Donate

AddBase

Extrude

SheetMetal

Description

The SheetMetal AddWall command creates flanges on selected edges of a base plate. By changing the Dataangle property a flange it can be turned into a hem.

A flange consists of a 90° cylindrical bend and a planar strip (wall).

Two selected edges → two flanges

Resetting the Dataangle property to about 180° in a second step will create a hem instead.

Two selected edges → two hems

Usage

1. Select one or more edge(s) of a base plate.
2. There are several ways to invoke the command:
   • Press the Make Wall button.
   • Select the Sheet Metal → Make Wall option from the menu.
   • Right-click in the Tree view or the 3D view and select the Sheet Metal → Make Wall option from the context menu.
   • Use the keyboard shortcut: W.
3. A Bend object is created and the Flange properties Task panel opens with the General tab selected.

   The bend object consists of one new flange at each selected edge.

4. Optionally press the Select button to add more edges.
   • Optionally press the Clear selection button to clear the list of selected edges (introduced in 0.7.11 but doesn't work properly).
   • Press the Preview button to finish the selection and display the changes.
5. Optionally select another tab and adjust more parameters in the Task panel.
6. Press the OK button to finish the command and close the Task panel.
7. Optionally adjust the parameters in the Property editor.

Task panel

A Task panel with four tabs was introduced in 0.6.00

Double-click an existing Bend object in the Tree view to re-open the Task panel and edit the parameters.

General

• Select: Changes the amount of edges in the base Object property.
• Length: Sets the length property.
• Reverse the wall: Toggles the invert property.
• Length mode: Sets the Length Spec property.
• Bend radius: Sets the radius property.
• Bend angle: Sets the angle property.
• Face reference: Toggles the Angle Face Ref Mode property.

  If activated, it switches the Bend angle option to read-only mode and displays two further options:

  • Reference: Awaits a face to be selected in the 3d view and links it to the Angle Face Reference property.
  • Relative angle: Sets the Relative Angle To Ref property and also the angle property..
• Unfold: Toggles the unfold property.

Offsets

• Gap A: Sets the gap1 property.
• Gap B: Sets the gap2 property.
• Extend A: Sets the extend1 property.
• Extend B: Toggles the extend2 property.
• Rectangle and Round radio buttons: Toggle Relief Type property.
• Width: Sets the reliefw property.
• Depth: Toggles the reliefd property.

Miter

• Auto Miter: Toggles the Auto Miter property.

  If checked:

  • Minimum Gap: Sets the minGap property.
  • Max Extend Distance: Sets the max Extend Dist property.

  If unchecked:

  • Angle 1: sets the miteralgle1 property.
  • Angle 2: sets the miteralgle2 property.

Perforation

• Perforate: Toggles the Perforate property.

  If checked:

  • Angle: Sets the Perforation Angle property.
  • Initial Cut Length: Sets the Perforation Initial Length property.
  • Max Cut Length: Sets the Perforation Max Length property.
  • Max Tab Length: Sets the Nonperforation Max Length property.

Notes

To create a base plate use a closed 2D outline - preferably a Sketch - with the Make Base Wall command.

Alternatively a base plate (blank) can be created with commands from the Part Workbench or PartDesign Workbench.

To create a blank with the Part Workbench:

1. Create a solid using either:
   • Part Box.
   • Part Extrude from:
     • A Draft Rectangle.
     • A Draft Wire.
     • A Sketch.
2. Make sure one the dimensions of the Box or the extrusion distance equals the sheet metal thickness.

To create a blank with the PartDesign Workbench:

1. Create a solid using either:
   • Additive Box.
   • PartDesign Pad from a Sketch.
2. Make sure one the dimensions of the Box or the DataLength property of the Pad equals the sheet metal thickness.

If you start with a PartDesign Body, you can mix SheetMetal features with PartDesign features such as PartDesign Pocket or PartDesign Hole.

Properties

See also: Property editor.

A SheetMetal Bend object is derived from a Part Feature object or, if it is inside a PartDesign Body, from a PartDesign Feature object, and inherits all its properties. It also has the following additional properties:

Data

Parameters

• DataBend Type (Enumeration): "Bend Type". Material Outside (default), Material Inside, Thickness Outside, Offset.
• DataLength Spec (Enumeration): "Type of Length Specification". Leg (default), Outer Sharp, Inner Sharp, Tangential.
• Dataangle (Angle): "Bend Angle". Default angle: 90,00°.
• Database Object (LinkSub): "Base Object". Link to the planar face to receive a bend.
• Dataextend1 (Distance): "Extend from Left Side". Default: 0,00 mm.
• Dataextend2 (Distance): "Extend from Right Side". Default: 0,00 mm.
• Datagap1 (Distance): "Gap from Left side". Default: 0,00 mm.
• Datagap2 (Distance): "Gap from Right side". Default: 0,00 mm.
• Datainvert (Bool): "Invert Bend Direction". Default: false.
• Datalength (Length): "Length of Wall". Default: 10,00 mm.
• Dataradius (Length): "Bend Radius", the default value depends on the radius property of the parent feature:
  • That property is not existent: This property is set to 1,00 mm.
  • That property contains a numeric value: An expression linking that property is inserted into this property.
  • That property contains an expression: The expression is copied into this property.

Parameters Ex

• DataAngle Face Ref Mode (Bool): "Enable face reference for angle". Default: true. introduced in 0.7.11
• DataAngle Face Referene (LinkSub): "Face reference for angle". Default: true. introduced in 0.7.11
• DataAuto Miter (Bool): "Enable Auto Miter". Default: true.
• DataOffset Face Ref Mode (Bool): "Enable face reference for offset". Default: true. introduced in 0.7.11
• Data Offset Face Reference (LinkSub): "Face reference for offset". Default: true. introduced in 0.7.11
• DataOffset Type (Enumeration): "Offset Type". introduced in 0.7.11

  Values: Material Outside, Material Inside (default), Thickness Outside, Offset.

• DataOffset Type Offset (Distance): "Works when offset face reference is on. It offsets by a normal distance from the offset reference face". Default: 0.00. introduced in 0.7.11
• DataRelative Angle To Ref (Angle): "Relative angle to the face reference". Default: 0.00. introduced in 0.7.11
• DataSuppl Angle Ref (Bool): "Supplementary angle reference". Default: true. introduced in 0.7.11
• Datakfactor (FloatConstraint): "Location of Neutral Line. Caution: Using ANSI standards, not DIN.".
  Default: 0,50. K factor (also known as neutral factor) for the bend. Used to calculate bend allowance when unfolding.
• Datamax Extend Dist (Length): "Auto Miter maximum Extend Distance". Default: 5,00 mm.
• Datamin Gap (Length): "Auto Miter Minimum Gap". Default: 0,20 mm.
• Datamin Relief Gap (Length): "Minimum Gap to Relief Cut". Default: 1,00 mm.
• Dataoffset (Distance): "Offset Bend". Default: 0,00 mm.
• Dataunfold (Bool): "Shows Unfold View of Current Bend". Default: false
true unfolds the bend.

Parameters Ex2

• DataSketch (Link): "Sketch Object".
• Datasketchflip (Bool): "Flip Sketch Direction". Default: false.
• Datasketchinvert (Bool): "Invert Sketch Start". Default: false.

Parameters Ex3

• DataLength List (FloatList): "Length of Wall List". Default: [10.00].
• Databend AList (FloatList): "Bend Angle List". Default: [90.00].

Parameters Miterangle

• Datamiterangle1 (Angle): "Bend Miter Angle from Left Side". Default angle: 0,00°.
• Datamiterangle2 (Angle): "Bend Miter Angle from Right Side". Default angle: 0,00°.

Parameters Perforation

• DataNonperforation Max Length (Length): "Non-Perforation Max Length". Default: 5 mm.
• DataPerforate (Bool): "Enable perforation". Default: false.
• DataPerforation Angle (Angle): "Perforation Angle". Default: 0 °.
• DataPerforation initial Length (Length): "Initial Perforation Length". Default: 5 mm.
• DataPerforation Max Length (Length): "Perforation Max Length". Default: 5 mm.

Parameters Relief

• DataRelief Factor (Float): "Relief Factor". Default: 0,70.
• DataUse Relief Factor (Bool): "Use Relief Factor". Default: false.
• Datarelief Type (Enumeration): "Relief Type". Rectangle (default), Round. Enabled only when a gap value is set.
• Datareliefd (Length): "Relief Depth". Default: 1,00 mm. Enabled only when a gap value is set.
• Datareliefw (Length): "Relief Width". Default: 0,80 mm. Enabled only when a gap value is set.

Example

A simple tray

AddBase

Extrude

SheetMetal