.

o Y-factor—Part constant defined by the location of the neutral bend line.

If you are setting either the Y- or the K-factor and a bend table is already set for

the part, the CONFIRMATION menu appears. You must discard the bend table.

5. Click Confirm. The ENTER VAL menu appears.


10

6. Either select a value from those available or click Enter and type a new value for

the factor.

7. Click Yes to accept the changed factor and full part regeneration. The factor is

set.

About Y- and K-factors

Y- and K-factors are part constants defined by the location of the sheet metal

material's neutral bend line with respect to the thickness. The neutral bend line

position is based on a numeric reference for the type of sheet metal material used in

your design. The numeric references range from 0 to 1. If you are referring to the Y-

and K-factors, the numeric references can be negative, with the lower numbers

representing softer material. Both the Y- and K-factors are integral elements in

calculating the developed length (the length of flat sheet metal required to make a

bend of a specific radius and angle) in your design.

The K-factor is the distance ratio between the inside radius of the bend, the neutral

material layer, and the sheet metal thickness. The K-factor uses the formula k-

factor = δ/T.

You use the K-factor to find the Y-factor.

The Y-factor is a ratio based on the neutral bend line with respect to the thickness of

the material. The Y-factor uses the formula Y-factor = K-factor * (Π/2). The

default value for the Y-factor is 0.50.

Developed Length of Material and the Y- and K-Factors

1. Bend condition 2. Flat Condition

Where:

= Distance between the inside radius of the bend and the sheet metal edge

T = Sheet metal thickness

L = Developed length between the squares

R = Bend radius

Pro/SHEETMETAL

11

N = Neutral bend line

K-factor = δ/T Y-factor = K-factor * (Π/2)

You can change the Y-factor using any of the following:

• Set Up command—Initialize the Y-factor using the set up command. The new Y-

factor value takes effect for any new parts or features created after it is set.

• Material file—Initialize the Y-factor using INITIAL_BEND_Y_FACTOR command in

the material file. The Y-factor will be updated if you change the value in the

material file assigned to the part. If you unassign a material file, the part is

frozen with the Y-factor, K-factor, and bend table values that were assigned to

the previous material file.

• Configuration option—Initialize the Y-factor for new sheet metal parts using

the INITIAL_BEND_Y_FACTOR configuration option. After you re-load the

configuration file, all new sheet metal parts use the new value. The configuration

option does not change the default value for the existing part's Y-factor.

If applicable, you can to use both the Y-factor equation and a bend table when

designing a sheet metal part. However, you cannot use both on the same feature.

Note: For stretched bends δ is negative, the neutral layer stays out of the sheet

metal thickness, causing the Y- and K-factors to be negative.

Negative Y-factor

Where:

= Distance between the neutral

bend line and the sheet metal edge


L = Developed length between the

squares

R = Bend radius

N = Neutral bend line

Bend Tables

About Sheet Metal Bend Tables

Bend tables control calculations for the length of flat material (developed length)

needed to make a bend. Developed length fluctuates with different material types

and thickness, and the bend table accounts for those variations.


12

Three standard bend tables are available from the Machinery’s Handbook, 23rd

Edition:

Table Material Y-factor K-factor

TABLE 1 soft brass, copper 0.55 0.35

TABLE 2 hard brass, copper, soft steel,

aluminum

0.64 0.41

TABLE 3 hard copper, bronze, cold rolled steel,

spring steel

0.71 0.45

You can also define your own tables to support additional material types and

methods for calculating developed length.

Bend tables consist of:

• Formula—Manages the bend allowance or developed length values with

calculations and logic statements. The formula that is used, that is, L = (Π/2 x R

+ Y factor x T) Θ/90, is defined by Pro/ENGINEER and is used only for radius and

thickness values outside the table data range.

• Conversion—Conversion is an equation that uses the bend allowance value from

the bend table to calculate the developed length. For example, the conversion

equation, L = 2 * (T + R)-A), makes adjustments to the bend allowance values

as shown in the example below. When the specified thickness and bend radius

values are within the table data range but not displayed in the table, the

corresponding bend allowance is calculated by interpolation of the table bend

allowance values. For details, refer to the interpolation method used for

computing bend allowance discussed below. If no conversion equation is defined

then the developed length will be equal to the bend allowance. If the radius and

thickness values are outside the table data range, the bend table is ignored and

the formula defined by Pro/ENGINEER is used.

The following example illustrates an equation for specific bend angle ranges:

If ANGLE > 0 or ANGLE < = 90, a known parameter is used to compute the

developed length.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

13

Where,

T = Thickness

ANGLE = Bend Angle

R = Bend Radius

A = Bend Allowance

SFLAT = X + Y-A, where SFLAT is the total strip length

The known parameters that are used to calculate the developed length are:

X = T + R +b

Y = T + R + a

SFLAT = a + b + L

By substitution:

a + b + L = (T + R + b) + (T + R + a) - A

OR,

L = 2 * (T + R)-A which is the CONVERSION equation.

For example, the following program illustrates how a formula defined by

Pro/ENGINEER and a conversion equation are used for interpolation:

FORMULA

IF R<=2

IF ANGLE > 0 & ANGLE < 90

L = (ANGLE * PI/180) * (R + T/2)

ENDIF

IF ANGLE >= 90 & ANGLE < 180

L = (ANGLE * PI/180) * (R + T/3)

ENDIF

ENDIF

IF R>2

L=(ANGLE * PI/180) * (R)

ENDIF

END FORMULA

!

CONVERSION


14

IF ANGLE > 0 & ANGLE <=90

L = 2 * (T + R) - .4285 * A

ELSE

L = 2 * (T + R) - .3567917 * A

ENDIF

END CONVERSION

The following is the equation for the Interpolation Method used for computing

bend allowance:

A1,1*(Ty-T0)*(RY-R0) + A0,1*(T1-Ty)*(Ry-R0) + A1,0*(TY-T0)*(R1-RY)

+ A0,0*(T1-TY)*(R1-RY)

Ay = -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

(T1-T0)*(R1-R0)

Where,

A0,0 is allowance for T0,R0




In the above example, T0 < Ty <T1 and R0 < Ry < R1.

When T0 = T1 = Ty, you can use the following formula:

A1,1 (Ry-R0) + A1,0 (R1-Ry)

Ay = -----------------------------

(R1 - R0)

In the above example, A1,0 = A0,0 and A1,1 = A0,1.

When R0 = R1 = Ry, you can use the following formula:

A1,1 (Ty -T0) + A0,1 (T1-Ty)

Ay = ------------------------------

(T1 -T0)

In the above example, A0,0 = A1,1 = A1,0

Where,

T = Thickness

R = Radius

Pro/SHEETMETAL

15

• Materials Data—Lists the materials the bend table is intended for.

Note: The materials list is case-sensitive. Ensure that your part's material type

matches the case in the materials list.

• Table Data—Lists radii values and sheet metal thickness with their

corresponding bend allowance or developed length. The bend table needs at least

one column and one row of tabulated data. You do not have to insert bend

allowance data in every cell of the table. Any value not found in the table data is

interpolated. If you only want the formulae used, specify data that will never be

encountered in your design (Radius = 1000, Thickness = 1000).

Bend tables are, and should be, created for 90° bends. For bends other than 90°, the

values are multiplied by Θ/90, where Θ is the specific bend angle, in degrees.

Remember, bend tables are only applicable for constant-radius bends. Bends with a

varying radius, such as a cone, swept wall, hem or cylinder, calculate developed

length using the Y-factor.

You can set bend tables at any time. However, once a part is associated with a bend

table, its geometry depends on that bend table’s data. Every time the part is

regenerated the associated bend table is referenced for appropriate length values. If

you modify a bend table, all parts associated with it are updated upon regeneration.

If you create your own library of bend tables, set the configuration option

pro_sheet_met_directory_<pathname> to the appropriate folder. If you specify a

bend table name, then Pro/ENGINEER searches this bend table in your current

working directory and in the folder specified by this configuration option.

Sheet Metal Bend Table Menu

Sheet metal bend tables measure and control the amount of material needed to

make a bend. Bend tables ensure that material behavior is accounted for in your

design.

With the bend table commands you can:

• Define—Define a new bend table with appropriate data and formulae.

• Delete—Delete a bend table set to your part.

• Edit—Modify an existing bend table.

• Show—Display the bend table set to your part.

• Write—Save the bend table in your directory.

• Set—Assign a bend table to your part.

• Reset—Suspend the use of a bend table and reassigns the Y-factor.

You have two options when setting a bend table for a part:

• From Part—Internal bend table stored into your part. The internal bend table

automatically updates if you apply an external bend table in session.

• From File—External bend table stored in separate files on disc.


16

Note: You can have internal and external bend tables with the same name. The

content can differ between the table types.

You have two options when setting a bend table for a feature:

• Part Bend Tbl—Reference the bend table associated with the overall part. If no

table is currently set for the part, the Y-factor formula is used.

• Feat Bend Tbl—Reference an independent bend table for the individual feature.

You can select one of the three standard tables or a customized table.

Note: The Part Bend Tbl is typically the most appropriate.

To Edit a Bend Table




4. Click Bend Table. The BEND TAB menu appears.

5. Click Edit. The CONFIRMATION menu appears. Note that within a session, you

can only edit bend tables created with, or applied to, the current part.

6. Click Confirm. The BTAB TYPE menu appears.

7. Select the type of bend table to edit:

o From Part—Internal bend table. Saved with the design part.

o From File—External bend table. Saved in a separate file.

The TBL NAMES menu appears, listing all the bend tables associated with the

part.

8. Select the bend table to edit. The bend table opens.

9. Edit the bend table as needed:

o Material Name—Name of the material to which the bend table is

applicable.

o Formula—Manage the bend allowance/developed length values with

calculations and logic statements.

o Materials List—List material names between START MATERIALS and END

MATERIALS.

o Table Data—Highlight the cell. Type the new data in the text box. Click the

next cell to edit.

Use the Edit options to edit the bend table. You can add a thickness row or

radius column to the bend table.

10. Click File > Save after entering your data. The bend table is created and writes

out to disk in the current directory.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

17

To Define a Bend Table





5. Click Define. The BTAB TYPE menu appears.

6. Select the type of bend table to create:



7. Type the name for the bend table and click . A Pro/TABLE window opens with

an outline table.

8. Type your customized data into the outline table. If you would like to use another

table as your outline, click File > Read from the Pro/TABLE main menu. Then

type the name of the desired file.

9. Click File > Save after typing your data. The bend table is created and writes to

the current directory.

To Set a Bend Table





5. Click Set. The CONFIRMATION menu appears.

6. Click Confirm. The BTAB TYPE menu appears.

7. Select the type of bend table to apply:

o From Part—Select a From Part bend table from the BTAB TYPE menu. If

a new From Part bend table was not created during the session the default

From Part bend table is TABLE 1. The TBL NAMES menu appears, listing

all bend tables associated with the part.

o From File—Either select one of the standard bend tables (TABLE 1,

TABLE 2, TABLE 3) from the DATA FILES menu or click Names, to

browse to a custom bend table.

8. Select the bend table to set. The bend table is applied to the part.


18

To Reset a Bend Table





5. Click Reset. The CONFIRMATION menu appears.

6. Click Confirm. The bend table is suspended and the Y-factor is assigned.

To Write a Bend Table





5. Click Write. The TBL NAMES menu appears.

6. Select the bend table to write to your part's current directory. A prompt indicates

your file is stored.

Note: You can set your directory with the pro_sheet_met_dir configuration option.

To Show a Bend Table





5. Click Show. The BTAB TYPE menu appears.

6. Select the type of bend table to display:



The TBL NAMES menu appears, listing all the bend tables associated with

the part.

7. Select the bend table to show. The bend table opens.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

19

To Delete a Bend Table





5. Click Delete. The TBL NAMES menu appears, listing all bend tables associated

with the part.

6. Select the bend table to delete. The bend table is removed from the part but still

exists in your directory.

Note: You can suspend using a previously set bend table by setting the Y- or K-

factor.

Example: Sheet Metal Bend Table

Bend tables must use the following layout and data structure to accurately create

your sheet metal design. Comment lines can appear anywhere in a bend table. Each

comment line must start with an exclamation point (!). You must enter FORMULA, END FORMULA, CONVERSION, END CONVERSION, START MATERIALS, END MATERIALS, and

TABLE exactly as shown:


20

1. Formulas—Calculate the developed length of the sheet metal, if the exact value

is missing from the table data section. You can also write conversion formulas to

manipulate the table data to meet your design needs. Your formulas can contain

logic statements to adjust bend allowance values.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

21

2. Material Data—List the materials the bend table is intended for. The materials

listed use the bend table. You receive a warning if your part's material type does

not appear in this list.

Your materials must be listed between START MATERIALS and END MATERIALS.

Enter the material in the first column, uppercase, and one per line.

3. Table Data—List the radii values across the top, sheet metal thickness down the

left side, with the corresponding bend allowance/developed length in the actual

table. The data is pulled directly from these columns. If you only want the

formulae used, enter data that will never be encountered in your design (Radius

= 1000, Thickness = 1000).

4. Interpolated Data—You do not have to insert bend allowance data in every cell

of the table. Any value not found within the table data is interpolated (estimate

values that lie between known values).

Bend Order

About Bend Order Tables

Bend order tables document the dimensioning and order for bend features in your

design. Bend order tables are constructed by fully unbending your part and recording

the bend back process.

The standard bend order table contains the bend sequence number, the number of

bends, the bend number ID, as well as the bend direction, angle, radius and length.

In order to create or work with bend order tables you need your sheet metal part to

be in a bent condition. You cannot create or edit a bend order table on a completely

unbent part.

Unbent Sequence

One

Sequence

Two

Sequence

Three

Original

With the bend order table commands you can:

• Create a new bend order table or edit an existing table using the Show/Edit

command.

• Display the bend order table and write it to a .bot file using the Info command.

• Delete the existing bend order table using the Clear command.

You can display bend order tables in sheet metal drawings to better illustrate the

bending process for manufacturing.

Note: When you store a bend order table, the file name is <partname>.bot.


22

To Create a Bend Order Table

With the part in a bent condition:



3. Click Bend Order. The BEND ORDER menu appears.

4. Click Show/Edit. The SELECT menu appears.

5. Select a plane or edge to remain fixed while the part completely unbends. Your

part flattens and the SHOW/EDIT menu appears.

6. Click Add Bend.

7. Select the bends for the bend sequence. The sequence can have any number of

bends in any order.

8. Click Next. The selected bends highlight.

9. Select a plane or edge to remain fixed while the highlighted bends bend back.

10. Repeat steps 6 through 8 until your part is completely bent back.

11. Click Done Sel. The SHOW/EDIT menu appears.

12. Click Done. The bend order table is created.

To Edit a Bend Order Table


1. Click Edit > Set Up. The PART SETUP menu appears.



4. Click Show/Edit. The SELECT menu appears.

5. Select a plane or edge to remain fixed while your part completely unbends. Your

part flattens and the bend geometry in bend sequences highlights.

6. Click the desired SHOW/EDIT menu option:

o Next—Proceeds to the next sequence.

o Skip—Skips a specified number of sequences. You enter the number.

o Add Bend—Adds a bend or bends to the sequence. If you select a bend

that is currently being used in a later sequence, you can move it to the

current sequence. You cannot select a bend that has already been bent

back in a previous sequence.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

23

o Delete Bend—Removes a bend from the current sequence. Use this if you

plan to add the bend to a later sequence.

o Insert—Inserts a bend sequence after the previous bend sequence.

7. Select the bend to edit.

8. Click Done. The SELECT menu appears.

9. Click Done Sel. The bend order table changes are saved.

To Get Bend Order Table Info





4. Click Info. The bend order table for the part opens in an INFORMATION

WINDOW.

To Clear a Bend Order Table





4. Click Clear. To discard the bend order table, you are prompted to click YES at the

prompt. The existing bend order table is deleted from the part.

Example: Bend Order Table

Sheet metal bend order tables use the following layout and data structure:

• Bend Seq—Display the bend sequence number and orders the bends for

creation.

• #Bends—Display the number of bends taking place in a bend sequence.

• Bend#—Display the original bend order creation number.


24

• Bend Direction—The bend direction tells which way to make the bend:

IN—Convex bend on the driving side. For example, a bend less than 180° on the

driving side (acute or obtuse).

OUT—Concave bend on the driving side. For example, a bend greater then 180°

on the driving side (oblique).

• Bend Angle—Display the angle of the bend.

• Bend Radius—Display the radius of the bend.

• Bend Length—Display the length of the bend.

Fixed Geometry

About Fixed Geometry

Fixed geometry sets a default surface, edge or plane to remain fixed whenever you

unbend or bend back your sheet metal part. The fixed geometry setting helps ensure

consistency in your fixed geometry selection.

To unbend or bend back your sheet metal part you need to define a surface, edge or

plane to remain fixed. Whether or not you use the fixed geometry setting, a good

practice is to specify the same fixed geometry element for every unbend and bend

back feature.

When working with fixed geometry you can:

• Set a surface to remain fixed with the Select command.

• Highlight the current fixed geometry selection with the Show command.

• Delete the current fixed geometry selection with the Clear command.

After you set a fixed geometry element it is automatically selected during feature

creation. You are prompted with the following message: Default fixed geometry highlighted. Use the "Fixed Geom" to select new.

To Select Fixed Geometry

With your sheet metal part open:



3. Click Fixed Geom. The FIXED GEOM menu appears.

4. Click Select. The SELECT menu appears.

5. Select the surface, edge, or plane to set as the default fixed geometry.

6. Click Done/Return. The fixed geometry is selected.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

25

To Clear Fixed Geometry





4. Click Clear. The CONFIRMATION menu appears and the fixed geometry

highlights in red.

5. Click Confirm. The fixed geometry is cleared.

To Show Fixed Geometry


1. Click PART > Set Up. The PART SETUP menu appears.



4. Click Show. The fixed geometry highlights in red.

Design Rules

About Design Rules

Design rules are guidelines for your design. Examples include minimal slot widths

and depths based on the materials and manufacturing process for your part. Design

rules can be ignored during the design process, if desired.

You enter specific design standards into a rule table and assign the table to your

part. You can develop as many tables as you need. And you can edit the table data

at any time. The standard rule table contains the following default sheet metal

design rules:

• MIN_DIST_BTWN_CUTS—Checks the distance between two cuts or punches.

(Default: 5T)


26

1 2T or 3T or Greater

2 Stock Thickness (T)

• MIN_CUT_TO BOUND—Checks the distance between a part edge and a cut or

punch. (Default: 2T)

• MIN_CUT_TO_BEND—Checks the distance between a bend-line and a cut or punch.

(Default:2.5*T+R)

Where,

H = Distance between the lowest edge and the hole


R = Bend radius

Min H = 1.5*T+R

• MIN_WALL_HEIGHT—Checks the minimum bend height of formed walls. (Default:

1.5*T+R)

• MIN_SLOT_TAB_WIDTH—Checks the minimum width of the slot. (Default: T)

• MIN_SLOT_TAB_HEIGHT—Checks the minimum length of the slot.

For example, both MIN_SLOT_TAB_WIDTH and MIN_SLOT_TAB_HEIGHT are shown

in the following figure:

1 Slot Height

2 Slot Width (T)

Pro/SHEETMETAL

27

• MIN_LASER_DIM—Checks the minimum distance between contours that have to be

laser cut. (Default: 1.5*T).

The design rules above are standard rules. You cannot add new rules or change the

names of the existing rules. However, you can customize your design rules by

setting up Pro/ENGINEER relations.

After you define and assign a design rules table you can test your part design against

the assigned design rules table with the Design Check command. The design check

displays design rule violations along with the rule name, formula, and dimensional

values to help determine why your criteria was not met. Use your industry

judgement for acceptable and unacceptable design rule violations.

Note:

• You can only check design rules for planar surfaces.

• In order to save the part size, Pro/ENGINEER does not store comments of the

rule table.

Design Rules Menu

Design rules are general standards for your design. The design rules are entered and

stored in a rule table. You can:

• Define—Define a set of design rules in a rule table.

• Delete—Delete the design rules for your part.

• Edit—Edit an existing set of design rules.

• Show—Display the design rules assigned to your part.

• Write—Save the rule table to a directory. ( file extension .rul)

• Assign—Assign a set of design rules to your part.

• Unassign—Deactivate the design rules table from your part. (It will not be

applied to the part anymore.)

To Define the Design Rules



3. Click Design Rules. The RULE MGMT menu appears.

4. Click Define.

5. Type a name for the rule table and click . A Pro/Table window opens a rule

table template listing the default sheet metal rules.

6. Edit the rule table as necessary.

7. Click File > Save after entering your data. The design rules are defined.


28

To Assign the Design Rules




4. Click Assign. The USE RULE menu appears.

5. Define the type of rule table to assign:

o From Part—Assigns a rule table defined during the part's session. Select a

rule table from the TBL NAMES menu listing all rule tables associated with

the part.

o From File—Assigns a rule table stored in your directory. Select a rule table

from the DATA FILES menu or click Names to navigate to the appropriate

rule table using the Open dialog box.

The RULE MGMT menu appears.

6. Click Done/Return. The rule table is assigned.

To Show the Design Rules




4. Click Show. The TBL NAMES menu appears, listing all rule tables associated

with the part.

5. Select the rule table to display. The rule table opens.

To Write the Design Rules




4. Click Write. The TBL NAMES menu appears, listing all rule tables associated

with the part.

5. Select the rule table to write to your directory.

6. Type a name for the rule table and click . The rule table writes to your

directory. It has the file extension .rul.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

29

To Edit the Design Rules




4. Click Edit. The TBL NAMES menu appears, listing all rule tables associated with

the part.

5. Select the rule table to edit. The rule table opens.

6. Edit the rule table as needed.

7. Click File > Save after entering your data. The design rules are redefined.

To Delete the Design Rules




4. Click Delete. The TBL NAMES menu appears, listing all rule tables associated

with the part.

5. Select the rule table to delete. The rule table is deleted.

To Unassign the Design Rules




4. Click Unassign. The rule table is unassigned.


30

Example: Design Rule Table

The sheet metal design rule table uses the following layout and data structure. You

can customize the rule data to guide your design process, however you can not add

new design rules or modify the naming conventions of the existing rules:

The standard rule table contains the following default sheet metal design rules:

• MIN_DIST_BTWN_CUTS—Check the distance between two cuts or punches.

(Default: 5T)

• MIN_CUT_TO BOUND—Check the distance between a part edge and a cut or punch.

(Default: 2T)

• MIN_CUT_TO_BEND—Check the distance between a bend-line and a cut or punch.

(Default:2.5*T+R)

• MIN_WALL_HEIGHT—Check the minimum bend height of formed walls. (Default:

1.5*T+R)

• MIN_SLOT_TAB_WIDTH—Check the minimum width of tabs. (Default: T)

• MIN_SLOT_TAB_HEIGHT—Check the minimum length of tabs. (Default: 0.7)

• MIN_LASER_DIM—Check the minimum distance between features to be laser cut.

(Default: 1.5*T)

Pro/SHEETMETAL

31

Defaults and Parameters

About Sheet Metal Defaults and Parameters

Sheet metal defaults and parameters automate routine tasks to help streamline your

part design. You can predefine some common feature geometry to ensure design

consistency and to save time by reducing menu selections.

With the defaults and parameters commands you can:

• Set new sheet metal defaults and parameters to a part or design or you can use

the Retrieve command to apply existing defaults and parameters.

• Modify existing sheet metal parameters using the Edit command.

• Save and writes the sheet metal parameter file (.smd) to your directory using the

Save command.

At first glance you may not notice a difference between a default and a parameter,

however the two elements function uniquely:

• Parameter—Hold a numeric value which can be specified in relations and

formulas.

• Default—Reduce the number of menu selections.

You can set your defaults and parameters when you first open the part, as the part is

in-progress, or by importing an independent .smd parameter file. Remember,

defaults and parameters are saved with your parts but you can change their values

in-session.

List of Sheet Metal Defaults

The following options are solely sheet metal defaults. Meaning, their data is only

used to reduce the number of menu selections:

Default Description

SMT-MATERIAL Define the sheet metal material

properties.

SMT_K_FACTOR Define the K-factor used to measure

developed length.

SMT_Y_FACTOR Define the Y-factor used to measure

developed length.

SMT_PART_BEND_ALLOW_DFLTS Define the Part Bend Table to features.

If Yes, the [menu] is skipped and the

Part Bend Table is applied to features.

SMT_DFLT_RADIUS_SIDE Define the default radius side. Auto

eliminates the RADIUS SIDE menu.


32

Default Description

SMT_DFLT_ATTRIBUTES Define what side to create an extruded

sheet metal feature. You can set the

default to create the feature on One

Side or Both sides of the sketch line.

SMT_DFLT_CRNR_REL_TYPE Define the default corner relief type. If

set to Manual, you are prompted for

corner relief type during feature

creation. You are also prompted for

appropriate corner relief dimensions.

If set to Auto, the corner relief step is

skipped and the matching default depth

and width value is accepted

automatically. Empty rows in the table

are automatically filled.

SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_TYPE Define the default type of bend relief. If

set to Manual, you are prompted for

bend relief type during feature creation.

You are also prompted for appropriate

bend relief dimensions.

If set to Auto, this step is skipped and

the default value for depth and width

are accepted automatically from

SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_DEPTH, SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_WIDTH, SMT_DFLT_BEND_ANGLE.

SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_DEPTH Define the depth of obround or

rectangular relief. (Example: Tan to

bend.)

SMT_DFLT_DEPTH_OPTION Define the default depth option for SMT

class-cut. (Example: Blind)

SMT_SHARPS_TO_BEND Automatically convert any sharp edges

to bends when sketching and creating

an extruded wall.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

33

List of Sheet Metal Defaults and Parameters

The following options simultaneously act as sheet metal defaults and parameters.

Meaning, they hold numeric values to include in relations - and - they reduce the

number of menu selections:

Default/Parameter Description

SMT_DFLT_BEND_RADIUS Define the default bend radius.

SMT_DFLT_BEND_ANGLE Define the default bend angle.

SMT_DFLT_CRNR_REL_WIDTH Define the width of corner relief.

SMT_DFLT_CRNR_REL_DEPTH Define the depth of obround relief.

SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_WIDTH Define the width of bend relief.

(Example: Thickness or 34.)

SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_ANGLE Define the default bend relief angle.

(Example: 47.) Note: This parameter

is only relevant for stretch relief.

To Assign and Retrieve a Sheet Metal Defaults and Parameters File



3. Click Parameters. The Sheetmetal Parameters dialog box opens, displaying

the parameters currently assigned to the part.

o To retrieve and assign an existing defaults and parameters file, click .

The Load Configure File dialog box opens.

Navigate to the appropriate .smd file. Click OK. The parameters are

retrieved and assigned.

o To assign a new set of defaults and parameters, edit the table as

necessary.

4. Click OK. The Sheetmetal Parameters dialog box closes.

To Edit Sheet Metal Defaults and Parameters



3. Click Parameters. The Sheetmetal Parameters dialog box opens.


34

4. Select the cell to edit. The data highlights and a drop-down menu opens.

5. Select the new default value.

o You can select from the drop-down menu or enter specific Value data for

the SMT_MATERIAL, SMT_K_FACTOR, SMT_Y_FACTOR, SMT_DFLT_BEND_RADIUS, SMT_DFLT_BEND_ANGLE, SMT_DFLT_CRNR_REL_WIDTH, SMT_DFLT_CRNR_REL_DEPTH, SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_DEPTH, SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_WIDTH, and

SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_ANGLE parameters.

displays in the Status column if you change the Value column data.

o You can click to define all the Attribute parameters as Auto.

o You can click to reset the entire Sheetmetal Parameters table to

the original defaults.

o You can click to reset an entire row to the original defaults.

o You can click to reset an entire column to the original defaults.

o You can delete a parameter from a Value column cell that originally did not

have data entered. Highlight the cell and press Delete.

6. Click OK to save the parameters with the part - or - to save the parameters

to a directory file.

To Save Sheet Metal Defaults and Parameters



3. Click Parameters. The Sheetmetal Parameters dialog box opens.

4. Save the sheet metal parameters as needed:

• With the Part—You can only access them when that part is open.

o Click OK. The parameters are saved and the Sheetmetal Parameters

dialog box closes.

• In your directory—You can access them for any other part.

o Click . The Save As dialog box opens.

o Enter a file name and Click OK. The parameters are saved.

o Click OK. The Sheetmetal Parameters dialog box closes.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

35

Example: Sheet Metal Defaults and Parameters Table

The sheet metal defaults and parameters table uses the following layout and data

structure. The elements that function as both defaults and parameters are marked

with red boxes. Any unmarked elements function solely as defaults.

The sheet metal defaults and parameters table contains five columns and each

column has default information already set. If the column contains a dash (-) it is not

available.

• Name—List the default or parameter name. Because the name is a symbolic

string, parameter names can be used in relation formulas. Note: You cannot edit

the default or parameter names.

• Value—Set a value to automatically highlight in the Menu Manger. (Example:

Outside Radius)

• Attribute—Set how the default or parameter value will be accepted on the Menu

Manager.

o Manual—Requires you to accept the default setting as you work through the

Menu Manager. (Example: Outside Radius highlights on RADIUS SIDE

menu. You must click Done/Return to accept.)


36

o Auto—Automatically accepts the default setting and brings you to the next

section of the Menu Manager. (Example: Set SMT_DFLT_RADIUS_SIDE to

Auto to skip the RADIUS SIDE menu.)

o Add Relation—Create a relation between the defined dimension and the

parameter, when the attribute is set to Auto. For example, if the

SMT_DFLT_BEND_ANGLE parameter is set to Auto and Add Relation is Yes, a

relation will be added between the bend angle in your design and the parameter.

o Status—If you modify the Value column data displays.

Pro/Sheet Metal Design Configuration Options

About Configuring Pro/Sheet Metal Design

Pro/SHEETMETAL configuration options enable you to customize your sheet metal

design environment. For example, you might specify constants for neutral bend lines,

enable corner relief notes and punch axis points, set directory locations, or define

certain material behavior in your sheet metal design.

Your sheet metal configuration options, like all Pro/ENGINEER configuration options:

• Are set from the Options dialog box (Tools > Options).

• Are stored in a config.pro file.

• Use the default value unless you manually set the configuration option.

You can set and save multiple combinations of configuration options ( config.pro

file), with each file containing settings unique to certain design projects.

Pro/SHEETMETAL Help lists the configuration options unique to sheet metal designs.

The options are arranged in alphabetical order. Each topic contains the following

information:

• Configuration option name.

• Brief description and notes describing the configuration option.

• Default and available variables or values. All default values are followed by an

asterisk (*).

To Set Sheet Metal Configuration Options

1. Click Tools > Options. The Options dialog box opens.

2. Click the Show only options loaded from file check box to see currently

loaded configuration options or clear this check box to see all configuration

options. The configuration options display.

3. Select the configuration option from the list or type the configuration option

name in the Option box.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

37

4. In the Value box type or select a value.

Note: The default value is followed by an asterisk (*).

5. Click Add/Change. The configuration option and its value appear in the list. A

green status icon confirms the change.

6. When you finish configuring Pro/SHEETMETAL, click Apply. The configuration

options are set.

Note: We recommend that you set your configuration options before starting a new

sheet metal session.

feat_place_follow_unbend

no, yes

no—The feature placement does not follow the unbend feature.

yes—The feature placement follows the unbend feature.

initial_bend_y_factor

0.500000

The y-factor value is set to 0.500000.

Specify a constant used to determine the neutral bend line for a sheet metal part.

This value is always used for non-regular bends. It is only used for regular bends

when a bend table is not specified.

merge_smt_srfs_without_seam

yes, no

yes—Remove the edge between merged same-surface sheet metal surfaces.

no—Create an edge between merged same-surface sheet metal surfaces.

Specify whether to create or remove an edge when merging same-surface sheet

metal surfaces.

pro_sheet_met_dir

<full directory path>

Set the default directory for your user-defined bend tables. If not set the supplied

Pro/SHEETMETAL bend tables are used.

You must type the <full directory path> in Value box.

For example, c:\program files\ptc\sheet metal projects


38

pro_smt_params_dir

<full directory path>

Specify the directory to save/retrieve sheet metal parameters files. Type the full path

name to avoid problems.

You must type the <full directory path> in Value box. For example, c:\program files\ptc\sheet metal projects

punch_axis_points

no, yes

no—Disable the creation of punch axis points in sheet metal cuts and punches.

yes—Enable the creation of punch axis points in sheet metal cuts and punches.

Controls the creation of punch axis points in sheet metal cuts and punches.

smt_bend_notes_dflt_display

yes, no

yes—Bend notes display.

no—Bend notes do not display.

Defines the default state of bend note display.

smt_bend_notes_direction_down

default

default—Uses to indicate downward bends.

You can customize your bend line note symbol by modifying the symbol source files.

Define the symbol used to indicate a downward bend in sheet metal mode.

Note: To return to the default bend line note symbols type default in the Value box.

smt_bend_notes_direction_up

default

default—Uses to indicate upward bends.


Define the symbol used to indicate an upward bend in sheet metal mode.


Pro/SHEETMETAL

39

smt_bend_notes_order

&type&direction&angle

&type&direction&angle—Display the bend type first, the bend direction second,

and the bend angle last. Define the order of bend note symbols and values within

your bend notes.

smt_bend_notes_type_formed

default

default—Uses to indicate formed bends.


Define the symbol used to indicate a formed bend in sheet metal mode.


smt_bend_notes_type_rolled

default

default—Uses to indicate rolled bends.


Define the symbol used to indicate a rolled bend in sheet metal mode.


smt_crn_rel_display

yes, no

yes—Corner relief notes will display.

no—Corner relief notes will not display.

Controls the display of corner relief notes.

smt_mp_method

cg, mass, both

cg—Mass Properties calculation is performed on current state of sheet metal part.

mass—Suppressed flat pattern and flat forms are temporary resumed before mass

properties calculation of sheet metal part.

both—Both mass and cg methods are calculated.

Determines whether or not to include suppressed flat patterns and flat forms in your

design's mass properties calculation.


40

smt_outside_mold_lines

yes, no

yes—Outside mold lines are created during the flat pattern creation.

no—Outside mold lines are not created during the flat pattern creation.

Determines which mold lines to create during the flat pattern creation.

system_sheetmetal_color

0.000000 0.000000 0.000000

0.000000 0.000000 0.000000— Red=0.00, Green=0.00, Blue=0.00

Specifies the default color in which sheet metal parts are displayed. The three

decimal values specify (in order) a percentage of red, green and blue in the resulting

color. For example, 0 0 49 specifies a medium blue.

template_sheetmetalpart

inlbs_part_sheetmetal.prt, empty, <filename>

inlbs_part_sheetmetal.prt—Use the inlbs_part_sheetmetal.prt file as the default

template.

empty—Do not use a template.

<filename>—Use a specific file as your template.

Specifies the filename of the default sheetmetal part model template. After you set

this option, it takes effect immediately in the current session of Pro/ENGINEER.

Designing in Pro/SHEETMETAL

About Designing in Sheet Metal

Your sheet metal design can involve both solid and sheet metal application features.

Be sure to keep your design intent and feature creation order in mind throughout the

entire design process.

You can utilize the following sheet metal features:

• Notch and Punch—Create templates used to cut and relieve sheet metal walls.

• Wall—Create the sheet metal material that is the base of your design.

• Bend, Unbend, Bend Back—Enable you to interchange between bent and

unbent conditions.

• Flat Pattern—Flatten your entire sheet metal part for manufacturing.

• Form, Flatten Form—Enable you complexly shape the sheet metal and flatten it

for manufacture.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

41

• Rip—Create rips to relieve and control the sheet metal.

• Cut—Remove material from the sheet metal wall.

• Deform Area—Control sheet metal stretching.

• Conversion—Convert a solid part into a sheet metal part, capable of

manufacture.

• Edge Bend—Bend box-edges into rounds.

• Corner Relief—Relieve corners to prevent unwanted deformation.

You can also:

• Utilize solid features, including patterns, copy, mirror, chamfers, holes, rounds,

and solid cuts.

• Support multiple manufacturing requirements by creating inheritance features.

Possible Sheet Metal Design Approach

Consider the following design approach when creating your sheet metal design:

1. Create the basic sheet metal parts in sheet metal mode. Since many of the

components will be held in place with screws or bent tabs, you might want to

leave the creation of these features for later when the components are

assembled.

2. Assemble all the major internal components relative to each other. Include

simple supporting structures, or sheet metal parts that are not completely

defined at this time, to place the components. Less important components can

also wait.


42

Components and Sheet Metal

Platform, Before Assembly

3. Create or modify the sheet metal parts using the internal components as

references, if required. Those references aid you in adding any support walls,

form features for stiffening panels, and notches or punches for fastening the

components.

4. After the cabinet and supporting structures are defined add any remaining sheet

metal or assembly features.

Components and Sheet Metal Enclosure, After Assembly

5. Create and/or select a bend table to provide material allowances when unbending

the part. You could also do this before the first step in the design.

6. In sheet metal mode, create a bend order table to define the bending sequences

for each part.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

43

7. Add a Flat State instance. This creates your flat pattern for drawing and

manufacturing. The bend table data ensures that the flat pattern’s geometry is

accurate.

8. Creating drawings to document your parts. You can include both the generic (as

designed) part and the Flat State instance (multi-model drawing). Show the

dimensions each model. Then add the bend order table as a note.

Conversion

About Converting to Sheet Metal Parts

Converting solid parts to sheet metal parts enables you to modify your existing solid

design with sheet metal industry features. The conversion can serve as a shortcut in

your design process because you can reuse existing solid designs to reach your sheet

metal design intent and you can include multiple features within a single conversion

feature. After you convert a part to sheet metal, it acts as any other sheet metal

part.

A complete conversion may require two steps:

• Basic conversion—Make a basic conversion of the solid part that allows you to

work in the sheet metal mode.

• Sheet Metal Conversion Feature—If the converted part is not manufacturable

(able to be unbent), create a sheet metal conversion feature to add alterations

like rips, bends, and corner relief.

The basic conversion defines how you want to use the existing solid part in your

sheet metal design. You can either shell out the part, by selecting walls to remove,

or you can assign a driving surface, which is the surface that carries the part’s

geometry (driving side). Block-like parts typically use the shell option to convert to

sheet metal while thin protrusions with constant thickness typically use the driving

surface option. All of the solid part’s geometry is referenced to create the FIRST WALL in the sheet metal part.

Solid Part Basic Conversion Conversion

Feature

Unbent Part


44

After you convert the solid part it may still be undevelopable in sheet metal. Creating

a conversion feature using some of the following features enables you to make the

sheet metal part manufacturable:

• Point Relief—Places datum points on edges selected or created asynchronously.

The datum points act as point relief. They can:

o Define a point break that divides an existing edge into two separate edges

that can be partially ripped and partially bent.

o Define the end of a rip connection.

o Define point relief at vertices of bends and rips.

• Edge Rips—Makes a rip along the edge, which enables you to unbend your sheet

metal part. Corner edges can be open, blind, or overlapping.

• Rip Connects—Connects rips with planar, straight-line rips. The rip connects are

sketched with point-to-point connections, which require you to define rip

endpoints. The rip endpoints can be datum points or vertices and must either be

at the end of a rip or on the part border. The rip connects cannot be collinear

with existing edges.

• Bends—Converts sharp edges to bends. By default, the inner radius of the bend

is set to the thickness of the sheet metal. When you specify an edge as a rip, all

non-tangential intersecting edges convert to bends when you click OK or

Preview in the dialog box.

• Corner Reliefs—Places relief in selected corners.

Converting Back to Solid Parts

Converting your sheet metal part back to a solid part enables you to modify the solid

part and make any design changes. Be sure to consider the effects your alterations

will have in the sheet metal environment, especially with respect to unbending.

You can alter the solid part in the following ways:

• Insert Features—Alters your solid part design without having to convert from

sheet metal to a solid part and back again. You can insert new features before

the sheet metal conversion feature in your design by clicking Feature > Insert

Mode on the PART menu in the Menu Manager. Doing this enables the menu

commands and features for solid parts.

If inserting features does not meet your design needs, you can convert a sheet

metal part back to a solid part in the following ways:

• Suppress the Conversion Features—Suppresses the sheet metal conversion

feature (the Smt Conversion feature appears in the Model Tree) and modifies the

solid part. By suppressing this feature (click Edit > Suppress) you can work on

the original part and resume the suppressed conversion features when needed.

• Delete the Conversion Features—Deletes the first sheet metal feature (FIRST WALL) in the model tree by clicking Edit > Delete. Remember, when you delete

this feature, every feature after it will also delete.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

45

To Convert to Sheet Metal

1. Open the existing solid part in Standard mode.

2. Click Applications > Sheetmetal. The SMT CONVERT menu appears in the

Menu Manager.

3. Define how to convert the solid part to sheet metal:

• Driving Srf—Select the wall to carry the part’s geometry (driving side of the

part).

o Click Driving Srf.

o Select the desired driving surface on the part. You are prompted for the

wall thickness.

o Type the wall thickness and click . The FIRST WALL feature is created

and the part opens in sheet metal mode.

• Shell—Select wall(s) to remove to create a shell part.

o Click Shell. The FEATURE REFS menu appears.

o Select one or more surfaces to remove and then click Done Refs. You are

prompted for the wall thickness.

o Type the wall thickness and click . The FIRST WALL feature is created

and the part opens in sheet metal mode.

If your part needs to be adjusted for manufacture, continue with step 4.

4. Click on the sheet metal toolbar or click Insert > Conversion. The SMT

CONVERSION dialog box opens.

5. Highlight a conversion element (described below) and click Define. The

appropriate menu appears in the Menu Manager.

Repeat Step 5 for any of the conversion elements below:

• Point Reliefs:

o Click Add to create a new point relief.

o Select an existing datum point or an edge to place the new datum point on.

o Place the datum point by using:

Offset—Set the point a specified distance from a plane.

Length Ratio—Set the point location as a decimal fraction of the edge

length (range 0.0 through 1.0).

Actual Len—Enter a value for the actual distance along the edge.

o Click Done Sel > Done after defining all point reliefs. You return to the

SMT CONVERSION dialog box.


46

• Edge Rip:

• Click Add to create an edge rip.

• Select the desired edges to rip using the RIP PIECES menu. If you created

point reliefs, select the edge pieces to rip.

o Click Done Sets. You return to the SMT CONVERSION dialog box.

You can customize the corner type for each edge rip at any time:

o Click Redefine from the RIP PIECES menu. The PIECE SEL menu

appears.

o Select the edge piece to redefine. The RIP PIECES dialog box opens.

o Highlight Corner Type and click Define. The CORNER DEF menu appears.

o Select the desired corner type (Open, Blind, or Overlap) and then click

Done.

o Click Ok in RIP PIECES dialog box.

• Rip Connect:

o Click Add to create a new rip piece connection.

o Select the first endpoint for the rip piece. A series of dashed lines radiates

from the rip's first endpoint to possible second endpoints.

o Select the second endpoint of the rip piece from the possible endpoints

identified by a dashed line. The extraneous dashed lines clear and the new

connecting rip line displays.

o Click OK on the RIP CONNECT dialog box.

o Click Done Sets on the RIP CONNECT menu. You return to the SMT

CONVERSION dialog box.

• Bends:

o Click Add to create a new bend.

o Select the edges to bend.

o Click Done Sel > Done Sets after selecting all edges to bend. You return

to the SMT CONVERSION dialog box.

• Corner Reliefs:

o Click Add to create new corner relief.

o Select the 3D note for each corner needing similar relief. Click Done Sel.

o Select the type of corner relief:

No Relief—No relief is added. The corner retains the rip characteristic.

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47

None—Generate a square corner. The default V-notch characteristic is

removed.

Circular—Add a circular relief. The corner has a circular section removed.

Obround—Add an obround relief. The corner has an obround section

removed.

o Define the relief dimensions:

Thickness—Use a default radius that is equal to the thickness of the sheet

metal wall.

Thickness * 2—Use a default radius that is twice the thickness of the

sheet metal wall.

Enter Value—Use the absolute value that you type in the Enter

dimension value box.

o Click Done Sets after applying all corner relief. You return to the SMT

CONVERSION dialog box.

6. Click OK on the SMT CONVERSION dialog box. The conversion feature is

created.

Working with Rip Connects

Rip connects join existing rips with planar, straight-line rips. The rip connects are

sketched with point-to-point connections, which require you to define rip endpoints.

The rip endpoints can be datum points or vertices and must either be at the end of a

rip or on the part border. The rip connects cannot be collinear with existing edges.

Selecting the First Rip

Endpoint

Connecting the Rips

1 Two existing edge rips.

2 The first endpoint defined

for the rip connect.

3 The series of possible

second endpoints, based on

the first rip connect

endpoint.

4 The two existing edge

rips.

5 The completed rip

connect.


48

Example: Sheet Metal Conversion

The following examples depict the two types of sheet metal conversions; driving

surface and shell. Block-like parts typically use the shell option to convert to sheet

metal while thin protrusions with constant thickness typically use the driving surface

option.

Original Solid Part Driving Surface Conversion

Original solid part maintains a

constant thickness.

1 Driving surface of FIRST WALL

sheet metal feature.

Original Solid Part Shell Conversion

Original box-like solid part. 2 Sheet metal surface to remove

before creating the FIRST WALL

sheet metal feature.

Wall

About Walls

A wall is any section of sheet metal material in your design. There are two main

types of walls in Pro/SHEETMETAL:

• Primary walls—Are independent and do not need another wall to exist. Primary

walls can be Unattached, Flat, Extruded, Revolve, Blend, Offset, Variable

Section Sweep, Swept Blend, Helical Sweep, From Boundaries, Blend

Section To Surfaces, Blend Between Surfaces, Blend from File, Blend

Tangent to Surfaces.

• Secondary walls—Are dependent on at least one primary wall. They are

children to primary walls. Secondary walls include all the primary walls, as well as

Flat, Flange, Extend , Twist, and Merge.

If you are designing a part from scratch a primary wall must be your first feature. All

feature options are unavailable until after you create the primary wall. You can then

add any applicable sheet metal and solid-class features to your design.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

49

When you create secondary walls you have the option of making the wall attached or

unattached. Except for extend walls, secondary walls can either be attached to a

whole edge, or to a portion of the edge (which is a partial wall). An attached

secondary wall can use an:

Automatically generated wall

with a bend angle

Wall without a bend

The unattached wall option enables you to create walls separate from the primary

wall. You could potentially create the side walls before knowing what the middle

section should look like. However, keep in mind that secondary walls are dependent

on the primary wall. If you delete the primary wall the secondary wall will also

delete.

Note: While the unattached wall option resembles an Assembly, it is not. Eventually

you must connect or merge the walls.

Unattached

Sheet metal walls have a constant thickness. The wall's thickness is formed by

offsetting the sheet metal part's offset surface from its driving surface. The side

surfaces form after the part is fully regenerated.

Many sheet metal walls require some kind of relief. Without relief some unwanted

ripping or stretching may occur. Automatic relief is available for walls.

About Wall Relief

Wall relief helps control the sheet metal material and prevents unwanted

deformation.

For example, an unrelieved secondary wall might not represent the accurate, real life

model you need due to material stretching. By adding the appropriate relief, like

StrtchRelief, your sheet metal wall will meet your design intent and enable you to

create an accurate flat model.


50

You can create five types of wall relief:

• No Relief—Attach the wall using no relief.

• StrtchRelief—Stretch the material for bend relief at wall attachment points.

• Rip Relief—Rip the existing material at each attachment point.

• RectRelief—Add a rectangular relief at each attachment point.

• ObrndRelief—Add an obround relief at each attachment point.

No Relief StrtchRelief Rip Relief RectRelief ObrndRelief

Types of Walls

The following is a quick-reference to guide you in selecting the wall type that most

accurately meets your design intent.

The following type of walls are used in actual designs:

• Flat—You can attach a flat wall to a twisted wall, revolve wall, or a planar

surface. The attachment edge must be straight or defined by the driving or offset

surface. If you want a new wall in the same plane as adjacent wall, insert a flat

wall without a bend. You can also insert a flat wall with a bend at a sharp edge

using flat.

• Extruded—You can attach an extruded wall to any edge that is straight and

defined by the driving or offset surface. You can insert an extruded wall with or

without a bend.

• Swept—You can attach a swept wall to any surface, includes straight or nonlinear

edges of the driving or offset surface. Select the edges in any order. You can

define a chain by selecting an edge, which includes all the edges tangent to the

edge. You can also select a predefined collection of edges in the mode or select

an opposite chain that is offset with thickness or a chain that cannot be

transformed by a bend or unbend operation.

Flat

About Flat Walls

A flat wall is a planar/even/unbent section of sheet metal. It can either be a primary

wall, the first wall in your design, or a secondary wall, dependent on the primary

wall. Flat walls can take any flat shape.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

51

If the flat wall is a primary wall you only have the unattached option available. Using

the unattached flat wall tool, you can create a primary unattached flat wall.

Unattached walls require closed loop sketches.

If the flat wall is a secondary wall, you must sketch the wall as an open loop aligned

with the highlighted vertices of the attachment edge. The surface adjacent to the

attach edge must be planar. You can create an attached flat wall using Insert >

Sheetmetal Wall > Flat.

The following is an example of an attached flat wall use radius:

Existing Wall Flat Wall Sketch

(open loop)

Completed Flat Wall

1. Attachment edge

Note: You can also create a flat wall with angle but without a bend, or without an

angle and bend.

To Create a Flat Wall Without a Bend With Flat Angle Specified

1. Click or Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Flat to open the SMT dashboard.

2. Select a valid attachment edge for the wall. A valid edge is an edge that is

straight or defined by the driving or offset surface.

The selected edge is displayed in the Placement collector on the SMT

dashboard. A rectangular section (wall) is created by default.

Note: Options available on the dashboard are also available through the shortcut

menus when you right-click on the handle or the flat wall.

3. From the list on the dashboard,

a. Select one of the predefined wall profiles such as, Rectangle, Trapezoid,

L, T, or User Defined.

b. Select Flat in the bend angle box.

4. Click Shape to change the dimensions of the section, if required.

a. Click Sketch to define a sketch with user-defined values or change the

geometry of the pre-defined section. The Sketch dialog box opens.

b. Flip the sketch view direction, change the reference, or view orientation and

click Sketch.

c. Click on the sketcher toolbar to complete defining the sketch.


52

5. Click Properties on the SMT dashboard.

a. Accept the default feature name or rename it as required.

b. Click to view the information of the feature element data in the

embedded browser.

The default thickness is displayed.

6. Click to apply and save the changes made to the feature.

To Create a Flat Wall Without a Bend With Bend Angle Specified











b. Specify the required bend angle in the bend angle box or select the default

bend angle and click . The bend thickness and dimension values

become unavailable.



geometry of the pre-defined section. The Sketch dialog box opens.


click Sketch.


5. Click Offset on the SMT dashboard.

6. Click Offset wall with respect to attachment edge and select one of the

following:

o Automatic—Offsets the wall and maintains the original height of the

attachment wall.

o By Value—Offsets the wall at a specific distance. You can also drag the

graphic handle to adjust the offset value.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

53




embedded browser.

The default thickness is displayed.


To Create a Flat Wall With a Bend











b. Specify the required bend angle or drag the graphic handle to set the wall

angle.



geometry of the predefined section. The Sketch dialog box opens.


click Sketch.




following:


attachment wall.




54

7. Click to change the thickness of the flat wall to the opposite side of the

sketch plane.

Note: The default bend thickness and dimension values are applied to the bend

at the attachment edge. Bend Allowance on the dashboard is available by

default.

8. Click Bend Allowance on the dashboard.

a. To determine the bend deformation calculation source, click Developed

Length calculation and specify one of the following:

o By K Factor—Computes the developed length using the K-factor. K-factor

is the distance ratio between the inside radius of the bend, the neutral

material layer, and the sheet metal thickness.

o By Y Factor—Computes the developed length using the Y-factor. Y-factor

is the ratio based on the neutral bend line with respect to the thickness of

the material.

o By Bend Table—Controls calculations for the length of flat material

(developed length) needed to make a bend.

b. Click By Bend Table to select one of the three system bend tables or

Browse to select a user-defined bend table.

9. Type the required bend radius value or select a predefined radius value:

Thickness, Thickness * 2, or By Parameter from the list on the dashboard.

You can also change the bend radius using the handle on the flat wall.

10. Click to dimension the outer surface of the part or to dimension the

inner surface of the part.

11. Click Relief and define one of the following types of bend relief to use. Rip relief

is the default.

a. Click Define each side separately to specify the wall relief type for each

side of the wall, where, Side 1 indicates the start point of the attachment

edge and Side 2 indicates the endpoint of the attachment edge.

b. Specify the type of bend relief to apply.

o No Relief-Maintains the existing material shape and does not control the

bend behavior

o Rip-Rips the existing material

o Stretch-Stretches the existing material

o Rectangular-Adds a rectangular relief

o Obround-Adds an obround relief

Note: You can also define a bend relief for each side of the section

separately.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

55

c. Define the relief's width:

o Thickness—Uses a default radius that is equal to the thickness of the sheet

metal wall.

o Thickness * 2—Uses a default radius that is twice the thickness of the

sheet metal wall.

o By Parameter—Uses the default bend relief type specified in the

Sheetmetal Parameters dialog box.

o Enter Value—Uses the absolute value that you type in the Enter


d. Specify a relief depth for the Rectangular and Obround type of relief's or

drag the graphic handle to adjust the relief depth.

12. Click Properties.



embedded browser.


To Create an Unattached Flat Wall

1. Click or Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Flat. The SETUP

PLANE menu appears.

2. Select the reference plane and click Flip or Okay in the DIRECTION menu. The

SKET VIEW menu appears.

3. Select the default view orientation or select a new view reference to sketch the

wall. You must sketch a closed loop.


5. Type the wall's thickness value and click .

Note: If a sheet metal wall already exists in the design, the unattached flat wall

automatically adopts its thickness.

6. Click OK on the Unattached Wall: Flat dialog box. An unattached wall is

created.


56

Flanged Walls

About Flange Walls

You can perform the following operations with the flange wall functionality:

• Redefine extruded walls to swept walls and vice versa, if required

• Use predefined internal profiles (predefined profiles also include the hem profiles)

• Specify the material direction for the attached wall

• Specify a bend for an extrude or sweep

• Modify developed length for swept walls

• Redefine extruded walls

• Modify the predefined internal profiles

• Specify the view reference and orientation before activating the sketch

• Obtain the developed length information for swept walls

• Add bends on sharp edges for extruded and swept walls

• Sketch nontangent sections for swept walls

• Define a wall trimming by using the offset dimension or maintain the attachment

wall height

Pro/ENGINEER cannot create extruded walls in the following conditions:

• The Placement collector contains a non-linear attachment edge

• The Placement collector contains more than one edge

Note: By default, a flange wall is a swept wall unless you switch to extrude wall.

Types of Predefined Flange Wall Profiles

A flange wall is a folded sheet metal edge. You can place flanges on straight, arched,

or swept edges.

You can attach different predefined wall profiles to the attachment edge or create

user-defined wall profiles. Typically, following are the three types of flange wall

profiles:

• Most frequently used—I, Arc, and S

• Hem—Open, Flushed, Duck, C, and Z

• User-defined

Pro/SHEETMETAL

57

In the following table, the Hem profile is highlighted in yellow.

Open Flushed Duck C Z

In the following table, the most frequently used profiles are highlighted in yellow.

I Arc S

You can modify attributes for each flange before and after placing the flange.

However, you cannot change the material thickness direction for the Open, Flushed,

Duck, C, and Z type of flanges. By default, bend radius and material thickness

direction are applied only to the profile that is not tangent to the attachment wall at

the sketch plane view. For a Flushed type of flange, you can create only a rip type of

relief. Whereas, stretch relief is not applicable for a Duck type of flange.

For an I, Arc, and S type of flange, you can change the bend radius and material

thickness to other side of the section.

Flange walls increase the wall height of your design. If your flange design requires a

specific wall height, you can set the flange walls to maintain the overall length of the

wall using Offset wall with respect to attachment edge.


58

Standard wall profile Wall profile with an offset wall

height

Depending on where you position the flange, you may need to add bend relief. The

bend relief will help control the sheet metal material and prevents unwanted

deformation. You can automatically set the relief attributes (type, width, depth, and

angle) by defining bend relief defaults and parameters. If the defaults and

parameters are not applicable, they are ignored.

You can either simultaneously or individually define the bend relief sides. If you

define the sides individually, you can assign different relief types to each side.

Wall with an Obround and Rectangular Relief

Swept

About Swept Walls

A swept wall follows the trajectory formed by the attachment edge. When you sketch

a cross-section along the attachment edge, the wall sweeps along that edge. The

attachment edge may not be linear and the adjacent surface may not be planar.

Note: Using Sheetmetal Wall > Flange, you can extrude with or without a bend

and sweep with or without a bend.

You can create a swept wall by specifying a trajectory, material side, profile, bend,

relief, and offset.

To create an attached extruded wall, specify an attachment edge, material side,

profile, wall length, bend, and relief.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

59

Swept Wall Geometry

1 Attachment surface

2 Trajectory edge

(Attachment edge)

3 Cross-section sketch

You can create two types of swept walls:

No Radius (looking from above) Use Radius (looking from below)

For Swept Walls No Radius:

If the line of intersection between

the sketching plane and the

attachment surface is not a straight

line, the swept wall must be

attached tangentially to the

adjacent surface at the attachment

edge.

The angle between the attachment

edge and surface cannot exceed

180 degrees. If you need a larger

angle, use the opposite side of the

sheet metal (an offset surface

instead of the driving surface, or

vice versa).

For Swept Walls Use Radius:

The line of intersection between the

sketching plane and the attachment

surface must be a straight line.

The system creates a fillet of the

specified radius along the

attachment edge. That fillet takes

material away from the adjacent

surface. To prevent this, click

to make the bend radius

unavailable and sketch the desired

radius with an arc.

If you specify the radius to be "r," a

fillet of radius r forms along the

trajectory edge, between the

attachment surface and the swept

wall.


60

You can use swept walls to manually create hem walls and flanges.

• You cannot add a bend on a swept wall if the sketch is attached to the

attachment edge with a tangent constraint.

• For a flushed hem, edge is not a valid trajectory for flanges.

• For all sweeps, if a flange is swept along a nonlinear trajectory, you cannot

further use its edges as a sweep trajectory.

• You can attach walls to some straight edges of a swept wall or hem, but, you

cannot select the edges that are deformed while unbending or bending.

To Create a Swept Wall Without a Bend

1. Select a valid attachment edge for the swept wall. A valid edge must be one of

the following,

o One by One—Selects individual edges, one at a time. Includes straight or

nonlinear edges of the driving or offset surface. Select the edges in any

order.

o Tangnt Chain—Defines a chain by selecting an edge, which includes all the

edges tangent to the edge.

o Intent Chain—Selects a predefined collection of edges in the model.

o Surface Loop—Constructs a chain that uses all the edges of the surface that

define the selected edge. You must hold down SHIFT and right-click several

times to select an edge.

You can select an opposite chain that is offset with thickness or a chain that

cannot be transformed by a bend or unbend operation.


menus when you right-click on the handle or the swept wall.

2. Click or Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Flange to open the SMT dashboard.


dashboard. A swept wall is created by default.

3. From the list on the dashboard, select one of the predefined wall profiles such as,

I, Arc, S, Open, Flushed, Duck, C, Z, or User Defined, where, Open,

Flushed, Duck, C, Z are predefined hem profiles.

Note: When creating a swept wall, you can specify both bend radius and bend

allowance for the I, Arc, and S profile types. You can specify bend allowance only

for the hem features.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

61

4. Click Profile on the SMT dashboard to,

o Change the dimensions of the section, if required.

o Click Sketch and select End of wall to specify the sketch plane reference,

and define a sketch with user-defined values, if required.

o Flip the profile, if required.

o Click Add Bends On Sharp Edges only if the section has non-tangent

entities.

5. Click Length and select one of the following directions to specify the wall length:

o or Chain End—Creates a swept wall till the ends of the attachment

wall.

o or Blind—Trims or extends the swept wall in either direction from the

chain end by a specific value.

o or To Selected—Trims or extends the swept wall in either direction to

the selected point, curve, plane, surface, axis, or edge.



following:


attachment wall.



Note: Relief is available only after you specify the offset.

8. Click . The bend thickness and dimension values become unavailable. These

values are available by default. You can specify a bend allowance only if

(bend radius) is switched on. However, for all the hem profiles and user-defined

profiles with nonlinear segments, you can change the bend allowance.

9. Click to change the thickness of the flange wall to the other side of the

sketch plane.




embedded browser.


62


To Create a Swept Wall With a Bend

1. Select a valid attachment edge for the swept wall. A valid edge must be one of

the following,

o One by One—Select individual edges, one at a time. Includes straight or

non-linear edges of the driving or offset surface. You can select the edges

in any order.

o Tangnt Chain—Define a chain by selecting an edge, which includes all the

edges tangent to the edge.

o Intent Chain—Select a predefined collection of edges in the model.

o Surface Loop—Constructs a chain that uses all the edges of the surface that

define the selected edge. You must hold down SHIFT and right-click several

times to select an edge.

You can select an opposite chain that is offset with thickness or a chain that

cannot be transformed by a bend or unbend operation.


menus when you right-click on the handle or the swept wall.




3. From the list on the dashboard, select one of the predefined wall profiles such as,

I, Arc, S, or User Defined.


o Change the dimensions of the section, if required.

o Click Sketch and select End of wall to specify the sketch plane reference,

and define a sketch with user-defined values, if required.

o Flip the profile, if required.

o Click Add Bends On Sharp Edges if the section has non-tangent entities.

5. Click Length and select one of the following directions to specify the wall length:

o or Chain End—Creates a swept wall till the ends of the attachment

wall.

o or Blind—Trims or extends the swept wall in either direction from the

chain end by a specific value.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

63

o or To Selected—Trims or extends the swept wall in either direction to

the selected point, curve, plane, surface, axis, or edge.



following:


attachment wall.



8. Click to change the thickness of the flange wall to the other side of the

sketch plane.


at the attachment edge. Bend Allowance on the dashboard is available by

default.

9. Click Bend Allowance on the dashboard.

a. Under Developed Length calculation, click A Feature Specific Set Up

to determine the bend deformation calculation source for a specific feature,

and select one of the following:

o By K Factor—Computes the developed length using the K-factor. K-factor

is the distance ratio between the inside radius of the bend, the neutral

material layer, and the sheet metal thickness.

o By Y Factor—Computes the developed length using the Y-factor. Y-factor

is the ratio based on the neutral bend line with respect to the thickness of

the material.

b. Under Developed Length for Arcs, click Use Bend Table and select one

of the three system bend tables or click Browse to select a user-defined

bend table.

10. Type the required bend radius value or select a pre-defined radius value:


You can also change the bend radius using the handle on the swept wall.



12. Click Relief and define one of the following types of bend relief. By default, Rip

relief is selected.


side of the wall, where, Side 1 indicates the start point of the wall

trajectory and Side 2 indicates the endpoint of the wall trajectory.


64

b. Indicate the type of bend relief to apply.

o No Relief—Maintains the existing material shape and does not control the

bend behavior

o Rip—Rips the existing material

o Stretch—Stretches the existing material

o Rectangular—Adds a rectangular relief

o Obround—Adds an obround relief

c. Define the relief's width for the Stretch, Rectangular, Obround type of

reliefs:


metal wall.


sheet metal wall.





d. Specify a relief depth for the Rectangular and Obround type of relief's or

drag the graphic handle to adjust the relief depth.




embedded browser.


Extruded

About Extruded Walls

An extruded wall extends from an edge into space. You can sketch the side section of

the wall and project it out a certain length. It is a primary wall, the first wall in your

design, or a secondary wall, dependent on the primary wall.

You can create three types of secondary extruded walls: unattached, no radius, and

use radius. If the extruded wall is a primary wall, you can only create an unattached

flat wall.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

65

When you are designing a secondary extruded wall, make sure to select a sketching

plane normal to the attachment edge. If the extruded wall must be tangent to an

adjacent surface, make sure the entity at the attachment point is tangent. The

adjacent surface must be planar or must be a twist wall. In all cases, the attachment

edge must be a straight line.

The following is an example of an attached extruded wall use radius:

Existing Wall Extruded Wall Sketch Completed Extruded

Wall

1. Attachment edge

To Create an Extruded Wall Without a Bend

1. Select an attachment edge for the wall. A valid edge is an edge that is straight

and defined by the driving or offset surface.





menus when you right-click on the handle or the extruded wall.

3. Select a wall profile from the list on the dashboard.


a. Change the dimensions of the section, if required.

b. Click Sketch and select Through Reference to specify the sketch plane

reference, and define a sketch with user-defined values, if required.

Note: Through Reference is not available if the attachment edge is

nonlinear.

c. Flip the profile, if required.

d. Click Add Bends On Sharp Edges if the section has nontangent segments.

5. Click Length and select one of the following directions to extrude the wall for

each side of the sketch plane:

o or None—Does not extrude the wall.


66

o or Chain End—Creates an extruded wall till the ends of the attachment

wall.

o or Blind—Extrudes a section from the sketching plane by the specified

depth value.

o or To Selected—Extrudes a section to a selected point, curve, plane,

surface, axis, or edge.

o or Symetric—Extrudes a section on both sides of the sketch plane by

half the specified length value in each direction.



following:


attachment wall.



Note: Relief is available only after you specify the offset.


sketch plane.

9. Click to make bend radius unavailable. By default, bend radius is available.

Note: Bend radius is unavailable if you select a hem profile or sketch a segment

tangent to the attachment edge. But is available if the profile has at least one

nonlinear segment.




embedded browser.


To Create an Extruded Wall With a Bend

1. Select an attachment edge for the wall. A valid edge is an edge that is straight

and defined by the driving or offset surface.


Pro/SHEETMETAL

67


dashboard. An extruded wall is created by default.


menus when you right-click on the handle or the extruded wall.

3. Select a wall profile from the list on the dashboard.


a. Change the dimensions of the section, if required.

b. Click Sketch and select Through Reference to specify the sketch plane

reference, and define a sketch with user-defined values, if required.

Note: Through Reference is not available if the attachment edge is

nonlinear.

c. Flip the profile, if required.

d. Click Add Bends On Sharp Edges if the section has more than one

tangent entity.

5. Click Length and select one of the following directions to extrude the wall for

each side of the sketch plane:

o or None—Does not extrude the wall.

o or Chain End—Creates an extruded wall till the ends of the attachment

wall.

o or Blind—Extrudes a section from the sketching plane by the specified

depth value.

o or To Selected—Extrudes a section to a selected point, curve, plane,

surface, axis, or edge.

o or Symetric—Extrudes a section on both sides of the sketch plane by

half the specified length value in each direction.



following:


attachment wall.




sketch plane.


68


at the attachment edge. Bend Allowance and Relief on the dashboard is

available by default.

9. Click Bend Allowance. on the dashboard.

a. Under Developed Length calculation, click A Feature Specific Set Up

to determine the bend deformation calculation source for a specific feature,

and select one of the following:

o By K Factor—Computes the distance ratio between the inside radius of the

bend, the neutral material layer, and the sheet metal thickness.

o By Y Factor—Computes the ratio based on the neutral bend line with

respect to the thickness of the material.

b. Under Developed Length for Arcs, click Use Bend Table and select one

of the three system bend tables or Browse to select a user-defined bend

table.

10. Type the required bend radius value or select a pre-defined radius value:


You can also change the bend radius using the handle on the extruded wall.



12. Click Relief and define one of the following types of bend relief to use. By

default, Rip relief is selected.


side of the wall, where, Side 1 indicates the start point of the wall

trajectory and Side 2 indicates the endpoint of the wall trajectory.

b. Indicate the type of bend relief to apply.

o No Relief—Maintains the existing material shape and does not control the

bend behavior

o Rip—Rips the existing material

o Stretch—Stretches the existing material

o Rectangular—Adds a rectangular relief

o Obround—Adds an obround relief

c. Define the relief's width for the Stretch, Rectangular, Obround type of

reliefs:


metal wall.


sheet metal wall.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

69








embedded browser.


To Create an Unattached Extruded Wall

1. Click or click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Extrude. The

Unattached Wall: Extrude dialog box opens and the ATTRIBUTES menu

appears.

2. Define the Attributes from where the wall should thicken and click Done.

o One Side—Specifies the wall thickness on one side of the sketching plane.

o Both Sides—Specifies the wall thickness on both sides of the sketching

plane. Define “from” and “to” sides separately.

3. Reference and sketch the wall.

Note: You can use Sketch > Feature Tools > Thicken to change the direction

of material thickness for sections with an open loop and specify the thickness.

4. When the sketch is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar. The DIRECTION

menu appears.

5. Select the direction to thicken the wall: Okay or Flip to change the direction.

6. Type the wall thickness value and click . The SPEC TO menu appears.

7. Specify how far the wall should extrude and click Done:

o Blind—Extrudes the wall to an exact depth on one side of the sketching

plane.

o UpTo Pnt/Vtx—Extrudes a section to intersect with a selected point or

vertex.

o UpTo Curve—Extrudes a section to intersect with a selected curve.

o UpTo Surface—Extrudes a section to intersect with a selected surface.


70

8. If you want to convert the sharp edges to bends, highlight Sharps ToBend in

the Unattached wall dialog box and click Define.

If the extrude wall is not the first wall in your design and you want to switch the

driving and offset surfaces of the wall, highlight Swap Side in the Unattached

wall dialog box. Click Define.

9. Click OK on the Unattached wall dialog box. The wall is created.

Revolve

About Revolve Walls

A revolve wall rotates about an axis. You sketch the side section of the wall and

revolve it about a sketched centerline. A revolve wall can be a primary or secondary

wall.

The revolution of the wall can either be entered as an exact variable or selected from

standard values:

• Variable—Enter an exact number, in degrees, to revolve the wall.

• 90—Revolve the wall 90°




• Up to Pnt/Vtx—Revolve the wall up to a specified point or vertex

• Up to Plane—Revolve the wall up to a specified datum plane

Sketch Variable

(60°)

270° Up to Plane

Pro/SHEETMETAL

71

To Create a Revolve Wall

1. Click or Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Revolve. The

Unattached Wall: Revolve dialog box opens and the ATTRIBUTES menu

appears.

2. Define the attributes (where the wall should thicken from) and click Done.

o One Side—Specify the wall thickness to one side of the sketching plane.

o Both Sides—Specify the wall thickness to both sides of the sketching

plane. You must define the from and to sides separately.

3. Reference and sketch the wall. Your sketch must include a center line.




5. Select the direction to thicken the wall: Okay or Flip - to change the direction.

6. Type the thickness value for the wall and click . The REV TO menu appears.

7. Define the wall’s revolution angle. Either select a default value from the menu or

click Variable, and type the exact value in degrees.

8. Click OK on Unattached Wall: Revolve dialog box. The wall is created.

Blend

About Blend Walls

A blend wall connects at least two sections by combining the characteristics of each

section. You sketch the multiple boundaries of the wall sections and then connect

them using one of the three types of blends available:

• Parallel: All blend sections lie on parallel planes in one sketch.

• Rotational: Blend sections are rotated a maximum of 120 degrees about the Y-

axis. You sketch each section individually and align them using coordinate

systems.

• General: Blend sections are rotated about and translated along the X-, Y-, Z-

axes. You sketch each section individually and align them using coordinate

systems.


72

The following examples shows the sketch and resulting parallel blend wall:

Sketch (Toggled and Second

Sections)

Parallel Blend Wall

To Create a Parallel Blend With a Regular Section

1. Click or Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Blend. The BLEND

OPTS menu appears.

2. Click Parallel to define the blend type.

3. Click Regular Sec to define the sketch type and then Done. Sketch Sec is

selected by default.

The Unattached Wall: Blend, Parallel, Regular Sections dialog box and the

ATTRIBUTES menu appears.

4. Define the blend attributes, Smooth or Straight, to connect the sections with

smooth curves or straight lines, respectively.

5. Click Done. the SETUP SK PLN and SETUP PLANE menus appear.

6. Select or create a sketching plane, or use the sketching plane of the last feature

with the 3D section. The DIRECTION menu appears.

7. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to select the direction of viewing the

sketching plane. The SKET VIEW menu appears.

8. Select or create a horizontal or vertical reference for sketching.

9. Select a perpendicular surface, an edge, or vertex relative to which the section is

dimensioned and constrained.

10. Sketch the first section of the blend wall. Change the sketch for the next section:

Sketch > Feature Tools > Toggle Section.

11. Sketch the next section. When the sketch is complete, click on the sketcher

toolbar.

12. Specify whether to add or remove material (material side). The DIRECTION

menu appears.

13. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to define the direction of feature

creation

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14. Type the depth or depths for the additional sections and click .

15. Click OK on the Unattached Wall: Blend, Parallel, Regular Sections dialog

box. The wall is created.

Note: When creating the first wall, after sketching the section, specify material

thickness and click OK to complete the feature creation.

To Create a Parallel Blend With a Projected Section


OPTS menu appears.

2. Click Parallel to define the blend type.

3. Click Project Sec to define the sketch type and then Done. Sketch Sec is

selected by default.

The Unattached Wall: Blend, Parallel, Projected Sections dialog box and the

SETUP SK PLN and SETUP PLANE menus appear.



5. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to select the direction of viewing the





8. Sketch the first section of the blend wall. Change the sketch for the next section:

Sketch > Feature Tools > Toggle Section.

9. Sketch the next section. When the sketch is complete, click on the sketcher

toolbar.

10. Specify whether to add or remove material (material side). The DIRECTION

menu appears.

11. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to define the direction of feature

creation.

12. Type the depth or depths for the additional sections and click .

13. Click OK in the Unattached Wall: Blend, Parallel, Projected Sections dialog

box to create a parallel blend.




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To Create a General Blend

1. Click or Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Blend. The

Unattached Wall: Blend, General, Sketched Sections dialog box opens and

the BLEND OPTS menu appears.

2. Click General to define the blend type. Regular Sec is selected by default.

3. Click Select Sec to select the section entities or Sketch Sec to define the sketch

to use, and then Done.

• If you select Select Sec, the Unattached Wall: Blend, General, Selected

Sections dialog box and the ATTRIBUTES menu appears.

a. Define the blend attributes (Straight or Smooth) and then click Done.

The CRV SKETCHER and PICK CURVE menus appear.

b. Use the CRV SKETCHER to select one of the following:

o Pick Curve—Select 3D curves or edges to create section entities and select

a loop or chain of entities using the PICK CURVE menu.

o Blend Vertex—Create a placeholder entity for blend section.

o Start Point—Modify section start point.

o Sec Info—Get information about section entities and dimensions using the

DELETION menu.

o Delete—Delete or undelete section entities and dimensions using the

DELETION menu.

o Undo—Undo a sketcher command.

o Redo—Undo a sketcher command.

c. Click Done/Return. You are prompted to define the next section. Click Yes

to continue or No to abort.

d. When finished, click Done from the CRV SKETCHER menu. The

DIRECTION menu appears.

• If you select Sketch Sec, the Unattached Wall: Blend, General, Sketched


a. Define the blend attributes (Straight or Smooth) and then click Done.

The SETUP SK PLN and SETUP PLANE menus appear.

b. Select or create a sketching plane, or use the sketching plane of the last

feature with 3D section. The DIRECTION menu appears.

c. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to select the direction of feature

creation. The SKET VIEW menu appears.

d. Select or create a horizontal or vertical reference for sketching.

e. Select a perpendicular surface, an edge, or vertex relative to which the

section will be dimensioned and constrained.

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75

f. Sketch the first section of the blend wall. Make sure you include a

coordinate system in the sketch. When the sketch is complete, click on

the sketcher toolbar.

g. Type the appropriate rotating angle for the second blend section. You must

enter values for the x, y, and z-axes.

h. Sketch the next section. Make sure you include a coordinate system in the

sketch. When the sketch is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar.

i. If you want to add more sections to the blend wall, type Yes and repeat

steps 4 to 6 for each additional section. Else, type No. The DIRECTION

menu appears.

4. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to select the direction to thicken the

wall. The material side from where to remove or add material is defined.

5. Optionally, you can swap the driving surface.

6. Click OK to close the dialog box. A general blend wall is created.



To Create a Rotational Blend


OPTS menu appears.

2. Click Rotational to define the blend type. Regular Sec is selected by default.

3. Click Select Sec to select the section entities or Sketch Sec to define the sketch

to use, and then Done.

• If you select Select Sec, the Unattached Wall: Blend, Rotational, Selected


a. Define the blend attributes (Straight or Smooth, and Open or Closed)

and then click Done. The CRV SKETCHER and PICK CURVE menus

appear.

Note: You can create a Open or Closed type of blend if you select the

Select Sec option.

b. Use the CRV SKETCHER to select one of the following:

o Pick Curve—Select 3D curves or edges to create section entities and select

a loop or chain of entities using the PICK CURVE menu.

o Blend Vertex—Create a placeholder entity for blend section.

o Start Point—Modify section start point.

o Sec Info—Get information about section entities and dimensions using the

DELETION menu.


76

o Delete—Delete or undelete section entities and dimensions using the

DELETION menu.

o Undo—Undo a sketcher command.

o Redo—Undo a sketcher command.

c. Click Done/Return. You are prompted to define the next section. Click Yes

to continue or No to abort.

d. When finished, click Done from the CRV SKETCHER menu. The


• If you select Sketch Sec to define the sketch to use, the Unattached Wall:

Blend, Rotational, Sketched Sections dialog box and the ATTRIBUTES menu

appears.

a. Define the blend attributes (Straight or Smooth, and Open or Closed)

and then click Done. The SETUP SK PLN and SETUP PLANE menus

appear.

b. Select or create a sketching plane, or use the sketching plane of the last

feature with 3D section. The DIRECTION menu appears.

c. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to select the direction of viewing

the sketching plane. The SKET VIEW menu appears.

d. Select or create a horizontal or vertical reference for sketching.

e. Select a perpendicular surface, an edge, or vertex relative to which the

section will be dimensioned and constrained.

f. Reference and sketch the first section of the blend wall. When the section

sketch is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar.

g. Type a rotation angle for the section and click . You return to a blank

sketching window.

h. Sketch the next section of the blend wall. Be sure to include a coordinate

system. When the section sketch is complete, click on the sketcher

toolbar.

4. If you want to add more sections to the blend wall, type Yes else, type No. The


5. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to select the direction to thicken the

wall. The material side from where to remove or add material is defined.

6. Optionally, you can swap the driving surface.

7. Click OK to close the dialog box. A rotational blend wall is created.



Pro/SHEETMETAL

77

Offset

About Offset Walls

An offset wall is a reflection, of a quilt or surface, set a specified distance from the

original. You can select an existing surface or sketch a new surface to offset. Unless

you convert a solid part, an offset wall cannot be the first feature created in your

design.

You can create three types of offset walls: Normal to Surf, Controlled Fit, and

Auto Fit.

To Create an Offset Wall

1. Click or click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Offset. The

Unattached Wall: Offset dialog box opens.

2. Select the quilt or surface to offset the wall from.

3. Type the offset distance and click .

4. Select the direction to thicken the wall: Okay or Flip - to change the direction.

5. Define the type of offset wall you need. Highlight Offset Type and click Define.

Select the appropriate type:

o Normal to Surf—Create the offset normal to the quilt or surface.

o Controlled Fit—Create the offset at a controlled distance.

o Auto Fit—Automatically fit the offset from the quilt or surface.

You can further customize the offset wall with the Leave Out, MaterialSide, and

Swap Side options.

6. Click OK in the Unattached Wall: Offset dialog box. The wall is created.

Advanced

About Advanced Walls

Advanced walls create contoured walls. The type of advanced walls available are;

• Section to surface

• Surface to surface

• Tangent to surface

• Variable section sweeps

• Helical sweeps

• Boundary blends


78

• Swept blends

• Blend from file

Advanced walls are contours that are difficult to unbend and are not used frequently

used.

To Create an Advanced Wall

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached.

2. Select one of the following types of advanced walls:

o Variable Section Sweep—Creates a swept feature by sweeping a section

along the selected trajectories and by controlling the section’s orientation,

rotation, and geometry along the trajectory.

o Swept Blend—Creates a swept blend using the origin trajectory and a

chain of datum curves or edges.

o Helical Sweep—Creates a helical sweep by sweeping a section along a

helical trajectory.

o From Boundaries—Creates a boundary blend from the surface boundaries.

o Blend Section to Surfaces—Creates an advanced wall as a blend from a

surface to the tangent surfaces.

o Blend Between Surfaces—Creates a smooth surface or a solid transition

between two surfaces.

o Blend From File—Imports a blend from file.

o Blend Tangent to Surfaces—Creates a blend tangent to the surface.

To Create a Section-to-Surface Blend

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Blend Section to Surfaces.

The Unattached Wall: Section to Surfaces Blend dialog box opens and the

SELECT menu appears.

2. Select surfaces to define a tangent boundary.

3. Click OK. The surfaces must be tangent to each other. The SETUP SK PLN,

SAME/NEW, and SETUP PLANE menu appears.


with 3D section for the section boundary. The DIRECTION menu appears.

5. Click Okay to accept the default direction for feature creation, or Flip to reverse

the direction. The SKET VIEW menu appears.




Pro/SHEETMETAL

79

8. Sketch the section boundary. The section must be closed.

9. When the section sketch is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar. The


10. Define the MaterialSide to specify the direction from which to add or remove

material.

11. Accept the default direction or reverse the direction for feature creation.

12. Optionally, swap the driving surface, if required.

13. Click OK to close the Unattached Wall: Section to Surfaces Blend dialog

box.

Note: When creating the first wall, after sketching the section, specify the material


To Create a Surface-to-Surface Blend

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Blend Between Surfaces.

The Unattached Wall: Surface to Surface Blend dialog box opens and the

SELECT menu appears.

2. Select the datum surface to which the blend is tangent at the first end.

3. Select the second surface.

4. Define the MaterialSide to specify the direction from where to add or remove

material.

5. Accept the default direction or reverse the direction for feature creation. The

direction of thickening is defined.

6. At the prompt, type the material thickness.

7. Click OK to close the Unattached Wall: Surface to Surface Blend dialog box.

To Import a Blend

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Blend From File. The

Unattached Wall: Blend from File dialog box opens, and the GET COORD S

and SEL COORD S menus appear.

The coordinate systems used in the model are displayed in the SEL COORD S

menu.

2. Select or create a coordinate system from the SEL COORD S menu to locate the

imported blend data. The Open dialog box opens.

3. Specify the file name. The file extension must be .ibl. The DIRECTION menu

appears.


material.


80

5. Accept the default direction or reverse the direction for feature creation. The

direction of thickening is defined.


7. Click OK to close the Unattached Wall: Blend from File dialog box.

To Create a Tangent-to-Surface Blend

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Blend Tangent to

Surfaces. The Unattached Wall: Tangent Surface dialog box opens, and the

GEN SEL DIR and SELECT menu appears. The Results tab is selected by

default.

2. Specify the pull direction: One Sided or Two Sided.

3. Select a plane to which the direction will be perpendicular to. The DIRECTION

menu appears.

4. To select the direction for feature creation, click Okay to accept the default

direction or Flip to reverse the direction.

5. Click the References tab. The CHAIN and SELECT menu appears.

a. Under Draft Line, select a line or curve.

b. Under References, select a surface tangent to the draft line.

6. Click the Options tab.

a. Optionally, under Closing Surfaces, select a surface that will be a closing

surface.

b. Optionally, under Spine Curves, select a curve.

c. Under Cap Angle, specify the required cap angle value.

7. Optionally, click the Curves tab to include or exclude curves from the tangent

draft geometry creation.


Variable Section Sweep

About Variable Section Sweeps

A variable section sweep enables you to create a feature by sweeping a section along

the selected trajectories by controlling the section’s orientation, rotation, and

geometry along the trajectory.

A variable section sweep allows you to create a swept feature by controlling the

following characteristics:

NrmToOriginTraj—The section plane remains normal to the origin of trajectory

throughout its length. You can specify the section orientation and rotation. For this

method, you must select the origin of the trajectory and the X-Trajectory.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

81

The X-Trajectory defines the section’s horizontal vector. The origin of the section

(crosshairs) is always located on the Origin Trajectory with the X-axis pointing

towards the X-Trajectory.

Pivot Direction—The section plane remains normal to the Origin Trajectory as it is

viewed along the Pivot Direction. The upward direction of the section remains parallel

to the Pivot Direction. The Y-axis of the section is always normal to the selected

direction. The section normal trajectory is determined by projecting the Origin

Trajectory in the Pivot Direction onto a plane normal to the Pivot Direction. For this

method, you must select the Origin Trajectory and define the Pivot Direction.

Norm To Traj—Two trajectories must be selected to determine the location and

orientation of the section. The Origin Trajectory determines the origin of the section

along the length of the feature. The section plane remains normal to the Normal

Trajectory along the length of the feature. For this method, you must select the

Origin Trajectory and the trajectory to which the section will be normal.

You can define multiple additional trajectories to which the vertices of the section

can be aligned. As the section plane is swept along the Origin Trajectory, its

intersections with the longitudinal curves represent the known points for section

alignment and dimensioning.

You can specify whether you want to vary the section as it moves along the sweep

trajectories by defining the Section Type element in the Variable Section Sweep

dialog box. Choose Constant from the SECTION TYPE menu to maintain the same

section, or Variable from the SECTION TYPE menu to adjust the section size as it

sweeps along the trajectory.

Using the Variable Section Sweep Menu

Using the VAR SEC SWP menu, define the trajectory using one of the following:

• Sketch Traj—Sketches the trajectory.

o Select or create a sketching plane or use the sketching plane of the last

feature with a 3D section. The DIRECTION menu appears.

o Select the direction to thicken the wall. Click OK or Flip to change the

direction.

o Select the reference for sketching the plane.

• Select Traj—Allows the selection of a datum curve.

o Select any type of chain, curve or edge to add to the chain, and click Done.

The DEFAULT TAN menu appears.

o Click Accept to accept the default tangent surfaces or Reject to reject the

default and select the individual surfaces.

• Sel Tan Traj—Allows the selection of a datum curve with tangency conditions or

references.

o Select any type of chain, curve or edge to add to the chain, and click Done.

The DEFAULT TAN menu appears.


82

o Click Accept to accept the default tangent surfaces or Reject to reject the

default and select the individual surfaces.

To Create a Variable Section Sweep Using the Normal to Origin Trajectory

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Variable Section Swept

Blend. The BLEND OPTS menu appears.

2. Click NrmToOriginTraj to create a cross-section normal to the origin of the

trajectory.

3. Click Done. The Unattached Wall: Variable Section Sweep, Norm to Origin

Traj dialog box opens and the VAR SEC SWP menu appears.

4. Select one of the following trajectory options to specify a trajectory that defines

the section origin and click Done.

o Sketch Traj—Sketches the trajectory using the sketch plane and

orientation.

o Select Traj—Selects a datum curve using the CHAIN menu.

o Sel Tan Traj—Selects a datum curve with tangency conditions or

references using the CHAIN menu.

5. Accept the default tangent surfaces or select individual surfaces.

6. Specify a trajectory that defines a section horizontal to the vector using the VAR

SEC SWP menu.

7. Specify optional trajectories using the VAR SEC SWP menu and click Done.

8. Define a section.



9. When the section sketch is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar.


11. Click OK in the Unattached Wall: Variable Section Sweep, Norm to Origin

Traj dialog box to generate the swept blend feature.


thickness and click OK to complete feature creation. You can also use Sketch >

Feature Tools > Thicken to change the direction of the material thickness for

sections with an open loop.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

83

To Create a Variable Section Sweep Using the Specified Direction

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Variable Section Sweep.

The SWEEP OPTS menu appears.

2. Click Pivot Dir to create a section normal to the origin of the trajectory when

viewed from any direction.

3. Click Done. The Unattached Wall: Variable Section Sweep, Pivot Direction

dialog box opens and the GEN SEL DIR menu appears.

4. Define the sweep direction using one of the following:

o Plane—Selects a normal reference plane as direction

o Crv/Edg/Axis—Selects a curve, edge, or axis

o Csys—Selects a coordinate system and then selects x-, y-, z-axis of the

coordinate system as the direction.

The DIRECTION menu appears.

5. Click Okay to accept the default direction or Flip to reverse the direction. The

VAR SEC SWP menu appears.

6. Select the following trajectory options to specify a trajectory that defines the

section origin and click Done.


orientation.



references using the CHAIN menu.

7. Accept the default tangent surfaces or select individual surfaces.

8. Specify optional trajectories in the VAR SEC SWP menu.







material. Accept the default direction or reverse the direction for feature creation.


13. Click OK in the Unattached Wall: Variable Section Sweep, Pivot Direction

dialog box to generate the swept blend feature.


84


thickness and click OK to complete feature creation.

To Create a Variable Section Sweep Using the Normal to the Specified Trajectory

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Variable Section Sweep.

The SWEEP OPTS menu appears.

2. Click Norm To Traj to create a cross-section normal to the specified trajectory.

3. Click Done. The Unattached Wall: Variable Section Sweep, Normal to Traj

dialog box opens and the VAR SEC SWP menu appears.

4. Select the following trajectory options to specify a trajectory that defines the



orientation.



references.

The SEC ORIENT menu appears.

5. Select one of the following to specify section orientation and click Done.

o Norm to Surf—Allows you to select a surface that determines the section’s

upward direction, then select or sketch the trajectory that defines the

section plane normal. Choose Flip an Okay to select the upward direction.

Norm to Surf is available only if the Origin Trajectory belongs to a surface.

o Use Norm Traj—Allows you to select a trajectory that defines the section

plane normal.

The SWEEP TRAJ menu appears.

6. Select or create a trajectory that defines a section plane normal using the CHAIN

menu. When finished, click Done.

7. Optionally, specify additional trajectories using the VAR SEC SWP menu and

click Done.







material.

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85

11. Accept the default direction or reverse the direction for feature creation.


13. Click OK in the Unattached Wall: Variable Section Sweep, Normal to Traj

dialog box to generate the swept blend feature.


thickness and click OK to complete feature creation.

From Boundaries

About Boundary Blends

With the Boundary Blend tool, you can create a boundary blended feature between

reference entities that defines the surface in one or two directions. The first and last

entities selected in each direction define the surface boundary. Adding more

reference entities, such as control points and boundary conditions, allows you to

more fully define the surface shape.

The following are the rules for selecting reference entities:

• Curves, part edges, datum points, and ends of curves or edges can be used as

reference entities.

• In each direction, reference entities must be selected in consecutive order.

However, reference entities can be reordered.

• For blended surfaces defined in two directions, the outer boundaries must form a

closed loop. This means that the outer boundaries must intersect. If the

boundaries do not terminate at the intersection points, Pro/ENGINEER

automatically trims them and uses the relevant portion.

• Curves selected for blending need not contain the same number of entities.

To Create a Surface with Blended Cross-sections Between Curves

1. Click Insert > Sheemetal Wall > Unattached > From Boundaries. The

BNDRS OPTS menu appears.

2. Click Blended Surf and then Done. The Unattached Wall: Blended dialog box

opens and the CRV OPTS and SELECT ITEM menus appear.

3. Select one of the following from the SELECT ITEM to define the reference

curves:

o Curve—Selects an entire datum curve chain.

o Point/Vertex—Selects a datum point, curve or edge point.

o Chain—Selects a chain of curves or edges using the CHAIN menu.

4. Define or change the advanced geometry options using the advanced surface

control tools.


86

5. Optionally, define or change the boundary conditions. The BOUNDARY menu

lists all the available surface boundaries.

6. Select the boundary for which you want to define boundary conditions and click

Done. The BNDRY COND menu appears.

7. Select one of the following boundary condition:

o Free—No tangency conditions are set along the boundary.

o Tangent—The blended surface is tangent to the reference surface along

the boundary.

o Normal—The blended surface is normal to the reference surface or datum

plane. For conditions other than Free, accept the defaults or select

reference surfaces.

8. Optionally, define or change the connected vertices in both the directions by

specifying the blend control points.

9. Optionally, define or change the boundary influence on the surface shape.

10. Click OK to close the Unattached Wall: Blended dialog box.



To Create a Boundary Blend from More than Four Boundaries



2. Click N-Sided Surf and then Done. The Unattached Wall: N-Sided dialog box

opens and the CHAIN menu appears.

3. Select individual curves or edges as references that form a loop.

Note: You must select at least five boundaries (references) in the consecutive

order for the N-sided surface. Using the One By One option in the CHAIN menu,

select at least five curves or edges forming a loop.

4. When finished, click Done.

Note: The boundaries of the N-sided surface cannot include tangent edges or

curves.


6. Optionally, define or change the boundary conditions. The BOUNDARY menu

lists all the available surface boundaries.

7. Select the boundary for which you want to define boundary conditions.

8. Click Done. The BNDRY COND menu appears.

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9. Select one of the following boundary condition:

o Free—Does not set the tangency conditions along the boundary.

o Tangent—Makes the blended surface tangent to the reference surface

along the boundary.

o Normal—Makes the blended surface normal to the reference surface or

datum plane. For conditions other than Free, accept the defaults or select

reference surfaces.

10. Click OK in the Unattached Wall: N-Sided dialog box to complete feature

creation.



To Create a Boundary Blend With Conic Cross-sections Between Curves



2. Click Conic Surf, Shouldr Crv, or Tangent Crv.

3. Click Done. The Unattached Wall: Conic, Tangent Curve dialog box opens

and the CRV OPTS and SELECT ITEM menus appear. Boundaries is selected

by default.

You can also select one of the following from the CRV OPTS menu:

o Approx Dir—Specifies curves to approximate the surface.

o Tangent Crv—Specifies the tangent curve.

OR

Shouldr Crv—Specifies the shoulder curve.

4. Select two bounding curves for the conic blend.

5. Select one of the following from the SELECT ITEM menu to define the reference

curves and click Done:

o Curve—Allows you to select curves to define the opposite surface

boundaries. You must select an entire datum curve chain.

o Chain—Allows you to select a chain of curves or edges using the CHAIN

menu.

6. Specify the tangent curve or shoulder curve. The SELECT ITEM menu appears.

7. Select curves or edges to define the tangent curve or shoulder curve and click

Done Curves.


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8. At the prompt, type the conic parameter value. Specify a parameter value

between 0.05 and 0.95. Sections of the surface are one of the following types

according to their conic parameter value:

o 0.05 < parameter < 0.5 - ellipse

o parameter = 0.5 - parabola

o 0.5 < parameter < 0.95 - hyperbola


10. Click OK to close the Unattached Wall: Blended dialog box.



Swept Blend

About Swept Blends

A swept blend requires a single trajectory (the Origin Trajectory) and multiple

sections. To define the Origin Trajectory of the swept blend, you can sketch a curve

or select a chain of datum curves or edges.

You must sketch the sections to be blended at the specified segment vertices or

datum points on the Origin Trajectory. To orient a section, you can specify the

rotation angle about the z-axis, or use the Pick XVector or Norm to Surf options,

or both.

The limitations are as follows:

• A section cannot be located at a sharp corner in the Origin Trajectory.

• For a closed trajectory profile, you must sketch sections at the start point and at

least one other location. Pro/ENGINEER uses the first section at the endpoint.

• For an open trajectory profile, you must create sections at the start and end

points. You cannot skip the placement of a section at these points.

• You cannot dimension sections to the model because modifying the trajectory

invalidates these dimensions.

• You cannot select a composite datum curve for defining sections of a swept blend

(Select Sec). Instead, you must select one of the underlying datum curves or

edges from which a composite curve is determined.

• If you choose Pivot Dir and Select Sec, all selected sections must lie in planes

that are parallel to the pivot direction.

• You can control geometry that is swept and blended by using an area graph and

by controlling the perimeter of the feature between the sections.

• An area graph represents the exact area of the cross-section of the swept blend

at selected locations on the Origin Trajectory. You can add or remove points on

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the Origin Trajectory at which to specify the swept blend sectional area. You can

also change the graph value at user-defined points.

The following table lists terminology common to variable section sweeps and swept

blends.

OPTION DEFINITION

NrmToOriginTraj The section plane remains normal to the Origin

Trajectory throughout its length. The generic

sweep also behaves similarly.

Pivot Direction Two trajectories must be selected to determine

the location and orientation of the section. The

Origin Trajectory determines the origin of the

section along the length of the feature. The

section plane remains normal to the Normal

Trajectory along the length of the feature.

Norm To Traj The section plane remains normal to the Origin

Trajectory as it is viewed along the Pivot

Direction. The upward direction of the section

remains parallel to the Pivot Direction.

To Create a Swept Blend Normal to the Origin of Trajectory

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Swept Blend. The BLEND

OPTS menu appears.

2. Click either Select Sec or Sketch Sec to select or sketch section entities.

3. Click NrmToOriginTraj to create a cross-section normal to the origin of the

trajectory and click Done.

• If you select Select Sec, the Unattached Wall: Swept Blend, Norm to Origin

Traj, Selected Sections dialog box opens and the SWEEP TRAJ menu appears.

Select a normal surface to define the orientation for the cross-section using the

SWEEP TRAJ menu.

a. Select one of the following trajectory options to specify a trajectory that

defines the section origin and click Done.

o Sketch Traj—Allows you to sketch a trajectory using the sketching plane

and orientation. The SETUP SK PLN and SETUP PLANE menus appear.

—Select or create a sketching plane, or use the sketching plane of the last

feature with the 3D section for the section boundary. The DIRECTION

menu appears.

—Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to accept the default direction.

The SKET VIEW menu appears.

—Select or create a horizontal or vertical reference for sketching.


90

—Select a perpendicular surface, an edge, or vertex relative to which the

section is dimensioned and constrained.

—Sketch the section boundary. The section must be closed. When the

section sketch is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar. The CRV

SKETCHER and PICK CURVE menus appear.

o Select Traj—Allows you to select a datum curve using the CHAIN menu.

—After selecting the curves, click Done. The CHOOSE menu appears.

—Click Accept to accept the selection or Next to next selection. The CRV


b. Select the appropriate entity and click Done/Return. You are prompted to

continue sketching the next section by clicking Yes or No. The DIRECTION

menu appears.

• If you select Sketch Traj, the Unattached Wall: Swept Blend, Norm to

Origin Traj, Sketched Sections dialog box opens and the SWEEP TRAJ menu

appears.

a. Specify a trajectory that defines section origin using the SWEEP TRAJ

menu and click Done. The SEC ORIENT menu appears.

b. Specify section orientation using one of the following and click Done:

o Pick XVector—Allows you to select an axis, straight edge/curve, or plane

normal to determine the section’s positive x-axis. Use options in the GEN

SEL DIR menu to select a horizontal reference. The system displays a red

arrow, indicating the positive direction for the X-vector. Choose Flip or

Okay to determine the direction for the operation.

Note: The Pick XVector option is available only for the trajectories defined

with the Select Traj option.

o Automatic—The system automatically determines the section’s orientation.

If you select this option for the first section, then the x-axis is determined

by the curvature vector at the beginning of the Origin Trajectory.

When you select Automatic for a section other than the first, the system

determines the X-vector automatically based on the previous section

orientation and the behavior of the Origin Trajectory.

o Norm to Surf—Use the adjacent surface section normal to determine the

section upward direction of the horizontal plane for sweep section. If you

select this option for the first section, then all sections use the same

reference surfaces as the upward direction.

If the Origin Trajectory has only one adjacent surface, then the system

automatically selects this surface, highlighted in blue, as the reference for

the section orientation. A red arrow appears, indicating the upward

direction. Choose Flip or Okay to specify the upward direction.

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If the Origin Trajectory has two adjacent surfaces, the system prompts you

to select a surface for the section orientation. The default surface is

highlighted in blue. You can accept the default surface or select the other

one. A red arrow appears, indicating the upward direction. Choose Flip or

Okay to specify the upward direction.

c. The system highlights endpoints and vertices along the Origin Trajectory.

Use one of the following from the CONFIRM menu to select points at which

you want to specify additional sections.

Accept—Sketches or selects a section at this highlighted location

Next—Goes to the next point

Previous—Returns to the previous point

d. For each vertex or datum point where you define a section, specify the

section's rotation angle about the z-axis (with a value between -120 and

+120 degrees).

4. Select or sketch the entities for each section, depending on whether you choose

Select Sec or Sketch Sec, respectively.

5. Click Done to exit Sketcher. The DIRECTION menu appears.

6. Click Okay to accept the default direction to thicken the wall or Flip to reverse

the direction. The material side from where to remove or add material is defined.

7. When all cross-sections are sketched or selected, unless you want to define

optional elements, select OK in the Unattached Wall: Swept Blend, Norm to

Origin Traj, Selected Sections dialog box to generate the swept blend feature.

8. Optionally, click Blend Control and then Define. This allows you to control

shape with cross sectional area or perimeter. The BLEND CONTROL menu

appears.

9. Select one of the following bend control conditions and click Done/Return:

o Set Perimeter—Varies the cross-sectional perimeter approximately

between sections, linearly.

o Area Graph—Controls the cross-sectional area of the feature.

o Center Crv—Creates a curve passing through the center of the blend

sections.

10. If you select Select Sec, optionally, you can define Tangency if you want the

blend to be tangent to any surface at the first end.

a. At the prompt, press ENTER (Yes) to create a tangent blend. Else, type No.

b. Select a surface for the highlighted entity and click OK. You are prompted

to specify a tangent blend at the other end.



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To Create a Swept Blend Using Direction


OPTS menu appears.

2. To select or sketch section entities, click Select Sec or Sketch Sec.

3. Click Pivot Dir to create a section normal to origin of the trajectory when viewed

from any direction and click Done.

o If you select Select Sec, the Unattached Wall: Swept Blend, Pivot

Direction, Selected Sections dialog box opens.

o If you select Sketch Sec, the Unattached Wall: Swept Blend, Pivot

Direction, Selected Sections dialog box opens.

The GEN SEL DIR menu appears.

4. Define the sweep direction using one of the following:

o Plane—Selects a normal reference plane as the direction

o Crv/Edg/Axis—Selects a curve, edge, or axis

o Csys—Selects a coordinate system and then selects x-, y-, and z-axis of

the coordinate system as the direction


5. Click Okay to accept the default direction or Flip to reverse the direction. The

SWEEP TRAJ menu appears.



o Sketch Traj—Allows you to sketch a trajectory using the sketch plane and

orientation.

o Select Traj—Allows you to select a datum curve using the CHAIN menu.


7. Click Okay to change the direction of thickness or Flip to reverse the direction.

The direction in which you want to add or remove material is defined.



appears.

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between sections linearly.



sections.

10. Optionally, define Tangency if you want the blend to be tangent to any surface

at the first end.





12. Click OK to create a swept blend.



To Create a Swept Blend Normal to the Specified Trajectory Using a Selected Section


OPTS menu appears.

2. Click Select Sec to select section entities.

3. Click Norm To Traj to create a cross-section normal to the origin of trajectory.

4. Click Done. The Unattached Wall: Swept Blend, Norm to Traj, Selected

Sections dialog box opens and the SWEEP TRAJ menu appears.



• Sketch Traj—Allows you to sketch a trajectory using the sketching plane and

orientation. The SETUP SK PLN and SETUP PLANE menus appear.

a. Select or create a sketching plane, or use the sketching plane of the last


menu appears.

b. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to select the direction for

viewing the sketching plane. The SKET VIEW menu appears.

c. Select or create a horizontal or vertical reference for sketching.

d. Select a perpendicular surface, an edge, or vertex relative to which the



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e. Sketch the section boundary. The section must be closed. When the section

sketch is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar. The SWEEP TRAJ

menu appears.

• Select Traj—Allows you to select a datum curve using the CHAIN menu.

a. Specify a trajectory that defines a section origin.

b. Click Done. The CHOOSE menu appears.

c. Click Accept to accept the trajectory or Next for next selection. The

SWEEP TRAJ menu appears.

d. Select or sketch a trajectory that defines section plane normal. The CRV


e. Select the appropriate entity and click Done/Return. You are prompted to

define another section.

f. Click Yes to continue or No to abort. The DIRECTION menu appears.



7. When all cross-sections are selected, unless you want to define optional

elements, select OK in the Unattached Wall: Swept Blend, Norm to Origin

Traj, Selected Sections dialog box to generate the swept blend feature.



appears.






sections.

10. Optionally, define Tangency if you want the blend to be tangent to any surfaces

at the first end.







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To Create a Swept Blend Normal to the Specified Trajectory Using a Sketched Section


OPTS menu appears.

2. To select or sketch section entities, click Sketch Sec.

3. Click Norm To Traj to create a cross-section normal to the origin of trajectory

and click Done. The Unattached Wall: Swept Blend, Norm to Traj, Sketched

Sections dialog box opens and the SWEEP TRAJ menu appears.



• Sketch Traj—Sketches the trajectory using the sketching plane and orientation.

SETUP SK PLN and SETUP PLANE menus appear.

a. Select or create a sketching plane, or use the sketching plane of the last


menu appears.

b. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to select the direction for

viewing the sketching plane. The SKET VIEW menu appears.

c. Select or create a horizontal or vertical reference for sketching.

d. Select a perpendicular surface, an edge, or vertex relative to which the


e. Sketch the section boundary. The section must be closed. When the section

sketch is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar. The SWEEP TRAJ

menu appears.

• Select Traj—Specify a trajectory that defines section origin using the CHAIN

menu and click Done. The SEC ORIENT menu appears.

a. Select one of the following to specify section orientation and click Done:

o Pick XVector—Select an axis, straight edge/curve, or plane normal to

determine the section’s positive X-axis. Use options in the GEN SEL DIR

menu to select a horizontal reference. The system displays a red arrow,

indicating the positive direction for the X-vector. Choose Flip or Okay to

determine the direction for the operation.

Note: The Pick XVector option is available only for the trajectories defined

with the Select Traj option.

o Automatic—The system automatically determines the section’s orientation.

If you select this option for the first section, then the X-axis is determined

by the curvature vector at the beginning of the Origin Trajectory.


96

When you select Automatic for a section other than the first, the system

determines the X-vector automatically based on the previous section

orientation and the behavior of the Origin Trajectory.

o Norm to Surf—Use the adjacent surface section normal to determine the

section upward direction of the horizontal plane for sweep section. If you

select this option for the first section, then all sections use the same

reference surfaces as the upward direction.

If the Origin Trajectory has only one adjacent surface, then the system

automatically selects this surface, highlighted in blue, as the reference for

the section orientation. A red arrow appears, indicating the upward

direction. Choose Flip or Okay to specify the upward direction.

If the Origin Trajectory has two adjacent surfaces, the system prompts you

to select a surface for the section orientation. The default surface is

highlighted in blue. You can accept the default surface or select the other

one. A red arrow appears, indicating the upward direction. Choose Flip or

Okay to specify the upward direction.

b. The system highlights endpoints and vertices along the Origin Trajectory.

Use one of the following from the CONFIRM menu to select points at which

you want to specify additional sections.

o Accept—Sketches or selects a section at this highlighted location.

o Next—Goes to the next point.

o Previous—Returns to the previous point

c. For each vertex or datum point where you define a section, specify the

section's rotation angle about the z-axis (with a value between -120 and

+120 degrees). You are prompted to define two such sections.

5. Select or sketch the entities for each section, depending on whether you choose

Select Sec or Sketch Sec, respectively.

6. Click Done to exit Sketcher. The DIRECTION menu appears.



8. When all cross-sections are sketched or selected, unless you want to define

optional elements, select OK in the Unattached Wall: Swept Blend, Norm to

Origin Traj, Selected Sections dialog box to generate the swept blend feature.



appears.





Pro/SHEETMETAL

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sections.

11. If you select Select Sec, optionally, you can define Tangency if you want the

blend to be tangent to any surface at the first end.







Helical Sweep

About Helical Sweeps

You can create a helical sweep by sweeping a section along a helical trajectory.

The trajectory is defined by both the profile of the surface of revolution (which

defines the distance from the section origin of the helical feature to its axis of

revolution) and the pitch (the distance between coils). The trajectory and the surface

of revolution are construction tools that do not appear in the resulting geometry.

Use the following ATTRIBUTES menu options in mutually exclusive pairs to define

the helical sweep feature:

• Constant—The pitch is constant.

• Variable—The pitch is variable and defined by a graph.

• Thru Axis—The cross section lies in a plane that passes through the axis of

revolution.

• Norm To Traj—The cross section is oriented normal to the trajectory (or surface

of revolution).

• Right Handed—The trajectory is defined using the right- hand rule.

• Left Handed—The trajectory is defined using the left-hand rule.

To Create a Helical Sweep With a Constant Pitch Value

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Helical Sweep. The

Unattached Wall: Helical Sweep dialog box and the ATTRIBUTES menu

appears.

2. Click Constant in mutually exclusive pairs of the following:

o Thru Axis—The cross-sectional plane passes through the axis of revolution

Norm To Traj—The cross-sectional plane will be normal to trajectory


98

o Right Handed—Allows you to create a trajectory using the right hand rule

Left Handed—Allows you to create a trajectory using the left hand rule

3. Click Done. The SETUP SK PLN and SETUP PLANE menus appear.


with the 3D section for the section boundary. The DIRECTION menu appears.

5. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to select the direction for viewing the





8. Sketch the profile of the surface of revolution. The sketched entities must form

an open loop. You must sketch a centerline to define the axis of revolution.

Note: If you select Norm To Traj, the profile entities must be tangent to each

other (C1 continuous).

o The profile entities must not have a tangent that is normal to the centerline

at any point.

o The profile starting point defines the sweep trajectory starting point. You

can modify the starting point using the Sketch > Feature Tools > Start

Point.

9. When the section sketch is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar.

10. At the prompt, type the pitch value (the distance between the coils).

11. Sketch a cross-section that will be swept along the trajectory.





13. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to accept the default direction.

14. At the prompt, type the thickness value and click .

15. Optionally, you can swap the surface, if required.

16. Click OK in the Unattached Wall: Helical Sweep dialog box to create a helical

blend.



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To Create a Helical Sweep With a Variable Pitch Value

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Unattached > Helical Sweep. The

Unattached Wall: Helical Sweep dialog box and the ATTRIBUTES menu

appears.

2. Click Variable in mutually exclusive pairs of the following:

o Thru Axis—The cross-sectional plane passes through the axis of revolution

Norm To Traj—The cross-sectional plane will be normal to trajectory

o Right Handed—Allows you to create a trajectory using the right hand rule

Left Handed—Allows you to create a trajectory using the left hand rule

3. Click Done. The SETUP SK PLN and SETUP PLANE menus appear.

4. Select or create a sketching plane and side surface, or use the sketching plane of

the last feature with the 3D section for the trajectory. The DIRECTION menu

appears.

5. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to select the direction for viewing the


6. Select or create a horizontal or vertical reference for sketching using the SKET

VIEW menu.



8. Sketch a trajectory. The sketched entities must form an open loop. You must

sketch a centerline to define the axis of revolution. After you regenerate your

profile sketch successfully, click on the sketcher toolbar.

Note: If you select Norm To Traj, the profile entities must be tangent to each

other (C1 continuous).

o The profile entities must not have a tangent that is normal to the centerline

at any point.

o The profile starting point defines the sweep trajectory starting point. You

can modify the starting point using the Sketch > Feature Tools > Start

Point.

9. At the prompt, type the pitch value (the distance between the coils) at trajectory

start and end. The GRAPH and DEFINE GRAPH menus appear. While the profile

section is displayed in the Pro/ENGINEER graphics window, the initial pitch graph

is displayed in the PITCH_GRAPH window.

10. Click Define from the GRAPH menu.


100

You can select one of the following from the DEFINE GRAPH menu:

o Add Point—Adds a reference point to the graph by selecting a point in the

profile section, or the start or end point. Enter the desired pitch value at

this point. The system locates the selected control point along the X-axis of

the graph and draws a line with the length equal to the specified pitch

value.

o Remove Point—Removes a pitch control point by picking it in the profile

section.

o Change Value—Changes the value of the pitch at any selected control

point, including the start or end point. Select a point in the profile section to

change its value and enter the new value.

11. Click Add Point to sketch points, then select points on the profile geometry, and

dimension them. It is easier to dimension the control points if you put them on

the centerline that defines the axis of revolution.

12. While in the profile section, sketch points to be used as the control points in the

pitch graph. These control points define how the pitch value changes along the

axis of revolution.

13. Finalize the graph by transferring the pitch control points from the profile sketch

onto the graph and click Done/Return from the DEFINE GRAPH menu.

To check the graph data, click Info in the GRAPH menu. The system displays

the Information Window with the pitch data table.

14. Click Done from the GRAPH menu.

15. Sketch a cross-section that will be swept along the trajectory.





17. Click Flip to reverse the direction or Okay to accept the default direction.

18. At the prompt, type the thickness value and click .

19. Optionally, you can swap the surface, if required.

20. Click OK in the Unattached Wall: Helical Sweep dialog box to create a helical

blend.



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Twist

About Twist Walls

A twist wall is a spiraling or coiling section of sheet metal. The twist forms around an

axis running through the wall's center, as if by turning the wall ends in opposite

directions by a relatively small, specified angle. You can attach the twist to a straight

edge on an existing planar wall.

The twist wall typically serves as a transition between two areas of sheet metal

because it can change the plane of a sheet metal part. The twist can be rectangular

or trapezoidal.

Twist Wall Twist Wall Dimension

Start Width: (75 )Width of the twist wall at the

attachment edge.

End Width:(5 )Width at the end of the twist wall.

Twist Length: (100 )Length of the twist wall,

measured from the attachment edge to the end of

the twist axis.

Twist Angle: (120 )Angle of twist.

Developed Length: (100 )Length of the twist wall,

when untwisted.

Note:

• You can only add a flat or extruded wall to the end of a twist if the additional wall

has no radius and is tangent to the twist.

• You can unbend a twist wall with the regular unbend command.

• The twist axis runs through the wall's center, perpendicular to the attach edge.

• You cannot use a radius with twist walls.

To Create a Twist Wall

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Twist. The TWIST dialog box opens and the

FEATURE REFS menu appears.

2. Select the attachment edge for the twist wall. The TWIST AXIS PNT and

FEATURE REFS menus appear.

3. Select a datum point on the attachment edge to locate the twist axis, which is the

centerline of the twist wall. It is perpendicular to the start edge and coplanar with

the existing wall:

o Select Point—Choose an existing datum point.


102

o Use Middle—Create a new datum point at the midpoint of the attachment

edge.

Note: If you intend to roll the material in a spiral, be conscious of the material

length. Otherwise, your roll bend will fail if the material bends through itself.

4. Define the twist wall dimensions:

o Start Width—Width of the twist wall at the attachment edge. Type a value

and click .

o End Width—Width at the end of the twist wall. Type a value and click .

o Twist Length—Length of the twist wall, measured from the attachment

edge to the end of the twist axis. Type a value and click .

o Twist Angle—Angle/rotation of the twist wall. Type a value and click .

o Developed Length—Length of the twist wall, when untwisted. Type a

value and click .

5. Click OK on the TWIST dialog box. The wall is created.

Extend

About Extend Walls

An extend wall lengthens an existing wall. You can extend the wall from a straight

edge on existing wall to either a planar surface or a specified distance. You can close

gaps between walls and model various overlap conditions.

The extend wall is typically utilized at corners.

Tangent Inside Edges Tangent Right Outside Edge

Corner with extend wall added to

the tangent inside edges.

Corner with extend walls added to

the tangent left inside edge and

tangent right outside edge.

To Create an Extend Wall

1. Click or Insert > Sheetmetal Wall > Extend. The WALL Options:

Extend dialog box opens.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

103

2. Select the straight edge to extend. The EXT DIST and SETUP PLANE menus

appear.

3. Define how to extend the wall:

o Up To Plane—Extends the wall up to a plane.

Select an existing datum plane or make a new datum plane.

o Use Value—Extends the wall at a specified distance.

Select a default value from the menu or click Enter, and type the exact

distance value.

4. Click OK on the WALL Options: Extend dialog box. The wall is created.

Merge

About Merge Walls

A merge wall combines at least two unattached walls into one part. The merger

requires that:

• The walls butt against each other (tangent).

• The driving sides of each wall match. If the colors of the walls do not match you

can use the Swap Sides command in Unattached Wall dialog box.

Unattached Tangent Walls Merge Wall

1. Unattached wall.

2. Base wall to which the unattached wall

is merged.

Note: The walls have matching driving

sides.

To create the merge you must define the following elements in the WALL Options

dialog box:

• Basic Refs—Select surfaces of the base wall.

• Merge Geoms—Surfaces of the wall to be merged.

• Merge Edges—(optional) Add or remove edges deleted by the merge.

• Keep Lines—(optional) Control the visibility of merged edges on surface joints.


104

Note: Only unattached walls can merge with the base wall.

To Create a Merge Wall

1. Click or Insert > Merge Walls. The WALL Options: Merge dialog box

opens and the FEATURE REFS menu appears.

Note: You can merge only flat walls including the unattached walls.

2. Select the base wall surfaces you want the unattached wall to be merged with.

3. Select the unattached wall surfaces you want to merge to the base wall.

4. Click OK on the WALL Options: Merge dialog box. The walls are merged.

Rip

About Rips

A rip shears or tears your sheet metal walls, especially along seams. If your part is a

continuous piece of material it cannot be unbent without ripping the sheet metal.

Create a rip feature before unbending. When you unbend that area of the model, the

material will break along the rip section. In general, a rip is a zero-volume cut.

There are three types of sheet metal rips available:

• Regular—Creates a sawcut along a sketched rip line. You select a surface and

sketch the rip line. You can select boundary surfaces to protect certain surfaces

from the rip.

• Surface—Cuts and exclude an entire surface patch from the model. You select a

surface to rip out. Surface rips remove model volume.

• Edge—Creates a sawcut along an edge. You select the edge to rip. The resulting

corner edges can be open, blind, or overlapping.

Regular Rip Surface Rip Edge Rip

While edge rips are intended for unbending your part, you can customize the corner

type to be open, overlapping, or cut/extended to a specific depth. You can create rips

with open or overlapping corners.

You can create multiple versions of a regular rip by setting bounding surfaces—a

surface that will not be ripped. The rip extends around the model until it meets the

edges of the bounding surface. If your rip design requires most of the surfaces not to

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be ripped, you can exclude all the surfaces (as bounding surfaces) and select/remove

the desired surfaces that need to be ripped.

No Bounding

Surfaces

One Bounding

Surface

Bounding Surfaces

No bounding

surfaces

1 Bounding

surface

2 Multiple

bounding surfaces

Note: If you add wall relief after a rip the sheet metal may have larger, more

unpredictable ripping than desired.

To Create a Regular Rip

1. Click or Insert > Shape > Rip. The OPTIONS menu appears.

2. Click Regular Rip. Click Done. The Rip: (Regular Type) dialog box opens.

3. Reference and sketch the rip. All entities must form one continuous open chain

with endpoints that align to surface edges or silhouettes. When the sketch is

complete, click on the sketcher toolbar.

To define the boundary surface, highlight Bound Surf in the Rip dialog box and

click Define. The FEATURE REFS menu appears. Select the surfaces to exclude

from the rip feature and then click Done Refs and Done/Return.

4. Click OK on the Rip dialog box. The rip is created.

To Create a Surface Rip

1. Click or Insert > Shape > Rip. The OPTIONS menu appears.

2. Click Surface Rip and then Done. The RIP:(Surface Type) dialog box opens

and the FEATURE REFS menu appears.

3. Select the surface(s) to rip out. The selected surfaces highlight in the active

window.

You can add and remove rip surfaces by highlighting Surface in the

Rip:(Surface Type) dialog box and clicking Define. After you modfiy the

surface selections click Done Refs.


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4. Click OK on the Rip:(Surface Type) dialog box. The rip is created.

To Create an Edge Rip

1. Click or click Insert > Shape > Rip. The OPTIONS menu appears.

2. Click Edge Rip. Click Done. The Rip :(Edge Type) dialog box opens and the

RIP PIECES menu appears. By default, Add is selected.

3. Select an edge or edges to rip.

You can also customize the corner type for each edge rip as follows:

o Click Redefine from the RIP PIECES menu. The PIECE SEL menu

appears.

o Select the edge piece to redefine. The RIP PIECES dialog box opens.

o Highlight Corner Type and click Define. The CORNER DEF menu appears.

o Select the desired corner type and click Done:

Open—Create standard open corner edges.

Blind—Customize the open corner using a specific dimension.

Overlap—Create standard overlapping corner edges.

o Click Ok in the RIP PIECES dialog box.

4. Click Done Sets after selecting and defining all desired edges. The selected

edges highlight in the active window.

5. Click OK on the Rip :(Edge Type) dialog box. The edge rip is created.

Working with Edge Rips

An edge rip is a sawcut along an edge. Like all rips, edge rips are intended to help

unbend your part. Depending on your design needs you can customize the corner

type of the edge rip to be open, cut/extended to a specific depth, or overlapping.

As you customize the corner type edge rip drag-handles appear. The handles snap to

the corner edges. The following explains how the edges and system behave when

you customize the edge:

• Open edge rip—The edge rip remains open, however, drag-handles appear for

each edge. If you click on the handles the edge is defined as blind (see Blind

edge rip below).

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Open Edge Rip with Drag-handles Open Edge Rip

• Blind edge rip—Drag-handles and dimensions appear for each edge coming into

the corner.

To set the depth of the edge, you can double-click the edge dimension and then

type or select a new dimension or you can use the drag handle and drag the

corner edge to its new location (which can be within the confines of the edge or

extend beyond the intersecting edges).

You can also establish relations by selecting Thickness or Thickness*2 from

the dimension box. The relation is set using the smt_thickness parameter. It is

removed if you type a value or define the edge as open or overlapping.

Blind Edge Rip with Drag-handles and

Dimension Box

Blind Edge Rip

• Overlap edge rip—Drag-handles appear for each edge and an arrow indicates

the overlap direction. One edge automatically overlaps the other. You can reverse

the overlapping edge by clicking Flip on the CORNER DEF menu.

Overlapping Edge Rip with Drag-handles and

Direction Arrow

Overlapping Edge

Rip

Note:

• You can redefine the edge rip type in the middle of defining the edge by clicking

one of the other commands. For example, if while defining a blind edge rip you

discover it should be overlapping, simply click Overlap and the blind dimensions

are aborted.

• Dimensions only appear with your model when you are creating a blind edge rip.


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Cut

About Sheet Metal Cuts

A sheet metal cut removes material from your part. The cut is made normal to the

sheet metal surface, as if the part were completely flat, even if it is in a bent state.

The cut adopts the sheet metal material's natural behavior, like bending and

warping, when the part is bent.

You sketch cuts on a plane and project them onto the sheet metal wall. Either the

driving or offset side of the sheet metal wall can drive the cut direction.

Sheet Metal Cut

Behavior

Solid Cut Behavior

You can create three types of cuts:

• Sheet Metal Cut (solid)—Removes solid sections of the sheet metal wall.

• Sheet Metal Cut (thin)—Removes only a thin section of material, like a thin cut

made with a laser.

• Solid-Class Cut—Removes solid sections of the sheet metal wall. You can

extrude, revolve, sweep, blend, use quilts and make advanced solid-class cuts.

To make a defined-angle cut, you must use the solid-class cut. Solid-class cuts

can be made on an edge. See the Part Modeling Functional Area for information

about solid-class cuts.

Note: Always use the sheet metal-class cut, unless you need tapered edges.

Sheet Metal Cut

(Solid)

Sheet Metal Cut

(Thin)

Solid-Class Cut

Because sheet metal cuts are surface cuts, you cannot make a cut to partially

remove wall thickness. For example, you can not cut a 1cm deep hole in a 10cm

thick wall. This may make the Blind depth command somewhat difficult to

understand. The Blind depth command applies to cutting on bends. You can sketch

the cut to the edge of the bend and project it a blind depth down the bent wall,

saving you the time of unbending the wall, making the cut, and bending back the

wall.

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Original Wall Blind Cut Sketch Blind Cut

Note:

• A cut cannot cross two bend lines.

• A cut can never be made on an edge.

• Cutting on angles or bend areas might require a larger dimension scale for proper

clearance.

• Cuts can be used to create notch and punch UDFs.

About Cuts and Datum Axes

Individual datum axes are automatically created for each circular cut that intersects

more than one sheet metal wall.

The created axes behave like all other axes; they have an ID, can be referenced, can

be turned on/off on the main toolbar, and follow the cut during any bending and

unbending.

Sketch Sheet Metal Part With

Circular Cuts

Unbent Sheet Metal Part

With Cuts

Projecting Datum Curves

When you develop geometry in the formed (bent) state you can project datum

curves to communicate information from the bent state to the flat state. You sketch

and project a curve onto the surface of the sheet metal part.

You place the curve by either following a surface when the model is bent or unbent,

or by following a surface during a bend back operation (if the part is in the unbent

state).


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Original Part Projected Curve Formed Part with Cut

Following Curve

See the Part Modeling module for more information about working with projected

datum curves.

To Create a Sheet Metal Cut (Solid)

1. Click or Insert > Sheetmetal Cut > Solid. The CUT: Smt Cut dialog box

opens and the SETUP SK PLN and SETUP PLANE menu appears.



3. Click Okay to accept the current direction to remove the material or Flip to

change the direction. The SKET VIEW menu appears.




6. Sketch the section. When the section sketch is complete, click on the

sketcher toolbar. The DIRECTION menu appears.

7. Select the direction to remove material to create a feature relative to the

sketching plane.

8. Click Okay to accept the current direction or Flip to reverse the direction. The

SPEC TO menu appears.

9. Select one of the following to define the extrusion depth of the cut and click

Done:

o Blind—Removes the depth you specify.

o Thru Next—Removes material only from the first sheet metal surface

under the sketched cut.

o Thru All—Removes material from all the sheet metal surfaces under the

sketched cut.

The DRIVE SIDE menu appears.

10. To define the side on which to create the cut, select the driving or offset surface

as the driving surface and click Done.

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11. Click OK on the CUT: Smt Cut dialog box. The cut is created.

To Create a Sheet Metal Cut (Thin)

1. Click Insert > Sheetmetal Cut. The CUT: Smt Cut, Thin dialog box opens and

the SETUP SK PLN and SETUP PLANE menu appears.



3. Click Okay to accept the current direction or Flip to change the direction. The

SKET VIEW menu appears.




6. Reference and sketch the cut. When the sketch is complete, click on the

sketcher toolbar. The THIN OPT menu appears.

7. Select the direction to remove material:

o Okay—Accepts the default direction.

o Flip—Changes the direction.

o Both—Removes material from both sides of the sketch line.

8. At the prompt, type the width of the cut and click . The SPEC TO menu

appears.

9. Select one of the following to define the depth of the cut:

o Blind—Removes the depth you specify.

o Thru Next—Removes material only from the first sheet metal surface

under the sketched cut.

o Thru All—Removes material from all the sheet metal surfaces under the

sketched cut.

The DRIVE SIDE menu appears.

10. To define the side on which to create the cut, select the driving or offset surface

as the driving surface and click Done.

11. Click OK on the CUT: Smt Cut, Thin dialog box. The cut is created.


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Form, Flatten Form

Form

About Forms

A form is a sheet metal wall molded by a template (reference part). Merging the

geometry of a reference part to the sheet metal part creates the form feature. You

use assembly type constraints to determine the location of the form in your model.

When doing so, be mindful of placement references and references to other features

in the model.

You can create two types of sheet metal form features, punch and die. Each form

type can create the same geometry:

Punch Punch Form

Reference Part

Molds the sheet metal wall using only the

reference part geometry. Punch forms use the

entire form reference part to create the correct

geometry.

Die Die Form Reference

Part

Molds the sheet metal using the reference part

to form the geometry (convex or concave)

surrounded by a bounding plane. Die forms

need a plane surface/boundary plane (2)

surrounding the entire die shape to apply the

correct geometry. The seed surface (1.) gathers

the surrounding geometry to create the

appropriate form shape.

To simulate real manufacturing needs, create your form reference part in the

standard application. If you use a sheet metal reference part, the sheet metal to be

formed should conform to the driving side of the component part. When creating a

form model, keep the following in mind:

• Convex surfaces—Must have a radius that is larger than the thickness of the

sheet metal or equal to zero if the form is mated to the sheet metal geometry.

• Concave surfaces—Must have a radius that is larger than the thickness of the

sheet metal or equal to zero if the form is aligned to the sheet metal geometry.

• Combination surfaces—The form can contain a combination of convex and

concave geometry, creating hollows. The hollows in the form must not drop

below the base plane or mating surface.

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• Coordinate systems—You can create a coordinate system reference within the

form to define where to strike the part during the manufacturing process.

You can create multiple form placement scenarios by turning specific constraints on

or off with the forced check box . For example, you might place a louver form

with constraints that force the opening to face the outside edge of the wall while also

having a constraint that forces the opening towards the center of the wall. By turning

either constraint on or off you can quickly change your sheet metal design.

Note:

• You can pattern both types of form features.

• You can create UDFs based on the forms. Any elements you define when creating

the form are modifiable when placing it as a UDF. The one exception is form type,

die or punch, which cannot be changed at that time.

Forms with Hollows

Your form can contain a combination of convex and concave geometry, creating

hollows.

The hollows in the form must not drop below the base plane or mating surface,

meaning all the form geometry must be on the same side of the base plane.

Note: Make sure that the distance between the hollow surface and the outer surface

allows for the material thickness of the sheet metal.

Form Reference Part Allow for Material

Thickness

1. Allowance for the

sheet metal material

thickness

To Create a Die Form

1. Click or Insert > Shape > Form. The OPTIONS menu appears.

2. Click Die.


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3. Define how to use the punch reference part and click Done:

o Reference—The form is dependent on a saved punch part. Any changes

made to the saved part parametrically update when you regenerate the

sheet metal part. If the saved part cannot be located the sheet metal form

geometry freezes.

o Copy—The form uses copied geometry and is independent of the saved

form part.

4. Open the punch reference part. The punch reference part opens in a separate

window. The FORM and Form Placement dialog box opens.

5. In the Type box, select the type of constraint to use for the reference:

o Automatic—Constrains the form references using a constraint type chosen

by the system.

o Mate—Constrains two surfaces to touch, either coincident and facing each

other or parallel and facing each other.

o Align—Constrains two planes to be coplanar, either coincident and facing in

the same direction or parallel and facing in the same direction..This option

also aligns revolved surfaces or axes to be coaxial.

o Insert—Inserts a male revolved surface into a female revolved surface,

making their respective axes coincident.

o Coord Sys—Constrains the coordinate system of the form reference part to

the coordinate system of the sheet metal part. Both coordinate systems

must exist before starting the assembly process.

o Tangent—Constrains two surface to be tangent.

o Pnt On Line—Constrains a point to be in contact with a line.

o Pnt On Srf—Constrains a point to be in contact with a surface.

o Edge On Srf—Constrains an edge to be in contact with a surface.

6. In the Offset box, select how to offset the references:

o Offset—Determines the distance between the two references.

o Oriented—Constrains two surfaces to be parallel. An offset value is not

specified.

o Coincident—Constrains two surfaces to be touching. An offset value is not

specified.

7. Under Form Reference, click and select the desired constraint on the

reference part.

8. Under Part Reference, click and select the corresponding constraint on the

sheet metal part.

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9. Type the appropriate value for the reference position and click .

Repeat steps 7-11 until the form is Fully Constrained.

o To preview the form positioning, select the constraint type and click

Preview.

o To create additional constraints click . You can add up to 50

constraints.

o To delete constraints, select the constraint and click .

o To change the orientation of the constraint, click .

o To fix the current location of the form, click .

o To align the default coordinate system of the form reference part to the

default coordinate system of the part reference, click .

o To modify an existing constraint, select the constraint element and make

the desired change.

o To turn a constraint off, clear . Click to turn the constraint on.

10. Select a boundary plane from the reference part. The boundary plane is the

surface surrounding the die geometry.

11. Select a seed surface from the reference part. The seed surface can be any

section of the actual die geometry.

o To exclude surfaces, highlight Exclude Surf on the FORM dialog box and

click Define. Select the form feature surface(s) to exclude and click Done

Refs.

o To designate a coordinate system, highlight Csys in the FORM dialog box

and click Define.

o To change the tool name, highlight Tool Name in the FORM dialog box and

click Define.

12. Click OK on the FORM dialog box. The die form is created.

To Create a Punch Form

1. Click or Insert > Shape > Form. The OPTIONS menu appears.

2. Click Punch.


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3. Define how to use the punch reference part and click Done:

o Reference—The form is dependent on a saved punch part. Any changes

made to the saved part parametrically update when you regenerate the

sheet metal part. If the saved part cannot be located the sheet metal form

geometry freezes.

o Copy—The form uses copied geometry and is independent of the saved

form part.

4. Open the punch reference part. The punch reference part opens in a separate

window. The FORM and Form Placement dialog box opens.

5. In the Type box, select the type of constraint for the form reference:

o Automatic—Constrain the form references using a constraint type chosen

by the system.

o Mate—Constrain two surfaces to touch; either coincident and facing each

other or parallel and facing each other.

o Align—Constrain two planes to be coplanar; either coincident and facing in

the same direction or parallel and facing in the same direction.. This option

also aligns revolved surfaces or axes to be coaxial.

o Insert—Insert a male revolved surface into a female revolved surface,

making their respective axes coincident.

o Coord Sys—Constrain the coordinate system of the form reference part to

the coordinate system of the sheet metal part. Both coordinate systems

must exist before starting the assembly process.

o Tangent—Constrain two surface to be tangent.

o Pnt On Line—Constrain a point to be in contact with a line.

o Pnt On Srf—Constrain a point to be in contact with a surface.

o Edge On Srf—Constrain an edge to be in contact with a surface.

6. In the Offset box, select how to offset the references:

o Offset—Determine the distance between the two references.

o Oriented—Constrain two surfaces to be parallel. An offset value is not

specified.

o Coincident—Constrain two surfaces to be touching. An offset value is not

specified.

7. Under Form Reference, click and select the desired constraint on the

reference part.

8. Under Part Reference, click and select the corresponding constraint on the

sheet metal part.

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9. Type the appropriate value for the reference position and click .

Repeat steps 7-11 until the form is Fully Constrained.

o To preview the form positioning select the constraint type and click

Preview.

o To create additional constraints click . You can add up to 50

constraints.

o To delete constraints select the constraint and click .

o To change the orientation of the constraint click .

o To fix the current location of the form click .

o To align the default coordinate system of the form reference part to the

default coordinate system of the part reference click .

o To modify an existing constraint, select the constraint element and make

the desired change.

o To turn a constraint off clear . Click to turn the constraint on.

10. Select the surface to use for the punch geometry: Okay or Flip - to change the

direction.

o To exclude surfaces, highlight Exclude Surf on the FORM dialog box and

click Define. Select the form feature surface(s) to exclude and click Done

Refs.

o To designate a coordinate system, highlight Csys in the FORM dialog box

and click Define.

o To change the tool name, highlight Tool Name in the FORM dialog box and

click Define.

11. Click OK on the FORM dialog box. The punch form is created.

Tip: Creating Punch and Die Reference Parts

To simulate real manufacturing needs, your form's reference part must be created in

the standard application.

When creating the reference part:

• Try and keep the datum planes in the center and references to a minimum. This

will make dimensioning and placing the form easier.

• The base of a die form must be a plane surface (boundary plane) surrounding the

actual die. A punch form does not need this base plane, except, if the base plane


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is used for placing the form (in this instance the base plane could be a datum

plane).

• Concave angles and bends in the form must have either a zero radius or a radius

greater than sheet metal thickness.

• The reference part can contain hollows. All the form geometry must protrude

from one side of the base plane. Make sure the hollow accounts for the sheet

metal thickness or else the material inside the hollow will overlap and the form

will fail.

The form reference part can contain geometry for multiple die or punch models:

• You can create an infinite number of die models. Be sure to leave an appropriate

distance between each die instance.

• You can create punch models with two sides. You select the desired side when

mating the surfaces.

Multi-die Reference Part Dual Punch Reference Part

Flatten Form

About Flatten Forms

A flatten form unbends punch or die forms and returns the features to their original

flat state. In order to create flat sheet metal surfaces where punch or die forms exist

you need to use a flatten form feature. You can flatten multiple form features at the

same time. Flatten form features are typically created at the end of the design

process, when you are preparing your model for manufacture.

The flatten form option adjusts the width of the part after flattening, ensuring the

material volume after flattening is the same as before flattening.

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Form (before flattening) Flatten Form

Width: 9.00

Thickness: 1.0

Chamfer cross-section area:

0.50 x (0.40 x 0.40) = 0.08

Sheet side cross-section:

(9.0 x T) – 0.08

Width: 9.00

Thickness: 1.0

Chamfer cross-section area:

0.50 x (0.40 x 0.40) = 0.08

Sheet side cross-section:

(9.0 x T) – 0.08

When creating a flatten form, consider:

• A form can be flattened if it is located on a plane.

• A form that crosses a bend can only flatten after you unbend the bend. However,

if the form is higher than the bend radius it cannot be unbent or flattened. You

must suppress the form.

• To accurately compensate for mass, you should use the flattened surface area for

real life calculations.

About Stamped Edges

Stamped edges are sheet metal edges modified by solid class features, like

chamfers, rounds, holes, and cuts. You can use stamped edges to denote multiple

types of sheet metal geometry (for example, a radius in the corner of a cut) or to

show edge treatments to make the sheet metal a nonconstant wall thickness.

Stamped edges can be used for both cosmetic and structural requirements (wall

strength). The stamped edge is intended to increase design efficiency where you

need to create complex geometry that sheet metal specific features cannot.

Because stamped edges use solid class features, you will create them using the

Dashboard functionality. See the Fundamentals or Part Modeling modules for

information and instructions on creating solid features using the Dashboard.


120

As you prepare your sheet metal design for manufacture you need to flatten your

design. In order to accurately flatten stamped edges, you should create a Flatten

Form feature. The flatten form calculates the flat pattern for the stamped edges

based on the assumption that the volume of the material in the part is the same

both before and after it is flattened. You have the option, however, to modify the

volume that is transformed.

The following example shows the adjustments made to the width of the part after

flattening, ensuring the material volume before and after flattening is the same.

Before Flattening After Flattening

1 Chamfer on sheet metal edge

2 Stamped edge flattened with a Flatten

Form feature.

Width (9.00), Thickness (1.00)

Chamfer cross section area: 0.50 x (0.40 x

0.40) = 0.08

Sheet side cross section: (9.00 x T) - 0.08

Width (8.92), Thickness (1.00)

Sheet side section: Wflat x T = (W -

0.08/T)*T

therefore

Wfalt = W - 0.08/T = 9.00 - 0.08/1.00 =

8.92

Note: When creating rounds and chamfers be sure to the sheet metal thickness and

the desired geometry (angle or radius) into account.

To Create a Flatten Form

1. Click or Insert > Shape > Flat Form. The FLATTEN dialog box opens.

2. Highlight Form and click Define. The FEATURE REFS menu appears.

3. Select the form feature from the model tree or select each individual section to

flatten.

Note: All form sections must be selected.

4. Click Done Refs after all the form sections are selected.

5. Click OK on the FLATTEN dialog box. The flatten form is created.

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Notch and Punch

About Notches and Punches

Notch and punch are templates used to cut and relieve sheet metal walls. In

Pro/SHEETMETAL, notches and punches both perform the same function and have

the same menu commands, so the one you choose depends on your naming

convention. Industry standards place notches on edges and punches in the middle of

the sheet metal wall.

Notch Punch

Notches and punches are manufacturing operations made using the following three

phases:

• Phase One—Create the desired type of cut on a sheet metal part.

• Phase Two—Convert the cut into a user-defined feature (UDF). This UDF is

saved in your directory and can be included in multiple designs. It carries the file

name extension, .gph.

• Phase Three—Place the notch or punch UDF on the desired sheet metal part.

You can create a reference part to help place your notch or punch UDF. Typically,

you want to keep the reference part simple. The reference part carries the file name

extension: gp.prt. Remember, create your UDFs in Sheet Metal mode because UDFs

created in Part mode do not work on sheet metal parts.

UDF Reference

Part

Sheet Metal Punch

Placement

Each sheet metal notch and punch has a specific tool that defines its shape. The

same tool is referred to when and wherever you use that UDF. Because of the tool

dimensions, you cannot scale the size of the sheet metal notch and punch UDF. In

order to change the size of these UDFs you must reassign the appropriate reference

tool used in manufacturing.


122

About Skipped References

Skipped references are notch or punch placement references that have not been

defined. Skipped references can be either intentional, if you are unsure of a notch or

punch placement reference, or unintentional. In either situation, you must define a

skipped reference to place a notch or punch correctly.

Skipped references are reported with the status comment References are missing.

Defining Skipped References

To define any skipped references for your notch or punch you use the same options

and prompts originally used when you began placing the feature in your design.

After you have answered each UDF placement prompt, if you intentionally skipped

any references an Information Window opens and the CONFIRMATION menu

appears. Click Confirm to redefine the skipped references on the base part, or the

actual notch or punch. You enter the feature creation environment. The dialog box

for the feature with skipped references appears.

Note: To return to the references you skipped, click Cancel. Then select the

references you need to specify from the GP REFS menu. You return to the original

UDF prompt. Pro/Engineer displays the feature dialog box and lists skipped

references and variable elements. To reconcile the skipped reference, highlight the

element to fix and click Define on the feature dialog box.

Depending on the type of reference skipped you are defining, you need to use one of

the following procedures to define your references:

• The skipped reference is used by an element other than a sketched section.

For the skipped reference, you enter into the feature creation environment

enabling you to redefine the element that uses the skipped references.

• If the skipped reference is a sketching plane or horizontal reference for a section.

If you redefine a sketching plane or horizontal references, the dialog box for the

feature using the skipped reference appears. From the dialog box, select the

Section element and click Define. Click Sketch Plane and define the reference

as appropriate.

• If the skipped reference is used by a section other than the sketching plane or

horizontal reference.

If you must redefine a section reference (for example, edges used as

dimensioning references), the dialog box for the feature using the skipped

reference appears. Select the Section element and click Define. Choose the

appropriate sketch option from the Section menu; the part reappears in the

sketching view and the Section Place menu appears with the following options:

o DragAndDrop – Places the existing UDF section directly on the part. When

you enable this option the section is outlined in red. Use the mouse to move

the section to its new location. Place the section by left-clicking the mouse.

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123

Dimension the section to the part and regenerate. The middle mouse button

quits section placement.

Note: The DragAndDrop option is not available for sections fully aligned or

created with the Use Edge option.

o Create New - Discards the existing UDF section and creates a new section.

Select Confirm to verify your action. Sketch a new section.

When you redefine a missing reference used by several features double check to see

if:

• The skipped reference has a single prompt for all features. You must redefine the

reference for each use. For example, if you use an edge to place a hole and a cut,

and you set up a single prompt for both features, you must reselect the reference

edge for both the hole and the cut if you skip the edge reference when placing

the notch or punch.

• The skipped reference has individual prompts for all features. You only have to

redefine the reference for the feature where it is skipped.

To Create a Notch/Punch UDF

1. Create a simple sheet metal part with the desired cut feature. Be sure to keep

references to a minimum and to sketch a coordinate system in the cut.

2. Click PART > Feature. The FEAT menu appears.

3. Click UDF Library. The UDF menu appears.

4. Click Create.

5. Type a name for the notch or punch UDF in the UDF name box and click . The

UDF OPTIONS menu appears.

6. Define the type of UDF file to create and click Done:

o Stand Alone—The UDF is functional by itself. Create a complete .gph file.

You can just pass the UDF file along and to recreate the part.

o Subordinate—The UDF is driven by the current model. Create a .gph file,

but with less information than the stand alone file. You need to pass along

the .gph file and the current model to re-create the part.

If you chose Stand Alone and want to create a reference part, type Y;

otherwise, type N.

7. Click Add on the UDF FEATS menu. The SELECT FEAT menu appears.

8. Define the UDF feature using either Select, Layer, or Range, and then click

Done > Done/Return.

9. Type Y for the prompt: Are you defining a UDF for PUNCH or NOTCH

feature? <Y/N>.


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Note: If you do not have a coordinate system in the feature, the UDF creation is

aborted. The following error message appears: Selected CUT must have a

coordinate system in the section. You are still able to complete the remaining

steps, but your UDF will be undevelopable because the coordinate system is

needed for manufacturing.

10. Type a tool name in the Tool name box. Be sure to enter the correct tool name

because the tool is referenced when and wherever the UDF is used. This tool

name prompt confirms you are creating a useable UDF.

11. Define the symmetry flag for the tool:

o X Axis—The tool is symmetrical about the X-axis of the coordinate system.

o Y Axis—The tool is symmetrical about the Y-axis of the coordinate system.

o Both—The tool is symmetrical about both the X and Y-axes of the

coordinate system.

12. Type a prompt for the highlighted surface. Use simple naming conventions that

will help you place the UDF. You need to type a prompt for each reference made

during the cut creation.

13. Click Done/Return after naming all prompts.

14. Click OK on the UDF dialog box. The UDF is created.

To Place a Notch

1. Click or click Insert > Shape > Notch. The Open dialog box opens.

2. Browse to the appropriate UDF file (.gph).

3. If a reference part is available and you want to retrieve it, click Yes; otherwise

click No. The DISP OPTION menu appears.

4. Set the display options for invariable dimensions:

o Normal—Creates normal dimensions. You can modify the values to create

a unique version of the UDF notch or punch.

o Read Only—Creates read-only dimensions. You can display them, but you

cannot modify them.

o Blank—Blanks the dimensions so they cannot be displayed or modified in

any mode. Use this option carefully. The only way to retrieve the

dimensions is to delete the group features and replace the UDF notch or

punch.

5. Reference and place the UDF using the prompts defined during the UDF creation:

Select the Alternate reference on the base part that matches your UDF prompt.

If you are unsure of a reference, click Skip and move on to the next prompt. You

can redefine the reference as appropriate.

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125

6. Click Done after defining all the references. The notch or punch is placed.

To Place a Punch

1. Click or click Insert > Shape > Punch. The Open dialog box opens.

2. Browse to the appropriate UDF file (.gph).

3. If a reference part is available and you want to retrieve it, click Yes; otherwise

click No. The DISP OPTION menu appears.

4. Set the display options for invariable dimensions:

o Normal—Create normal dimensions. You can modify the values to create a

unique version of the UDF notch or punch.

o Read Only—Create read-only dimensions. You can display them, but you

cannot modify them.

o Blank—Blank the dimensions so they cannot be displayed or modified in

any mode. Use this option carefully. The only way to retrieve the

dimensions is to delete the group features and replace the UDF notch or

punch.

5. Reference and place the UDF using the prompts defined during the UDF creation:

Select the Alternate reference on the base part that matches your UDF prompt.

If you are unsure of a reference, Click Skip, and move on to the next prompt.

You can redefine it as appropriate.

6. Click Done after defining all the references. The notch or punch is placed.

Tip: Creating and Using Notches and Punches

In order for you to use a user defined feature (UDF) for a notch or punch be sure to:

• Only include one feature in a notch or punch definition. If you select more than

one feature, the group is treated as a regular UDF – you are not asked for tool

information. If you try and place a regular notch or punch UDF an incomplete

UDF warning appears because the notch or punch cannot be used in

manufacturing. To create more than one cut for your notch or punch use a cut

with more than one contour in its section.

• Include a coordinate system in the section sketch. You need the coordinates for

manufacturing and tool axis symmetry. You cannot create or place the UDF

without a coordinate system.

• Enter the proper tool ID for the UDF. The tool ID refers to that same tool when

and where ever you use the UDF.


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When creating notch or punch UDFs, consider:

• Limiting the number of references you use. The more references used in creating

the cut, the more will be needed when placing the UDF. One way to decrease the

UDF references is to click No when asked if your sketched lines should be aligned.

What is the minimum number of references you can have? (The least I’ve had

was 4)

• Creating notches intended to relieve bends after creating and unbending the

bend. You can use the bend geometry to place, dimension and align the notch.

• Creating datum plane references asynchronously when setting up the sketching

plane. This eliminates creating extra datum planes before placing the UDF.

• Locating all dimension references to sheet metal edges rather than datum planes.

The edge location carries the UDF as the sheet metal is bent and unbent. It also

eliminates creating extra datum planes before placing the UDF.

• Using relations in the reference part to reduce the number of variable dimensions

needed when placing the notch or punch. (Relation example: Cut height is always

0.5 of wall height.)

• Creating punch axis points while sketching the cut. These special datum points

are unbent and bent back with the feature. You can dimension to them in

drawings.

• When you are creating a table-driven notch or punch, you can modify any tool

name instance for in the table.

Bend, Unbend, Bend Back

Bend

About Bends

A bend forms the sheet metal wall into an angular or roll shape. You sketch a bend

line and determine the bend's direction with direction arrows or your sketching view.

The bend line is a reference point for calculating the developed length and creating

the bend geometry.

Bends can be added at any time during the design process, as long as a wall feature

exists. You can add bends across form features, but you cannot add them where

they cross another bend. Depending on where you place the bend in your sheet

metal design, you may need to add bend relief.

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There are two main types of bends:

Angle—Bend a specific radius and angle. Direction arrows determine

the bend location. The angle bend either forms on one side of the bend

line or equally on both sides.

Roll—Bend a specific radius and angle, which is determined by both the

radius and the amount of flat material to bend. Sketching view affects

the bend location. The roll bend forms in the direction you view your

sketch.

If you intend to roll the material in a spiral, be conscious of the material

length. Your roll bend will fail if the material bends through itself.

There are three bend options available for each angle or roll bend:

Regular Bend w/Transition Bend Planar Bend

Create a normal bend

with no transition

surfaces.

Deform the surface

between the bend and

an area you want to

keep flat.

Create a bend around

an axis that is

perpendicular to the

driving surface and

the sketching plane.

Note:

• You cannot copy a bend with the mirror option.

• While you can generally unbend zero-radius bends, you cannot unbend bends

with slanted cuts across them.

• Bends can improve wall stiffness by increasing the moment of inertia.

• You can modify the developed length of a bend area using the DEV LENGTH

menu. Modifying the developed length affects both the unbent geometry and

bend back features.

To Change the Developed Length

By default, the calculation of the developed length is based on the Y-factor and K-

factor values defined in the Part Bend Table or the Feature Bend Table.

1. Select the feature on the Model Tree for which you want to modify the developed

length and right-click. The shortcut menu appears.


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2. Click Edit. The dimensions are displayed on the graphics window.

3. Double-click the developed length, the DEV LENGTH menu appears.

4. Click Enter Value to change the developed length. You are prompted to specify

the new developed length.

OR

Click Rtrn to Driven to drive the dimensions by the bend table or Y-factor,

specify the new developed length, and click .

5. Regenerate the model. The new value overrides the default developed length.

Modifying the developed length affects both the unbent geometry and bend back

features.

Note:

• If you change the radius, the developed length changes accordingly unless you

explicitly override the developed length.

• If you change the developed length, the bend radius is not affected and loses its

relativity with the developed length.

• If you have changed the developed length using Enter Value and then changed

the bend radius, the developed length does not change after regenerating the

model.

About Bend Radius

The bend radius determines the angle of the bend. Bends are made along the axis of

the radius. You can dimension bends in the following ways:

Specified Surface Inside of Bend Outside of Bend

(Offset Side or

Driving Side)

(Inside Rad) Sheet

metal parts typically

dimension to the

inside radius.

(Outside Rad)

Make sure you add material thickness to the desired radius. If you create the bend

when adding an extruded wall, you can thicken the sketch section and re-dimension

to the inside of the bend. For extruded or swept walls, you can specify No Radius and

manually sketch the radius in the section.

Zero-Radius Bends

You can enter zero for the bend radius. The resulting geometry shows a sharp edge

on the side to which the bend is dimensioned. If you want the geometry to show a

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129

radius, enter a very small value (0.0001). For sheet metal thickness this should not

matter.

You can generally unbend zero-radius bends. If you want to unbend the sheet metal

part make sure the bend has a small radius. You cannot unbend bends with slanted

cuts across them.

Zero-bend Radius

(outside radius)

Zero-bend Radius (inside

radius)

About Bend Relief

Bend relief helps control the sheet metal material behavior and prevents unwanted

deformation.

For example, an unrelieved bend might not represent the accurate, real life model

you need due to material stretching. By adding the appropriate bend relief, like

RipRelief, your sheet metal bend will meet your design intent and enable you to

create an accurate flat model.

After you sketch and regenerate the bend, the RELIEF menu appears with the

following relief options:

• No Relief—Create the bend without any relief.

• StrtchRelief—Stretch the material to provide relief where the bend crosses an

existing edge of the fixed material.

• RipRelief—Cut the material at each bend endpoint. The cuts are made normal to

the bend line.

• RectRelief—Add a rectangular relief at each bend endpoint.

• ObrndRelief—Add an obround relief at each bend endpoint.

No Relief StrtchRelief Rip Relief RectRelief ObrndRelief

You can either assign bend relief individually or you can set automatic bend relief

using the SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_TYPE default.


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About Bend Lines

Bend lines determine the location and shape for the bend geometry in your sheet

metal parts. You sketch a bend line and determine the bend's direction with direction

arrows or your sketching view.

Note: Select two references before inserting a bend line.

The bend line is a reference point for calculating the developed length and creating

the bend geometry. The behavior of the bend geometry is determined by the bend

line location, the bend angle, and the fixed geometry.

Bend Line Sketch

1. Bend line

2. Fixed geometry

Bend One Bend Two Bend Three

You can adjust the bend line to make the resulting bend geometry coplanar with the

side of the sheet metal. Make sure any added bend relief does not exceed the

developed length of the bend.

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Non-coplanar Surfaces Coplanar Surfaces

1. Original bend line

2. Fixed geometry and bend side

3. Adjusted bend line

4. Fixed geometry and bend side

BLA = L - ( R + T )

Where:

BLA = Bend line adjustment

L = Developed length of the bend (determined from a bend table or

formula)

R = Inside radius of the bend

T = Thickness of the sheet metal

RL = Relief length ( = cutback length in rip relief)

About Bend Line Notes

Bend line notes describe basic information about the bend type, bend direction, and

bend angle. The bend line notes are automatically created for each bend in your

design. Because the notes are parametric and aligned with the bend they, enable

you to easily provide drawing dimensions and bend annotations, which allow

manufacturers to program their bending machines, locate punch positions, and

create dimension inspection documents.

Example: Bend Line

Note

90°

You can add bend line notes to drawings and the bend line notes are also present in

any flat state instances you create.

You can customize both the display order and bend line note symbols used in your

designs. You can change the order of the note elements by setting the


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smt_bend_notes_order configuration option. You can customize the default bend

line note symbols or create your own symbols by modifying the symbol source files.

The following table defines each bend line note element:

Bend Line Note

Element

Description Default

Symbol

Bend Type

Formed Inside bend radius is equal to or

smaller than ten-times the sheet

metal thickness.

(Inside Bend Radius =< Thickness

* 10)

Rolled Inside bend radius is greater than

ten- times the sheet metal

thickness.

(Inside Bend Radius > Thickness *

10)

Bend Direction

Up Inside Radius is on the sheet

metal's driving surface.

Down Inside Radius in on the sheet

metal's offset surface.

Bend Angle

Pro/E measures the inside angle of

the bend. The bend angle displays

according to the format set in the

ang_units configuration option.

45°

In order for bend line notes to display, the last feature in your active part design

must be a Flat Pattern feature and the following conditions must be met:

• Bend Notes must be enabled (View > Sheetmetal Notes > Bend Notes).

• 3D Notes must be enabled (Utilities > Environment).

• Notes must be selected to display in your model tree (Settings > Tree Filters).

• smt_bend_notes_dflt_display (configuration option) is set to yes. Note: The

default for bend line notes is yes. In order to not see the bend line notes you

need to set the configuration option to no.

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133

To Customize Bend Line Notes

You can customize each of the symbols used in bend line notes (formed, rolled, up,

and down).

1. Make a backup copy of the following files, the backup will be used to restore the

original files:

o <loadpoint>/text/usascii/special.src

o <loadpoint>/<machine_type>/text/usascii/special.fnt

2. Open <loadpoint>/text/usascii/special.src with an appropriate file editor

and make the desired changes. As you modify the file remember that "m" means

move, "d" means draw, and numbers are x and y coordinates:

o To modify the "rolled bend" text symbol, change the section just after the

lines:

# Upside-down U rolled bend

"code 128 80"

o To modify the "formed bend" text symbol, change the section just after the

lines:

# Formed bend

"code 131 83"

o To modify the "down arrow" signifying bend down, modify the instructions

after the lines:

# Down arrow

"code 129 81"

o To modify the "up arrow" signifying bend up, modify the instructions after

the lines:

# Up arrow

"code 130 82"

3. After completing your modifications, compile the font with the command:

<loadpoint>/<machine_type>/obj/compile_font

<loadpoint>/text/usascii/special.src

<loadpoint>/<machine_type>/text/usascii/special.fnt


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Note:

• You can copy the .fnt file to another machine's

<loadpoint>/<machine_type>/text/usascii/special.fnt of the same

machine type.

• You can copy the .src file between machines of different types, and recompile it

on the new machine type.

Regular

About Regular Bends

A regular bend forms the sheet metal wall, around a neutral bend axis, into angular

or roll shapes. You sketch a bend line and determine the location of the bend with

direction arrows or sketching view. The regular bend is the bend you will use most

often. It has no transition surfaces.

There are two types of regular bends available:

• Angle—Bends a specific radius and angle.

• Roll—Bends a specific radius, but the angle is determined by both the radius and

the amount of flat material to bend.

Bend Line Sketch Regular Bend

(Angle)

Regular Bend (Roll)

1 Bend line

To Create a Regular Bend

1. Click or click Insert > Bend Operation > Bend. The OPTIONS menu

appears.

2. Define the type of bend to create:

o Angle—Create a bend with a specific radius and angle.

o Roll—Create a bend with a specific radius and an angle, where the angle is

determined by both the radius and the amount of flat material to bend.

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135

3. Click Regular on the BEND OPT menu. Click Done.

4. Select the bend table to use and click Done\Return:

o Part Bend Tbl—Reference the bend table associated with the overall part

for developed length.

o Feat Bend Tbl—Reference an independent bend table for the individual

feature for developed length.

5. Define the radius side and click Done/Return:

o Inside Rad—Measure the radius from the inside surface of the part.

o Outside Rad—Measure the radius from the outside surface of the part.

6. Select the surface to bend. Reference and sketch the bend line. The bend line

must be a line and can only be one entity. You must align the line ends to the

outside edges of the sheet metal wall. When the sketch is complete, click on

the sketcher toolbar. The BEND SIDE menu appears.

7. Define the side of the bend line to create the bend:

o Flip—Change the direction of the bend creation.

o Okay—Accept the selected direction.

o Both—Create the bend equally on both sides of the bend line.

8. Define the direction in which to make the bend: Okay or Flip—to change the

direction.

9. Define the type of bend relief to use:

• No Relief—Do not control the bend behavior.

• w/ Relief—Control the bend behavior at each attachment point:

o No Relief—Maintain the existing material shape.

o StrtchRelief—Stretch the existing material.

o Rip Relief—Rip the existing material.

o RectRelief—Add a rectangular relief.

o ObrndRelief—Add an obround relief.

10. Define the relief's width:

o Thickness—Use a default radius that is equal to the thickness of the sheet

metal wall.

o Thickness * 2—Use a default radius that is twice the thickness of the

sheet metal wall.

o Enter Value—Use the absolute value that you type in the Enter



136

o From Table—Select the appropriate radius value from the list. The radii

values are defined in the bend table assigned to the part. The From Table

command is unavailable if a bend table is not assigned to the part.

11. Type the bend relief's angle and click .

If necessary, repeat steps 9, 10 and 11 for each highlighted end.

12. Either select one of the standard bend angle values or click Enter Value, and

type the exact bend angle value (in degrees).

13. Define the bend radius:


metal wall.


sheet metal wall.



14. Click OK on the BEND Options dialog box. The bend is created.

Planar

About Planar Bends

A planar bend forces the sheet metal wall around an axis that is normal

(perpendicular) to the surface and sketching plane. You sketch a bend line and form

the planar bend around the axis using direction arrows. While this type of bend is not

utilized on the factory floor, it can help you reach your overall design intent.

There are two types of planar bend available:

• Angle—Bends a specific radius and angle.

• Roll—Bends a specific radius, but the angle is determined by both the radius and


Planar Bend Sketch Planar Bend (Angle) Planar Bend (Roll)

Pro/SHEETMETAL

137

Note: The neutral point for a planar bend is placed according to the current Y-factor.

Bend tables are not applicable.

To Create a Planar Bend


appears.





3. Click Planar on the BEND OPT menu. Click Done.


o Part Bend Tbl—Reference the bend table associated with the overall part.


feature.

5. Select the surface to bend. Reference and sketch the bend line. When the sketch

is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar. The BEND SIDE menu appears.





7. Define the area to remain fixed: Okay or Flip—to change the direction.

8. Either select one of the standard bend angle values or Enter Value, and enter

the exact value (in degrees).

9. Define the radius:


metal wall.


sheet metal wall.



10. Define the side of the bend axis to create the bend: Okay or Flip – to change the

direction.



138

w/Transition

About w/Transition Bends

A w/Transition (with transition) bend shapes one section of a sheet metal plane while

leaving another section flat or with different bend conditions. You sketch multiple

sections: first the section containing the bend line, then one or more sections to

remain flat or bent differently. The flat/bent differently sections are transition areas.

You can create one or more transition areas for each with transition bend. Each

transition area sketch must consist of two lines. One line needs to be adjacent to the

bend area. Sketch this line first. A second line must complete the transition area.

There are two types of with transition bends available:

• Angle—Bend a specific radius and angle.

• Roll—Bend a specific radius, but the angle is determined by both the radius and


The following example shows a w/transition sketch and the resulting roll bend:

w/Transition Bend

Sketch

w/Transition Bend

(Roll)

1 Bend line

2 Transition area

sketch

Note:

• w/Transition bends do not accept bend relief.

• If your design calls for a cut in a transition area, either create it before you make

the w/Transition bend or by unbending the bend, making the cut, and using the

bend back feature.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

139

To Create w/ Transition Bend


appears.





3. Click w/Transition on the BEND OPT menu. Click Done.




feature.

5. Define the radius side and click Done/Return:



6. Select the surface to bend. Reference and sketch the bend line. When the sketch

is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar. The BEND SIDE menu opens.





8. Define the direction in which to make the Bend: Okay or Flip—to change the

direction.

9. Define the references for the transition area. The previous line “grays out.”

10. Sketch the transition area(s). The first line you sketch dictates the side that

should remain bent.

If you want to define another transition area, type Yes. Otherwise, type No.

11. Select one of the standard bend angle values or select Enter Value to enter the

exact value (in degrees)

12. Define the radius:


metal wall.


140


sheet metal wall.




Unbend

About Unbends

The unbend feature flattens any curved surface on the sheet metal part, whether it is

a bend feature or a curved wall.

There are three types of unbend available:

• Regular—Unbends most bends in a part. You select an existing bend or wall

feature to unbend. If you select all bends, you create a flat pattern of your part.

• Transition—Unbends undevelopable surfaces, such as blended walls. You select

stationary surfaces and specify a cross-sectional curve to determine the shape of

the unbend feature.

• Xsec Driven—Unbends undevelopable surfaces, such as hems and flanges. You

select stationary surfaces and specify a cross-sectional curve to determine the

shape of the unbend feature.

When creating an unbend you are asked to designate a surface or edge to remain

fixed. Your choice changes the default view of your model. Try to pick major surfaces

that you want to keep in the same position. If possible, be consistent and use the

same surface when creating several unbend features. You can save design time and

maintain consistency by setting an automatic fixed geometry element (Set Up >

Fixed Geom).

Features created after the unbend are children/dependent on the unbend. If you are

only temporarily unbending the part and do not need the unbend to maintain your

design intent, you should delete the unbend. By keeping it, you are merely crowding

the model tree with extra features that slow down part regeneration. Remember, if

you delete an unbend that has features created after it, those additional features will

also delete.

To sketch the flat state of walls that cannot be unbent due to complicated and non-

regular geometry, use the Metamorph option. With the DEFORM CONTROL menu

you can highlight and sketch contours of corresponding deformation areas. The

formed state of the wall suppresses and that flat state becomes active after the

unbend feature creation. The DEFORM CONTROL menu is available in the unbend

dialog box when you select Unbend All.

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141

Unbending Undevelopable Surfaces

Undevelopable (deformed) surfaces, like wall features with complex curved surfaces,

typically must be unbent for manufacture.

To unbend the deformed material the unbend must be simple. The defining rule is

that all surfaces to be unbent must either have an outside edge or be adjacent to an

area that has an outside edge. The outside edge or adjacent area serves as a way for

the deformation to escape and the material to stretch.

Developed length is not calculated for unbent deform areas.

Note: If your unbend fails and you receive an error message citing undevelopable

regions, try one of the following:

• Regular Unbend with Surface Rip—Remove the existing surface(s) between

the undevelopable regions and outside edges.

• Regular Unbend with Edge Rip—Make a tear along the surface edge that

extends from the undevelopable region to the outside. Think of the edge rip as a

contact between an enclosed undevelopable region and the outside.

• Regular Unbend with Deform Areas—Divide an existing surface into a number

of smaller adjacent ones. One or more of the smaller surfaces contacts an

enclosed undevelopable surface. Likewise, one or more of the smaller surfaces

contacts an outside edge.

• Sketch Unbend with Deformed Areas—Sketch the flat state of the

deformation area using the Metamorph option.

To Unbend Undevelopable Surfaces

1. Click or click Insert > Bend Operation > Unbend. The UNBEND OPT

menu appears.

2. Click Regular. Click Done.

3. Select the plane or edge to remain fixed during the unbend.

4. Define the sections to unbend:

o UnbendSelect—Select specific bend surfaces to unbend. Click Done Sel >

Done Refs after picking all the desired bends.

o Unbend All—Unbend all bends and curved surfaces.

5. Select the surface(s) to deform. They need to have an edge on the outside of the

part.

6. Click Done Sel. The FEATURE REFS menu appears.

7. Click Done Refs after picking all desired deform areas.

8. Click OK on the Unbend dialog box. The unbend is created.


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About Punch Axis Points

A punch axis point is a reference point that moves with a feature during both the

unbend and bend back operations. You must set the punch_axis_points configuration option to enable such points.

1. Placement of punch axis point, in

Sketcher.

2. Cut with resulting punch axis

point and datum point.

3. Unbent part, displaying actual positions of punch axis and datum points.

• Like a regular datum point, the punch axis point appears in the part, has a

standard point symbol, and an assigned name (for example, PNT0).

• Unlike a regular datum point, the punch axis point is not a separate feature. The

point moves with the placement plane of its parent feature during the unbend

and bend back operations. It is comparable to the feature axis in a revolved cut

in part mode.

• You can dimension to a punch axis point in detail drawings.

To Create a Punch Axis Point

Make sure the punch_axis_points configuration option is set to yes (Utilities >

Options).

Begin creating the desired cut, punch, or notch in your sheet metal design. Complete

the following steps while defining the feature:

1. Click Insert > Datum > Point. You are prompted for two placement points. One

placement point is for the punch axis point, the second is for the corresponding

datum point.

2. Select the point placements and then click Done/Select. You are prompted for

plane and edge references.

3. Select the plane or edge references and then click Done/Select.

4. Type the desired distances/coordinates for the punch axis points and click .

The punch axis points are created. Continue defining the cut, punch, or notch

feature.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

143

Best Practices: Unbend and Bend Back

Remember, the proper use of the unbend and bend back features is very important

for robust design. Consider these best practices when utilizing the unbend and bend

back features:

• Do not add unnecessary pairs of unbend/bend back features; they inflate the part

size and might cause problems at regeneration.

• If you add an unbend feature (or bend back) feature just to see how your model

looks flattened (unbent), delete the sample unbend feature before proceeding

with your design.

• If you specifically want to create features in a flattened state you should add an

unbend feature. Create the features you need in the flattened state and then add

a bend back feature. Do not delete the unbend feature in this case, features that

reference the unbend feature might fail regeneration.

• If you want a projected datum curve to follow a sheet metal bend, project the

curve after creating an unbend feature. The curve will follow the sheet metal

surface when you bend back the sheet metal wall.

Regular

About Regular Unbends

A regular unbend is a generic unbend that applies to almost all sheet metal unbends.

You can unbend both a wall and a bend, the material must be developable and able

to unbend. You cannot unbend nonruled surfaces using a regular unbend feature.

You have the option of unbending all surfaces and bends or selecting specific areas:

• UnbendSelect—Select specific bend surfaces to unbend.

• Unbend All—Unbend all bends and curved surfaces.

Formed Part Unbend Select Unbend All

After you unbend an area you can continue to add features, like cuts and rips.

Remember, the features following the unbend are children/dependent on the

unbend. If you delete the unbend the features will also delete. If you are temporarily

viewing the unbent model, be sure to delete the unbend feature before adding

features. The unnecessary features can slow down part regeneration and

development time.


144

If you add walls that intersect when they are unbent, Pro/E highlights the

intersecting edges in red and warns you with a prompt.

To Create a Regular Unbend

1. Click or click Insert > Bend Operation > Unbend. The UNBENT OPT

menu appears.

2. Click Regular. Click Done.

3. Select the plane or edge to remain fixed during the unbend.

4. Define the sections to unbend:

o UnbendSelect—Select specific bend surfaces to unbend. Click Done Sel >

Done Refs after picking all the desired bends.

o Unbend All—Unbend all bends and curved surfaces.

5. Click OK on the Unbend dialog box. The unbend is created.

Transition

About Transition Unbends

A transition unbend flattens non-developable geometry that cannot be unbent with a

regular unbend. Non-developable geometry has bending in more than one direction.

The transition geometry is temporarily removed from the model, so you must define

that geometry to utilize the feature. The developable surfaces can then unbend. The

transition geometry is placed back into the flat pattern.






development time.

To Create a Transition Unbend

1. Click or click Insert > Bend Operation > Unbend. The UNBEND OPT

menu appears.

2. Click Transition. Click Done.

3. Define any planes or edges to remain fixed during the unbend. The selected

entities highlight. Remember, both the driving and offset sides of a surface must

be selected for the selection to be valid.

4. Click Done Sel > Done Refs after picking all the desired planes and edges.

5. Define any surfaces to be deformed and complete the transition unbend feature.

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Xsec-Driven

About Xsec-Driven Unbends

A Xsec Driven (cross section) unbend. You can unbend undevelopable sheet metal

geometry, like walls curved in more than one direction. The unbend consists of a

series of cross sections along a curve that are projected onto a plane.

The cross section term refers to the curve you use to influence the shape of the

unbent wall. You can either select an existing curve or sketch a new curve. Whether

you select or sketch the curve it must be coplanar with the fixed edges you define. If

you sketch the curve be sure to dimension/align the curve. The curve you select or

sketch will affect the unbent state of the part. Remember, the curve can be a

straight line.

Sheet Metal Part Xsec Driven Unbend






development time.

You can not bend back a cross section unbend.

Note: The cross sections created must not intersect within the unbent geometry.

To Create a Xsec-Driven Unbend

1. Click or click Insert > Bend Operation > Unbend. The UNBENT OPT

menu appears.

2. Click Xsec Driven. Click Done.

3. Select the needed attach chain and options on the CHAIN menu


146

4. Click Done after selecting the edges needed.

5. Define the curve to control the cross sections as they unbend:

o Select Curve—Select a curve on a plane that is coplanar with the fixed

edges.

o Sketch Curve—Sketch the cross section curve. The curve can be a straight

line.

6. Define the side of the bend to remain fixed: Okay or Flip—to change the

direction.

7. Click OK on the Xsec Driven Type dialog box. The unbend is created.

Bend Back

About Bend Back

The bend back feature enables you to return unbent surfaces to their formed

position. As a rule you should only bend back a fully unbent area.

Bent Part Bend Back All Bend Back Select

Note:

• If you partially bend back a regular unbend containing a deform area the original

bent condition might not be obtainable.

• Pro/SHEETMETAL examines the contours of each bend back section. Contours

partially intersecting a bend area are highlighted. You are prompted to confirm

whether the section bend back or remain flat.

• You can not bend back a cross section (Xsec-Driven) unbend.

To Create a Bend Back

1. Click or click Insert > Bend Operation > Bend Back. The BEND BACK

dialog box appears.

2. Select the plane or edge to remain fixed while you unbend the part. The

BENDBACKSEL menu appears.

3. Define the section to bend back:

• BendBack Sel—Bend back selected sections.

• BendBack All—Bend back all sections.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

147

If you chose to bend back selected sections:

o Select the surface or edge to bend back. Be sure to select an UNBEND

feature.

o Click Done Sel. The FEATURE REFS menu appears.

o Click Done Refs.

If you chose to bend back all sections:

o Click Done.

4. Click OK on the BEND BACK dialog box. The part bends back.

Corner Relief

About Corner Relief

Corner relief helps control the sheet metal material behavior and prevents unwanted

deformation. To utilize the corner relief option you must have at least one ripped

edge and the 3D notes turned on (Utilities > Environment).

You can create four types of corner relief:

No Relief None Circular Obround

No relief is

added. The

corner retains

the default V-

notch

characteristic.

Generate a

square corner.

The default V-

notch

characteristic is

removed.

Add a circular

relief. The corner

has a circular

section removed.

Add an obround

relief. The corner

has an obround

section removed.

There are four possible ways to apply corner relief to bends or converted parts:

• Create the corner relief as a feature ( Feature > Create > Corner Relief)

• Create default relief automatically while unbending (Set Up > Corner Relief)

• Create default relief for all corners in the model or part templates (Set Up >

Parameters)

• Define the corner relief in the conversion feature dialog box (Feature > Create

> Conversion)

You can use and dimension corner relief that is smaller than the deformation area

bordered by the tangent lines of the intersecting bends.


148

To Create Corner Relief (Feature)

1. Click or click Insert > Corner Relief. The GET SELECT menu appears.

2. Select the 3D Note(s) needing similar corner relief. Click Done Sets.

3. Define the corner relief to apply:

o No Relief—No relief is added. The corner retains the rip characteristic.

o None—Generates a square corner. The default V-notch characteristic is

removed.

o Circular—Adds a circular relief. The corner has a circlular section removed.

o Obround—Adds an obround relief. The corner has an obround section

removed.

4. Define the dimensions for the relief:


metal wall.


sheet metal wall.



To relieve another corner, click Add. Click Done Sets after selecting all desired

corners.

5. Click OK on the CORNER RELIEF dialog box. The corner relief is created.

To Set Corner Relief (Default)



3. Click Corner Relief. The CRNR TYPE menu appears.

4. Define the type of relief to use as the default:

o No Relief—No relief is added. The corner retains the rip characteristic.

o None—Generate a square corner. The default V-notch characteristic is

removed.

o Circular—Add a circular relief. The corner has a circlular section removed.

o Obround—Add an obround relief. The corner has an obround section

removed.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

149

5. Define the dimensions for the relief:


metal wall.


sheet metal wall.



6. Click Done/Return. The default corner relief is set.

Deform

About Deformation Areas

A deformation area is a section of sheet metal that helps to accurately stretch the

material when you unbend the sheet metal part. You may need to create these areas

when unbending sections that:

• Do not extend to the edge of the model

• Bend in more than one direction

The deformation area acts as a bridge between the multiple direction bend section

and the outside edges of the part. The deformation area must be tangent to both the

undevelopable surface and an outside edge.

Multi-direction Bends Distorted Surfaces Deformation Areas

1 Multi-direction bends 2 Undesirable surface

distortion upon

regular unbend

3 Accurate stretching

due to deformation

areas

You can either create the deformation area before unbending the section or you can

define the area during the unbend. To prevent undesirable distortion, it is

recommended that you define the deformation area before unbending and then use

it as the fixed surface during the unbend.

The developed length of unbent sheet metal geometry reflects the proper values.

Pro/SHEETMETAL approximates deformation area geometry by attaching vertices

with a line segment. The geometry does not become thinner or thicker. Because

developed length is typically determined empirically, you sketch the deformation

area geometry.


150

Deformation Area Sketch

4 Multi-direction bend section

5 Deformation area sketch

Note:

• You can use a deformation feature to define edges for edge rips or to split

surfaces for bend line development.

• You can add features to deformation areas when the areas are unbent. Be sure to

bend back the area after you add any features.

To Create a Deformation Area

1. Click or click Insert > Bend Operation > Deform Area. The DEFORM

AREA dialog box opens and the SETUP PLANE menu appears.

2. Reference and sketch the deform area. The deformation area must be a closed

section, in contact with the undevelopable region, and have an outside edge.

When the sketch is complete, click on the sketcher toolbar.

Sketching Technique: Select a common edge between the undevelopable

region and the deformation area. Click Use Edge from the GEOM TOOLS menu.

Then select the outside edge of the deform area and two points on that outside

edge as vertices. Connect the two outside edge vertices to the vertices of the

undevelopable surface on the common edge.

3. Click OK on the DEFORM AREA dialog box. The deform area is created.

Edge Bend

About Edge Bends

An edge bend converts nontangent, box-type edges to bends. Depending on the

material side you choose to thicken, some edges appear rounded while others have

distinctly sharp edges. The edge bend option enables you to quickly round the edge.

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151

Sharp, Nontangent Edges Edge Bends

By default, the bend parameters are set to the following values:

• Bend Table—Part Bend Table

• Radius Type—Inside Radius

• Radius—Default radius, else Thickness.

If your design requires different bend parameters you can either change the entire

model’s bend parameters or you can customize the values for each edge individually

by redefining specific edges.

To Create an Edge Bend

1. Click or click Insert > Edge Bend. The Edge Bend dialog box opens and

the Bend Pieces menu appears in the Menu Manager.

2. Select the edge or edges to bend and then click Done Sets.

3. Click OK on the Edge Bend dialog box. The edge bend is created.

To Customize an Edge Bend

1. Click PART > Feature. The FEAT menu appears.

2. Click Redefine. The SELECT FEAT menu appears.

3. Select the desired edge bend from the model tree – or – select the desired edge

bend from the graphics window. The edge bend highlights on the model.

4. Select Edge Bend on the EDGE BEND dialog box. Click Define. The BEND

PIECES and PIECE SEL menus appear.

5. Select the edge piece(s) to customize. Each edge you select is subject to any

value change. Click Done after selecting all desired edges. The Redefine Bend

Settings dialog box opens.

6. Select the bend element you want to redefine. Click Define. The appropriate

menus open for each element:

• Bend Table –



feature.


152

• Radius Type –



• Radius –


metal wall.


sheet metal wall.



7. On the BEND PIECES dialog box, click OK. You return to the EDGE BEND dialog

box.

If you have redefined all the desired edge bend(s), click Done Sets. If you want

to change additional edges, click Redefine.

8. Click OK on the EDGE BEND dialog box. The edge bend is customized.

Inheritance

About Sheet Metal Inheritance Features

Sheet metal inheritance merges geometry and feature data from a reference (base)

part to your existing (target)sheet metal part. Because inheritance is a one-way

associate merge, the data moves from the base to the target without physically

modifying the design model.

Inheritance features are useful in sheet metal because different factories

manufacturing your product may have slight variations in tool shapes. Inheritance

enables you to submit the same model design to multiple manufactures, who in turn

use inheritance features to adjust the design data for manufacture in their factory

without modifying your design.

Finally, you merge the data and create the feature, however you can still make post-

merge changes like dimension and feature status modifications.

Inheritance Feature Behavior (Sheet Metal)

In general, sheet metal inheritance features behave the same as Part mode

inheritance features. Each feature type uses a reference part and requires you to

specify geometry and feature data applicable for change. The features also enable

you to make post-merge changes, such as dimension and feature status

modifications. Like Part mode inheritance features, sheet metal inheritance features

always use reference (base) parts to obtain geometry and feature data.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

153

The following list highlights some key sheet metal inheritance feature characteristics.

See the Advanced Assembly Extension module for more information on using

inheritance features:

• If the existing (target) sheet metal part includes a FIRST WALL feature then the

reference (base) part can not contain solid geometry, even if the base part is a

sheet metal part. The base part can only contain nonsolid geometry such as

datums and surfaces.

• If the existing (target) sheet metal part does not include a FIRST WALL feature

then the reference (base) part can either contain solid sheet metal geometry or

nonsolid geometry, such as datums and surfaces.

• You can not create inheritance features for existing (target) and reference (base)

features that contain a Thicken feature. If the target part contains a Thicken

feature the inheritance command is not available. If the base part contains a

Thicken feature you are prompted with an error message.

• The thickness of the sheet metal wall is driven by the FIRST WALL feature,

which can be in either the reference (base) part or the existing (target) part. You

can remove this thickness dependency by adjusting the VAR DIMS or

DEPENDENCY options in the inheritance feature dialog box. Set the

DEPENDENCY option to Independent.

• Inheritance features containing a FIRST WALL feature can not be suppressed

(added to the Var Feats list) or erased.

• Bend allowance measurements are calculated using the bend allowance from the

part the feature is in. For example, a feature created in the reference (base) part

will be calculated according to the base model bend allowance. A feature created

in the existing (target) part will be calculated according to the target model bend

allowance.

• Relations can not be added to the VAR DIMS list because they are read only.

• The sheet metal bend radius is only accessible for the VAR DIMS list if you

define the radius as a numeric value. For example, d1 = 15 enables you to add

the radius to the list while d1 = smt_thickness() does not.

• The sheet metal developed length is only accessible for the VAR DIMS list if you

define the developed length as a numeric value. For example, L = 15 enables

you to add the developed length to the list.

• Any part Set Up commands (sheet metal parameters table, corner relief, bend

order) are taken from the existing (target) part.

• You can copy more than one inheritance feature into a target part.

• Sheet metal inheritance features have the same capabilities with relations,

parameters, redefining, and modifying.


154

To Create a Sheet Metal Inheritance Feature

1. Click Insert > Shared Data > Inheritance from Other Model. The LOCATE

MDL menu appears and the Inheritance dialog box opens.

2. Either click Select and select the reference (base) part from an open window or

click Open and open the appropriate base part. The LOCATION menu appears.

3. Either click Default and use automatic coordinate system selection or click

Coord Sys and select the appropriate coordinate system.

4. Initially, all data from the reference part are present in the inheritance feature.

Define the data for the following inheritance feature options:

o Attributes—Add or remove material geometry.

o Varied Dimensions—Select specific dimensions propagated from the

reference part. These dimensions will be added to the Varied Dimensions

table. You may then change the value of the dimension in the table by

entering a new value.

o Varied Features—Select the features propagated from the reference part

that you would like to define as variable. You may then choose to suppress

or erase the variable feature before creating the inheritance feature. If you

choose not to suppress a variable feature upon creation of the inherited

feature, you will be allowed to suppress that feature within the inheritance

feature later. You can resume suppressed features.

o Variable Parameters—Select and modify parameter values while

preserving the same type, context, and attributes of the base model.

o Detail Item—Select and modify geometry tolerances.

o Copy Notes—Define whether 3D notes are copied to the inheritance

feature. In Pro/ENGINEER, 3D notes can be copied to the derived object,

but cannot be modified in the derived object. Inherited 3D notes can not be

deleted or erased except by using the Copy Notes option in the inheritance

feature.

o Dependency—Make the Inheritance feature dependent or independent of

the reference part. Making an inheritance feature Dependent will create a

dependency between the derived object and the reference part. If changes

are made in the reference part, they will be reflected in the derived object.

An independent inheritance feature will not update when the reference part

is modified. Use the Global Reference Viewer to show external

dependencies.

5. Click OK on the Inheritance dialog box. The inheritance feature is created.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

155

Note: You can modify a sheet metal model that has a copied by reference part only

when the referenced part is open in the current session. Otherwise, the following

warning is displayed in the message area:

Some reference parts are unavailable. Modification of the sheetmetal part is not allowed

Preparing for Manufacture

About Preparing for Manufacture

Manufacturing preparation helps ensure that your sheet metal design can actually be

manufactured. You can analyze your design's geometry, obtain reports, and create

flat versions of your model. By making manufacturing preparations you can isolate

any problem areas and correct them before they reach the factory floor.

You can use the following options to prepare your model for manufacture:

• Report—Obtains information on bends, radii, and specific design rules

established for your sheet metal part.

• Flat Pattern—Flattens your sheet metal part when the design is complete.

• Measure—Determines any curve lengths, angles, surface areas, or distances for

the sheet metal part. This command is found on the Analysis menu.

• Surface Analysis—Evaluates your ability to unbend the sheet metal part.

• Flat State—Flattens your sheet metal part at various stages in the design

process.

Reports

About Reports

Reports provide information on bends, radii, and specific design rules established for

your sheet metal part. The reports enable you to investigate your design and to

ensure that it adheres to company standards. Reports are typically needed before

manufacturing the part.

Each report displays in a separate window. You can view, edit, or save each report to

a file.

You can access three types of reports:

• Bend Report—Lists detailed information about bends in your part. You

retrieve information on the overall calculation parameters for the bends. The

report lists information on bends assigned to a Feat Bend Tbl and bends that

are not 90 degrees. The report also provides part information, including the

part name, material code, thickness, and the appropriate bend allowance (Y-

or K-factor, or bend table).


156

• Radii Report—Lists detailed information about the bend radii in your part. The

report lists any bend radii that do not match the values in an assigned bend table

or the default radius (that is you chose the Enter Value command). You retrieve

the feature ID, dimension parameter name, and the radius value. The report also

provides part information, including the part name, material code, thickness, and

appropriate bend allowance (Y- or K-factor, or bend table).

• Design Check—Lists detailed information about how your design complies with

your defined Design Rules. The report lists any violations in the model. You

retrieve the design rule name and formula, the desired and the current rule

values, as well as the reference IDs of edge features in violation. In order to

obtain this report, you must first define a rule table (Design Rules) and assign it

to your sheet metal part. Only planar walls are checked.

To Access Reports

1. Click Info > Sheetmetal. The Sheetmetal Info dialog box opens.

2. Click the desired report. You can only access one report at a time.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

157

o Bend Report—List detailed information about bends in your part.

o Radii Report—List detailed information about the bend radii in your part.

o Design Check—List detailed information about how your design complies

with the assigned design rules.

3. Define where to output the results to:

o Screen—Open the report in a separate window.

o File—Save the report in the part's working directory.

4. Click OK. The report is processed.

Flat Pattern

About Flat Patterns

A flat pattern is equivalent to the unbend all feature, it flattens any curved surface,

whether it is a bend feature or a curved wall. However, unlike the unbend all, the flat

pattern feature automatically jumps to the end of the model tree to maintain the flat

model view.

Sheet Metal Part Flat Pattern (with Bend Notes)

The flat pattern is helpful if you are constantly toggling between the solid and flat

versions of the design. If you add new features to your design the flat pattern

suppresses. It automatically resumes after the feature is added. If you do not want

to flip between the flat pattern and solid views for each new feature, manually

suppress and resume the flat pattern as needed. Sometimes you need to tweak the

flattened version of your design to ensure the manufactured version is accurate

You can create a flat pattern early in your design process so you can simultaneously

create and detail your sheet metal design.

Note: You can only create one flat pattern per part; after you create it, the flat

pattern option becomes unavailable.


158

To Create a Flat Pattern

1. Click or click Insert > Bend Operation > Flat Pattern. The GET SEL

menu appears.

2. Select a plane or edge to remain fixed when the part is unbent or bent back. The

flat pattern is created.

Example: Tweaked Flat Pattern

Sometimes you need to tweak the flattened version of your design to ensure the

manufactured version is accurate. For example, you may need to modify the corner

of an flattened box to account for unwanted deformation during the unbending

process. If you add a tweak feature to an unbent sheet metal part generally you

must suppress the protrusion before you can bend the model back.

Tweaked Flat Pattern

1. Box with rounded sides

and top. Vertical round

surfaces ripped out.

2. Box flattened with Flat Pattern feature. Note

the deformations at the corners after unbending.

3. Flat Protrusion feature

added to tweak the corner

geometry.

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159

Flat State

About Flat States

A flat state is a completely unbent copy of your part. It streamlines the creation of

flat patterns needed in manufacturing because you can create any number of flat

states, at any time in your design process, whether your part is fully formed or fully

flat. Flat states are managed with family tables.

With the flat state commands you can:

• Produce a new flat state instance with the Create command.

• Transfer any features you added specifically to a flat state from the flat state to

the generic part with the Update command. The only exceptions are features

you specifically suppressed. You can then delete or suppress desired features

which, in turn, are deleted or suppressed in any other flat state in that part's

family table.

• List the flat state instances related to the generic part you have open with the

Show command. Select a flat state instance and it opens in a separate window.

You can make any needed design changes.

Fully Formed Part Flat State (original) Flat State (modified)

While flat states are copies of the generic part, you can edit individual flat state

instances to make any necessary modifications. Any new features you add to a flat

state are enabled in that specific flat state instance but suppressed in the generic

part. Any features you delete from a flat state are suppressed in the specific flat

state instance but still enabled in the generic part. Keep in mind that any features

you add to the generic part, after you create the flat state, are added to all flat state

instances.

When you create a flat state instance it automatically adds to the generic part's

family table. And every feature change you make in the flat state instance records in

the generic part's family table. A new feature receives a new column. A deleted

feature also receives a new column, unless the appropriate column already exists.

Note: Features added to flat state instances behave like features added to regular

family table parts. However, if you suppress a flat protrusion or unbend, you cannot

resume them with the Resume > All command. You must resume those features

individually (Resume > Feat ID or Resume >By Table).


160

To Create a Flat State



3. Click Flat State. The FLAT STAT menu appears.

4. Click Create.

5. Type a name for the flat state instance and click .

If this is the first flat state instance for the generic part, the PART STATE menu

appears. Define the state the part is in:

• Fully Flat—The part is already unbent (or fully flat).

o Click Fully Flat. The Select dialog box opens.

o Select the unbend features that you used to unbend your part and click OK.

o Define the state to put the generic part in and click Yes or No.

• Fully Formed—Your part is bent (or as designed).

o Click Fully Formed. The Select and the Regular Type dialog box opens.

o Select a plane or edge to remain fixed while the part is unbent/bent back.

o Click OK in the Regular Type dialog box. The FLAT STAT menu appears.

6. Click Done/Return. The flat state is created.

To Show a Flat State



3. Click Flat State. The FLAT STAT menu appears.

4. Click Show. The Flat Models menu appears, listing all the flat states associated

with the part.

5. Select the desired flat state to show. The flat state opens in a separate window.

Detailing Your Sheet Metal Designs

About Detailing Your Sheet Metal Designs

Sheet metal drawings are the blue-prints of your sheet metal design. They enable

you to effectively communicate the layout and details needed for manufacture.

Because drawings are associative, any changes made to the part are updated in the

drawing - and vice versa.

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161

The following is a multi-model sheet metal drawing which displays some essential

sheet metal detail functionality:

Multi-model Sheet Metal Drawing

A Model One

B Model Two of the multi-model

drawing

1 Bend order table

2 Bend line notes

3 Driven dimensions

You can document the creation of the part using various views of the part and any

usual detailing capabilities. For example, you can:

• Display your part both in a designed condition and in a completely flattened

condition, in the same drawing. Sheet metal drawings are typically multi-model

drawings.

• Display bend order tables and bend ID notes for various views and models.

• Annotate your sheet metal drawing with bend line notes, which contain

information about the bend type, bend direction, and bend angle. You can

customize which model views display the notes, although generally only the flat

view of the model is annotated with bend line notes.


162

While you can customize the position of your bend line notes, the following

default placement formats are available in your sheet metal drawings:

o Horizontal bends:

a. Bend down—Below the bend line.

b. Bend up—Above the bend line.

o Vertical bends:

a. The bend line note is below the leader line which is terminated with a dot.

• Display the driven dimensions in your design. You can automatically ordinate the

dimensions in your drawing using the Automatic command. This command

saves you time when detailing and organizing your sheet metal model in

drawings.

To Create a Sheet Metal Drawing

Before proceeding, close all working windows.

1. Click File > New. The New dialog box opens.

2. Under Type, click Drawing.

3. In the Name box, type a name for your new sheet metal drawing.

o If you want to use the default template, click OK. Pro/ENGINEER opens a

new drawing.

o If you want to use a custom template:

Clear Use default template and click OK. The New File Options dialog

box opens.

Browse to the desired template. Click OK. The template file is assigned and

Pro/ENGINEER opens a new drawing.

Note: If an object type is not supported by a template the Use default

template option is not available. For template-supported file types, if you

always want to see the New File Options dialog box, set the

force_new_file_options_dialog configuration option to Yes. Remember,

this configuration setting may be overridden by your system administrator

in the config.sup file.

You can now add views of your sheet metal parts, display dimensions, bend line

notes, bend order tables, and other detailing information. See the Detailing module

for information on creating and customizing your sheet metal drawings.

Pro/SHEETMETAL

163

To Create Automatic Ordinate Dimensions

With your drawing open:

1. Click Insert > Ordinate. A sub-menu appears.

2. Click Automatic. The ordinate dimensions are added to your drawing. The

dimensions contain appropriate jogs, but you can organize them as needed.

To Display Bend Line Notes in Drawings


1. Click View > Show and Erase. The Show / Erase dialog box opens.

2. Click Show.

3. Under Type, click .

4. Under Show By, click the option (Feature, Part, View, Feature and View,

Part and View, or Show All) where to display the bend line notes.

5. Use the Options and Preview tabs to define what and when the bend notes

display.

6. Click Close. The bend line notes display in your drawing.

To Display Bend Order Tables in Drawings


1. Click View > Show and Erase. The Show / Erase dialog box opens.

2. Click Show.

3. Click .

4. Click Show All. The Confirm dialog box opens, asking: Are you sure that you want to show all?

5. Click Yes. The bend order table appears in the top left corner of the drawing. The

bend ID notes appear on the flattened view.

6. Click Done Sel. The Close button is now available on the Show / Erase dialog

box.

7. Click Close. The bend order table and bend ID notes are displayed.

165

Index

A

Adjusting bend lines.................... 130

Advanced walls

advanced wall types ...80, 85, 88, 97

creating.................................... 78

Advanced walls ............................ 77

Allowance and length of bends ......... 8

Angle bend type ......................... 126

Assembly..................................... 41

Auto fit........................................ 77

Automatic Ordinate Dimensions.... 163

B

Base part .................................. 152

Bend allowance and developed length

inheritance features ................. 152

Bend allowance and

developed length ......................... 8

Bend angle .................................... 8

Bend Back

creating.................................. 146

Bend Back ................................. 146

Bend conversion........................... 43

Bend features .............................. 21

Bend line notes

customizing ............................ 133

displaying in drawings .............. 163

Bend line notes .......................... 131

Bend lines ................................. 130

Bend Order Tables

clearing .................................... 23

creating ....................................22

displaying in drawings...............163

editing ......................................22

example....................................23

obtaining info.............................23

Bend Order Tables.........................21

Bend relief .................................129

Bend report................................155

Bend Tables

defining .............................. 15, 17

deleting ....................................19

editing ......................................16

example....................................19

layout .......................................19

resetting ...................................18

setting ......................................17

showing ....................................18

writing ......................................18

Bend Tables .................................11

Bends

about planar ............................136

about regular...........................134

about w/Transition ...................138

bending back ...........................146

creating planar.........................137

creating regular .......................134

creating w/Transition ................139

radius .....................................128

relief.......................................129

unbending ...............................140


166

Bends ....................................... 126

Blend walls

create general ........................... 74

creating parallel....................72, 73

creating rotational...................... 75

to import .................................. 79

Blend walls .................................. 71

Block-like parts ............................ 43

Blue-prints................................. 160

BOT file ....................................... 21

Boundary Blends ............... 85, 86, 87

Bounding surfaces ...................... 104

C

Chamfers .................................. 119

Circular ..................................... 147

color ........................................... 40

config.pro

setting ..................................... 36

config.pro.................................... 36

Configuration Options

feat_place_follow_unbend........... 37

initial_bend_y_factor.................. 37

merge_smt_srfs_without_seam ... 37

pro_sheet_met_dir..................... 37

pro_smt_params_dir .................. 38

punch_axis_points ..................... 38

smt_bend_notes_dflt_display ...... 38

smt_bend_notes_direction_down . 38

smt_bend_notes_direction_up ..... 38

smt_bend_notes_order............... 39

smt_bend_notes_type_formed .... 39

smt_bend_notes_type_rolled .......39

smt_crn_rel_display ...................39

smt_mp_method........................39

smt_outside_mold_lines..............40

system_sheetmetal_color ............40

template_sheetmetalpart ............40

Configuration Options ....................36

Controlled fit ................................77

Controls........................................ 8

Conversion Formula.......................11

Converting to sheet metal

example....................................48

To Convert to Sheet Metal ...........45

Converting to sheet metal ..............43

Converting to solid parts ................44

Corner Relief

configuring notes........................39

converting .................................43

creating feature .......................148

setting default..........................148

Corner Relief ..............................147

Corner type................................104

Cuts

creating sheet metal solid..........110

creating sheet metal thin...........111

creating solid-class ...................... 5

punch_axis_points......................38

Cuts ..........................................108

Cuts and datum axes...................109

D

Dashboard ............................. 5, 108

Index

167

Datum axes and cuts .................. 109

Datum curves ............................ 109

Default edge and surface ............... 24

Default plane ............................... 24

Defaults ...................................... 31

Defaults and parameters

assigning .................................. 33

editing...................................... 33

example ................................... 35

List of defaults........................... 31

List of defaults and parameters.... 33

retrieving.................................. 33

saving ...................................... 34

Defaults and parameters ............... 31

Deformation Areas

creating.................................. 150

Deformation Areas...................... 149

Design approach........................... 41

Design check ............................. 155

design environment ...................... 36

Design intent ............................... 40

Design Rules

assigning .................................. 28

defining .................................... 27

deleting .................................... 29

editing...................................... 29

example ................................... 30

showing.................................... 28

unassigning............................... 29

writing ..................................... 28

Design Rules................................ 25

Design standards ..........................25

Designing in sheet metal ................40

Detailing for manufacture.............160

Developed length and

bend allowance .................. 8, 9, 10

Die and punch reference parts ......117

Die form

To Create a Die Form................113

Die form ....................................112

Dimension values........................... 3

Dimensioning and order .................21

Directory......................................37

Distorted surfaces .......................149

Drawings

creating ..................................162

Drawings ...................................160

Driving surface conversion .............43

E

Edge bends

creating ..................................151

customizing .............................151

Edge bends ................................150

Edge rip conversion .......................43

Edge rips

Working with ...........................106

Edge rips ...................................104

Extend walls

creating ..................................102

Extend walls ...............................102

Extruded Walls

creating unattached....................69


168

creating with a bend................... 66

creating without a bend .............. 65

Extruded Walls ............................. 64

F

Feat Bend Tbl............................... 15

Feature

creating solid .............................. 5

modifying ................................... 4

obtaining information ................... 7

referencing ................................. 4

reordering............................... 4, 7

resuming .................................... 2

suppressing ................................ 2

Feature ..................................1, 2, 4

Feature geometry ......................... 31

Features in sheet metal ................. 40

Fixed Geometry

clearing .................................... 25

selecting................................... 24

showing.................................... 25

Fixed Geometry............................ 24

flat forms .................................... 39

flat patterns.......................... 39, 157

Flat States

creating.................................. 160

showing.................................. 160

Flat States ................................. 159

Flat walls

creating unattached ................... 55

creating with a bend................... 53

creating without a bend .........51, 52

Flat walls .....................................50

Flatten forms

creating ..................................120

Flatten forms..............................118

Follow..........................................37

Forms

creating a die...........................113

creating a punch ......................115

flattening forms .......................118

tip

punch and die reference parts .117

with hollows ............................113

Forms........................................112

From File .....................................15

From Part.....................................15

G

Guidelines ....................................25

H

Helical Sweeps........................ 97, 99

Holes.........................................119

Hollows......................................113

I

Inheritance features

creating ..................................154

feature behavior.......................152

Inheritance features ....................152

INITIAL_BEND_Y_FACTOR..............10

Inside of bend ............................128

Inside radius ................................10

Interface....................................... 5

Index

169

K

K- and Y-factors

setting k- and y-factors ................ 9

K- and Y-factors ........................... 10

L

Length developed ........................... 8

Length Formula ............................ 11

line for bends............................. 126

lines in sketches ............................. 3

M

Maintaining consistency................... 8

Manufacturing ............................ 155

Mass

compensating for ..................... 118

Mass........................................... 39

mass properties............................ 39

material stretching...................... 149

Material thickness........................... 8

Measurement ............................. 155

Merge geometry ......................... 152

Merge walls

creating.................................. 104

Merge walls ............................... 103

Merging surfaces .......................... 37

Metamorph option ...................... 140

MIN_CUT_TO BOUND.................... 25

MIN_CUT_TO_BEND...................... 25

MIN_DIST_BTWN_CUTS ................ 25

MIN_LASER_DIM .......................... 25

MIN_SLOT_TAB_HEIGHT ............... 25

MIN_SLOT_TAB_WIDTH ................ 25

MIN_WALL_HEIGHT.......................25

Model tree..................................... 7

mold lines ....................................40

Multi-model ................................160

Multiple direction bend.................149

N

Neutral bend line ..........................10

No Relief ....................................147

Nontangent edges .......................150

Normal to surf ........................ 77, 84

Note symbols ...............................39

Notes (bend line)

in drawings..............................163

Notes (bend line) ........................131

O

Obround relief ...................... 49, 129

Offset walls

creating offset............................77

Offset walls ..................................77

Options........................................36

Order and dimensioning .................21

Ordinate Dimensions ...................163

Outside of bend ..........................128

Overlapping walls........................102

P

parameters ..................................33

Parameters and defaults ................31

Parameters files ............................38

Part Bend Tbl................................15

Patterns.....................................157

Planar Bends ..............................136


170

Point relief ................................... 43

Primary walls ............................... 48

Project datum curves .................. 109

Punch and die reference parts ...... 117

Punch form

To Create a Punch Form............ 115

Punch form................................ 112

Punches and notches .....38, 121, 123,

124, 125, 142

R

Radii report ............................... 155

Radius of bend ........................... 128

Rectangular relief .................. 49, 129

Reference part ........................... 112

References sketching

skipped references ................... 122

References sketching ...................... 4

Regular Bends............................ 134

Regular rips ............................... 104

Regular unbends ........................ 143

Relief ............................49, 129, 147

Reports

creating.................................. 158

example ................................. 158

Reports .............................. 155, 156

Revolve walls

creating revolve......................... 71

Revolve walls ............................... 70

Rip connects

working with ............................. 47

Rip connects ................................ 43

Rip relief .............................. 49, 129

Rips

Creating edge rips ....................106

Creating regular rips .................105

Creating surface rips.................105

Working with edge rips..............106

Rips ..........................................104

Roll bend type ............................126

Rounds ......................................119

S

Same-surface merge .....................37

Secondary walls ............................48

Setting up ..................................... 8

Sheet metal parts

creating new............................... 2

obtaining information................... 7

Sheet metal parts .......................... 1

Shell conversion............................43

Sketching

deformation areas ....................149

Sketching...................................... 3

SMT_DFLT_ATTRIBUTES ................31

SMT_DFLT_BEND_ANGLE ...............33

SMT_DFLT_BEND_RADIUS .............33

SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_ANGLE ........33

SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_DEPTH ........31

SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_TYPE...........31

SMT_DFLT_BEND_REL_WIDTH........33

SMT_DFLT_CRNR_REL_DEPTH ........33

SMT_DFLT_CRNR_REL_TYPE...........31

SMT_DFLT_CRNR_REL_WIDTH........33

Index

171

SMT_DFLT_DEPTH_OPTION ........... 31

SMT_DFLT_RADIUS_SIDE.............. 31

SMT_K_FACTOR ........................... 31

SMT_PART_BEND_ALLOW_DFLTS ... 31

SMT_SHARPS_TO_BEND................ 31

SMT_Y_FACTOR ........................... 31

SMT-MATERIAL ............................ 31

Solid features

stamping edges ....................... 119

Solid features................................. 5

Specified surface ........................ 128

Stamped edges .......................... 119

Stretch relief......................... 49, 129

Surface Analysis ......................... 155

Surface and edge defaults ............. 24

Surface Blends .................. 78, 79, 80

Surface rips ............................... 104

Swap sides ................................ 103

Swept Blends ...............89, 92, 93, 95

Swept walls

creating with a bend..............56, 62

creating without a bend .........58, 60

Swept walls ................................. 58

T

Tapered edges ........................... 108

Target part ................................ 152

Thicken line ................................... 3

Thin protrusions ........................... 43

Toolbar

customizing ................................ 5

using.......................................... 5

Toolbar ......................................... 5

Transition...................................101

Transition unbends......................144

Twist walls

creating ..................................101

Twist walls .................................101

U

Unbend

about regular...........................143

about transition........................144

about xsec-driven.....................145

bend back ...............................146

best practices ..........................143

creating a regular.....................144

creating a transition..................144

creating an xsec-driven.............145

Unbend......................................140

Unbending Undevelopable Surfaces

to unbend undevelopable surfaces

...........................................141

Unbending Undevelopable

Surfaces..................................141

unbent part ................................159

Undevelopable surface .................149

V

Variable Section Sweeps 81, 82, 83, 84

W

w/Transition Bends......................138

Walls

advanced wall ............................77

blend wall..................................71

extend wall..............................102


172

extruded wall ............................ 64

flange wall ................................ 56

flat wall .................................... 50

merge wall.............................. 103

offset wall ................................. 77

revolve wall .............................. 70

swept wall ................................ 58

twist wall ................................ 101

wall relief.................................. 49

wall types ................................. 50

Walls .......................................... 48

X

Xsec-driven unbends ...................145

Y

Y- and K-factor

default equation .......................... 8

setting y- and k-factors................ 9

Y- and K-factor .............................10

Y-factor ........................................ 8

Z

Zero-radius bends .......................128

sheet metal design

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