Comments on: SolidWorks Sheetmetal Tips to Flip http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/ SolidWorks Tips and the Coolest Technology, Product Design, and Social Media in the entire world of 3D CAD. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:51:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: lol http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-11032 lol Sun, 31 Aug 2008 06:51:05 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-11032 i like boobies i like boobies

]]> By: dp4349 http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-10576 dp4349 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:01:06 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-10576 I have been able to extract flat pattern sizes by flattening the part and drawing a box around the edges and making them construction lines. Set all lines colinear with each edge and dimension them and set them as driven. set each dimension on to "Length" and the other to "Width" this will allow you to read the length and width of the flat pattern. Make sure to call the sketch "cutsize" under configuration specific properties creat a value called ie: "Length@cutsize@@Default@Part1" and do the same for "Width" <br>You will have have to use a Macro to fold and unfold each configuration. Here is the Macro is use to unfold and fold all configurations: remember you have do run this macro to be able to update all configurations with thier appropriate flat pattern dimension.<br><br>Dim swApp As Object<br>Dim Part As Object<br>Dim SelMgr As Object<br>Dim boolstatus As Boolean<br>Dim V As Variant<br>Dim i As Long<br>Dim retval<br><br>Sub main()<br><br>Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")<br>Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc<br>Set SelMgr = Part.SelectionManager<br>retval = Part.GetPathName<br>boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Flat-Pattern1", "BODYFEATURE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)<br>Part.EditUnsuppress<br>Part.ClearSelection2 True<br>boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Flat-Pattern1", "BODYFEATURE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)<br>Part.EditSuppress<br>Part.ClearSelection2 True<br>V = swApp.GetConfigurationNames(retval) 'since Part = swApp.ActiveDoc; otherwise should be path filename of doc<br>For i = 0 To UBound(V) 'loop for each config name set to variable i<br>boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2(V(i), "CONFIGURATIONS", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)<br>Part.ShowConfiguration V(i)<br>boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Flat-Pattern1", "BODYFEATURE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)<br>Part.EditUnsuppress<br>Part.ClearSelection2 True<br>boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Flat-Pattern1", "BODYFEATURE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)<br>Part.EditSuppress<br>Part.ClearSelection2 True<br>Next i<br>End Sub I have been able to extract flat pattern sizes by flattening the part and drawing a box around the edges and making them construction lines. Set all lines colinear with each edge and dimension them and set them as driven. set each dimension on to "Length" and the other to "Width" this will allow you to read the length and width of the flat pattern. Make sure to call the sketch "cutsize" under configuration specific properties creat a value called ie: "Length@cutsize@@Default@Part1" and do the same for "Width" <br>You will have have to use a Macro to fold and unfold each configuration. Here is the Macro is use to unfold and fold all configurations: remember you have do run this macro to be able to update all configurations with thier appropriate flat pattern dimension.<br><br>Dim swApp As Object<br>Dim Part As Object<br>Dim SelMgr As Object<br>Dim boolstatus As Boolean<br>Dim V As Variant<br>Dim i As Long<br>Dim retval<br><br>Sub main()<br><br>Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")<br>Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc<br>Set SelMgr = Part.SelectionManager<br>retval = Part.GetPathName<br>boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Flat-Pattern1", "BODYFEATURE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)<br>Part.EditUnsuppress<br>Part.ClearSelection2 True<br>boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Flat-Pattern1", "BODYFEATURE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)<br>Part.EditSuppress<br>Part.ClearSelection2 True<br>V = swApp.GetConfigurationNames(retval) 'since Part = swApp.ActiveDoc; otherwise should be path filename of doc<br>For i = 0 To UBound(V) 'loop for each config name set to variable i<br>boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2(V(i), "CONFIGURATIONS", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)<br>Part.ShowConfiguration V(i)<br>boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Flat-Pattern1", "BODYFEATURE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)<br>Part.EditUnsuppress<br>Part.ClearSelection2 True<br>boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Flat-Pattern1", "BODYFEATURE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)<br>Part.EditSuppress<br>Part.ClearSelection2 True<br>Next i<br>End Sub

]]> By: dp4349 http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-6858 dp4349 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:01:06 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-6858 I have been able to extract flat pattern sizes by flattening the part and drawing a box around the edges and making them construction lines. Set all lines colinear with each edge and dimension them and set them as driven. set each dimension on to "Length" and the other to "Width" this will allow you to read the length and width of the flat pattern. Make sure to call the sketch "cutsize" under configuration specific properties creat a value called ie: "Length@cutsize@@Default@Part1" and do the same for "Width" You will have have to use a Macro to fold and unfold each configuration. Here is the Macro is use to unfold and fold all configurations: remember you have do run this macro to be able to update all configurations with thier appropriate flat pattern dimension. Dim swApp As Object Dim Part As Object Dim SelMgr As Object Dim boolstatus As Boolean Dim V As Variant Dim i As Long Dim retval Sub main() Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application") Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc Set SelMgr = Part.SelectionManager retval = Part.GetPathName boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Flat-Pattern1", "BODYFEATURE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0) Part.EditUnsuppress Part.ClearSelection2 True boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Flat-Pattern1", "BODYFEATURE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0) Part.EditSuppress Part.ClearSelection2 True V = swApp.GetConfigurationNames(retval) 'since Part = swApp.ActiveDoc; otherwise should be path & filename of doc For i = 0 To UBound(V) 'loop for each config name set to variable i boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2(V(i), "CONFIGURATIONS", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0) Part.ShowConfiguration V(i) boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Flat-Pattern1", "BODYFEATURE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0) Part.EditUnsuppress Part.ClearSelection2 True boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2("Flat-Pattern1", "BODYFEATURE", 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0) Part.EditSuppress Part.ClearSelection2 True Next i End Sub I have been able to extract flat pattern sizes by flattening the part and drawing a box around the edges and making them construction lines. Set all lines colinear with each edge and dimension them and set them as driven. set each dimension on to “Length” and the other to “Width” this will allow you to read the length and width of the flat pattern. Make sure to call the sketch “cutsize” under configuration specific properties creat a value called ie: “Length@cutsize@@Default@Part1″ and do the same for “Width”
You will have have to use a Macro to fold and unfold each configuration. Here is the Macro is use to unfold and fold all configurations: remember you have do run this macro to be able to update all configurations with thier appropriate flat pattern dimension.

Dim swApp As Object
Dim Part As Object
Dim SelMgr As Object
Dim boolstatus As Boolean
Dim V As Variant
Dim i As Long
Dim retval

Sub main()

Set swApp = CreateObject(”SldWorks.Application”)
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
Set SelMgr = Part.SelectionManager
retval = Part.GetPathName
boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2(”Flat-Pattern1″, “BODYFEATURE”, 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)
Part.EditUnsuppress
Part.ClearSelection2 True
boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2(”Flat-Pattern1″, “BODYFEATURE”, 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)
Part.EditSuppress
Part.ClearSelection2 True
V = swApp.GetConfigurationNames(retval) ’since Part = swApp.ActiveDoc; otherwise should be path & filename of doc
For i = 0 To UBound(V) ‘loop for each config name set to variable i
boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2(V(i), “CONFIGURATIONS”, 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)
Part.ShowConfiguration V(i)
boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2(”Flat-Pattern1″, “BODYFEATURE”, 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)
Part.EditUnsuppress
Part.ClearSelection2 True
boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID2(”Flat-Pattern1″, “BODYFEATURE”, 0, 0, 0, False, 0, Nothing, 0)
Part.EditSuppress
Part.ClearSelection2 True
Next i
End Sub

]]> By: Swapnil Kulkarni http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-1552 Swapnil Kulkarni Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:42:08 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-1552 Hi There, We are a Indian based company. We have developed a software based on SolidWorks for Sheet Metal. It generates Cutting & Bending drawings for Sheet Metal parts with all information required for costing of Sheet Metal like thickness, no. of pierces, cutting length, no. of bends & surface area etc. Please let me know you no. so that I can explain you this further. With regards, Swapnil. Hi There,

We are a Indian based company. We have developed a software based on SolidWorks for Sheet Metal. It generates Cutting & Bending drawings for Sheet Metal parts with all information required for costing of Sheet Metal like thickness, no. of pierces, cutting length, no. of bends & surface area etc.

Please let me know you no. so that I can explain you this further.

With regards,

Swapnil.

]]> By: Swapnil Kulkarni http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-9529 Swapnil Kulkarni Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:42:08 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-9529 Hi There,<br><br><br><br>We are a Indian based company. We have developed a software based on SolidWorks for Sheet Metal. It generates Cutting Bending drawings for Sheet Metal parts with all information required for costing of Sheet Metal like thickness, no. of pierces, cutting length, no. of bends surface area etc.<br><br><br><br>Please let me know you no. so that I can explain you this further.<br><br><br><br>With regards,<br><br><br><br>Swapnil. Hi There,

We are a Indian based company. We have developed a software based on SolidWorks for Sheet Metal. It generates Cutting Bending drawings for Sheet Metal parts with all information required for costing of Sheet Metal like thickness, no. of pierces, cutting length, no. of bends surface area etc.

Please let me know you no. so that I can explain you this further.

With regards,

Swapnil.

]]> By: Josh http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-9528 Josh Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:47:42 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-9528 <em>C:Program FilesSolidWorkslangenglishSheet Metal Gauge Tables</em> and <em>Sheetmetal Bend Tables</em>. You can take one of those and modify it to what your shop uses. To use these, In the Sheet Metal Properties, select the gauge table in the Sheet Metal Parameters, and select Bend Table in the Bend Allowance pulldown. Your shop may have these values set up already, so check with them first. C:Program FilesSolidWorkslangenglishSheet Metal Gauge Tables and Sheetmetal Bend Tables. You can take one of those and modify it to what your shop uses. To use these, In the Sheet Metal Properties, select the gauge table in the Sheet Metal Parameters, and select Bend Table in the Bend Allowance pulldown. Your shop may have these values set up already, so check with them first.

]]> By: Josh http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-1549 Josh Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:47:42 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-1549 Hi Ed, you can do this fairly easy with a Gauge Tables and Bend Tables. There's sample ones in <em>C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\lang\english\Sheet Metal Gauge Tables</em> and <em>\Sheetmetal Bend Tables</em>. You can take one of those and modify it to what your shop uses. To use these, In the Sheet Metal Properties, select the gauge table in the Sheet Metal Parameters, and select Bend Table in the Bend Allowance pulldown. Your shop may have these values set up already, so check with them first. Hi Ed, you can do this fairly easy with a Gauge Tables and Bend Tables. There’s sample ones in C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\lang\english\Sheet Metal Gauge Tables and \Sheetmetal Bend Tables. You can take one of those and modify it to what your shop uses. To use these, In the Sheet Metal Properties, select the gauge table in the Sheet Metal Parameters, and select Bend Table in the Bend Allowance pulldown. Your shop may have these values set up already, so check with them first.

]]> By: Ed http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-1548 Ed Mon, 29 Oct 2007 11:34:33 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-1548 Interesting problem for you.... I have two configurations of a sheet metal part, but i want to use a different thickness for each configuration. That in itself is not the problem - this is easily done by double clicking the part and changing the linked value - but what doesn't change is the bend allowance/deduction. is there a way in which i can change this too? Interesting problem for you….

I have two configurations of a sheet metal part, but i want to use a different thickness for each configuration. That in itself is not the problem - this is easily done by double clicking the part and changing the linked value - but what doesn’t change is the bend allowance/deduction. is there a way in which i can change this too?

]]> By: Ernest hafner http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-9527 Ernest hafner Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:42:23 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-9527 Many Thanks to Steve R. Josh ...<br>Have downloaded zip have a look.<br><br>Thank you both for your help.<br>Ernest Many Thanks to Steve R. Josh …
Have downloaded zip have a look.

Thank you both for your help.
Ernest

]]> By: Ernest hafner http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-1543 Ernest hafner Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:42:23 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-1543 Many Thanks to Steve R. & Josh ... Have downloaded zip & have a look. Thank you both for your help. Ernest Many Thanks to Steve R. & Josh …
Have downloaded zip & have a look.

Thank you both for your help.
Ernest

]]> By: Josh http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-9526 Josh Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:23:50 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-9526 <a href="http://kcswug.com/" rel="nofollow">the site</a> and that <a href="http://kcswug.com/documents/WT%20SWW07%20SM%20Presentation.zip" rel="nofollow">zip file</a> (13.4 MB) the site and that zip file (13.4 MB)

]]> By: Josh http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-1545 Josh Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:23:50 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-1545 Thanks Steve, here is the direct link to <a href="http://kcswug.com/" rel="nofollow">the site</a> and that <a href="http://kcswug.com/documents/WT%20SWW07%20SM%20Presentation.zip" rel="nofollow">zip file</a> (13.4 MB) Thanks Steve, here is the direct link to the site and that zip file (13.4 MB)

]]> By: Steve R. http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-1544 Steve R. Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:16:32 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-1544 Ernest - If you go to the Kansas City SolidWorks User Group website (kcswug.com), Wayne put his Most Excellent SWW2007 Sheetmetal Presentation in a zip file you can download. On page 107 of that presentation (did I mention how excellent it was?) there is a description of a method to extract flat pattern dimensions. I know it's not "automatic," but it is parametric, so there is certainly value in that. Ernest -
If you go to the Kansas City SolidWorks User Group website (kcswug.com), Wayne put his Most Excellent SWW2007 Sheetmetal Presentation in a zip file you can download. On page 107 of that presentation (did I mention how excellent it was?) there is a description of a method to extract flat pattern dimensions. I know it’s not “automatic,” but it is parametric, so there is certainly value in that.

]]> By: Ernest hafner http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-1547 Ernest hafner Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:01:35 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-1547 Thanks for you tip. However, I need more than Thickness. I also need length & width. What I am trying to do is create a somewhat automated cut list for thousands of sheet metal parts used in a large assembly. With help of "ToolWorks" (a third party SolidWorks Partner), I can genarate a Top level BOM. From Assy. Model. ToolWorks also has the ability to automaticaly extract values from d1@sketch1, d2@sketch2, etc. Since SolidWorks already knows the size of the flat patter, I was looking for x1@flat-patern1, y2@flat-patern1, z1@flat-patern1 and extract these values via VB macro. (provideing model variables even exits) I don't know. .. but it looks like NOT!! Failing that, I'm stuck having to go back to a couple of thousnad parts and measuring the flat patern. What shit when I know SW already calculated the sizes but can't get at them. This makes sheet metal functions very poor in SW a way too maual. Thanks for you tip. However, I need more than Thickness.
I also need length & width. What I am trying to do is create a somewhat
automated cut list for thousands of sheet metal parts used in a large
assembly. With help of “ToolWorks” (a third party SolidWorks Partner),
I can genarate a Top level BOM. From Assy. Model. ToolWorks also has the ability to automaticaly extract values from d1@sketch1, d2@sketch2, etc.

Since SolidWorks already knows the size of the flat patter, I was looking
for x1@flat-patern1, y2@flat-patern1, z1@flat-patern1 and extract
these values via VB macro. (provideing model variables even exits)
I don’t know. .. but it looks like NOT!!

Failing that, I’m stuck having to go back to a couple of thousnad parts
and measuring the flat patern. What shit when I know SW already calculated
the sizes but can’t get at them.

This makes sheet metal functions very poor in SW a way too maual.

]]> By: Josh http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-9525 Josh Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:09:12 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-9525 Thanks Alex. Custom Properties are definitely the way to go. Great to use as a check also. Thanks Alex. Custom Properties are definitely the way to go. Great to use as a check also.

]]> By: Josh http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-1542 Josh Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:09:12 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-1542 Thanks Alex. Custom Properties are definitely the way to go. Great to use as a check also. Thanks Alex. Custom Properties are definitely the way to go. Great to use as a check also.

]]> By: Alex http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-1541 Alex Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:41:28 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-1541 For Thickness; Go to File > Properties > Custom tab Under Property Name type 'Sheet Thickness' or similar. Click in the Value column and select 'thickness'. The Value column should now show your sheet thickness. The value can now be linked into your drawing notes etc. Hope this helps. For Thickness;
Go to File > Properties > Custom tab

Under Property Name type ‘Sheet Thickness’ or similar.
Click in the Value column and select ‘thickness’.
The Value column should now show your sheet thickness.

The value can now be linked into your drawing notes etc.
Hope this helps.

]]> By: Ernest hafner http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-9524 Ernest hafner Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:36:23 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-9524 What I desperately need is a way to extract the<br>sheet metal size of the flat pattern. There is no information provided by solidworks except that I know solidworks must have a X@flatpatern, Y@flatpatern, Z@flatpatern.<br>(Thickness, Width, Length)<br><br>Otherwise, the geometry could not exists.<br><br>QUESTION: What are the three (x,y,z) variables are?<br><br> or<br><br>Is there a macro to obtain these values add to properties What I desperately need is a way to extract the
sheet metal size of the flat pattern. There is no information provided by solidworks except that I know solidworks must have a X@flatpatern, Y@flatpatern, Z@flatpatern.
(Thickness, Width, Length)

Otherwise, the geometry could not exists.

QUESTION: What are the three (x,y,z) variables are?

or

Is there a macro to obtain these values add to properties

]]> By: Ernest hafner http://www.solidsmack.com/solidworks-sheetmetal-tips-to-flip/2007-10-04/#comment-1546 Ernest hafner Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:36:23 +0000 http://www.solidsmack.com/?p=457#comment-1546 What I desperately need is a way to extract the sheet metal size of the flat pattern. There is no information provided by solidworks except that I know solidworks must have a X@flatpatern, Y@flatpatern, & Z@flatpatern. (Thickness, Width, Length) Otherwise, the geometry could not exists. QUESTION: What are the three (x,y,z) variables are? or Is there a macro to obtain these values & add to properties What I desperately need is a way to extract the
sheet metal size of the flat pattern. There is no information provided by solidworks except that I know solidworks must have a X@flatpatern, Y@flatpatern, & Z@flatpatern.
(Thickness, Width, Length)

Otherwise, the geometry could not exists.

QUESTION: What are the three (x,y,z) variables are?

or

Is there a macro to obtain these values & add to properties

]]>