The goal of this course is to teach you to create sheetmetal parts, flat patterns and drawings in SOLIDWORKS. Sheetmetal design functions and techniques are useful for creating sheetmetal parts to enclose or house product designs.
Convert imported sheetmetal part geometry into SOLIDWORKS feature-based, sheetmetal, parametric models. Recognize common sheetmetal features such as Base Flanges and Sketched Bends. Flatten the result to view the flat pattern. Use a hybrid approach combining the automatic and interactive methods.
SOLIDWORKS includes a suite of specialized tools for surfacing, sheetmetal, weldments, mold design, and routing. This learning path provides a brief introduction to these additional areas of the software.
Learning Path
2 years ago
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Learn about the Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional Advanced SheetMetal exam. Understand some of the SOLIDWORKS skills you need to achieve certification. Review some of the questions from the sample exam.
Learn about the Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional Advanced SheetMetal exam. Understand some of the SOLIDWORKS skills you need to achieve certification. Review some of the questions from the sample exam.
Create a sheetmetal part of constant wall thickness using sheetmetal features. Explore the fundamentals of creating sheetmetal parts using the flange method. Create a base flange in a sheetmetal part. Understand the use of gauge tables and sheetmetal options. Flatten a sheetmetal part.
Learn properties specific to sheetmetal. Use the SheetMetal feature to control sheetmetal gauges, bend allowances, and Auto Relief options. Use the SheetMetal feature to control sheetmetal properties. Use a gauge table to control sheetmetal gauges. Understand and use the 5 options to control the bend allowance. Use the Auto Relief feature to contol the type and location of relief cuts.
Utilize sheetmetal and weldment features in one part using a multibody part. Use fillet and weld beads on sheetmetal parts. Create a sheetmetal fixture on a weldments part. Use filllet beads and weld beads on a sheetmetal part.
A multibody sheetmetal part has multiple sets of specific sheetmetal features in the same feature tree. There are also multiple flat pattern features. The cut list shows each individual body. Learn the process for creating a multibody sheetmetal part, and also some of the uses of such a part. Use sheetmetal tools to create a new sheetmetal body. Use a linear or circular pattern, mirror, or move/copy to duplicate a body. Use Insert Part to add a body into an existing sheetmetal part. Divide a sheetmetal body into multiple bodies. Learn some of the basic uses of multibody sheetmetal design.
Sketch and loft between two sketch profiles to create a sheetmetal part. Understand the requirements for the sketch profiles and the loft feature. Sketch the profiles for a lofted sheetmetal part. Understand the requirements for a lofted sheetmetal part. Set the thickness and bend line options.
Add a jog to an existing flange. A jog adds material to a sheetmetal part by creating two bends and a flat from a sketch line. The mirror feature adds symmetry in sheetmetal designs. Add a jog to an existing flange. Incorporate symmetry in sheetmetal designs. Position a jog.
Export sheetmetal bodies to .dxf or .dwg files. Examine and edit parts in the DXF/DWG Cleanup window. Export sheetmetal bodies to .dxf or .dwg files. Examine and edit parts in the DXF/DWG Cleanup window.
Create cuts on both folded and flattened sheetmetal parts. Utilize the link to thickness and normal cut options. Convert a part to sheetmetal and use a curve pattern to make multiple cuts on a cone. Create cuts on both folded and flattened sheetmetal parts. Convert a part to sheetmetal. Use a curve pattern to make multiple cuts on a cone. Utilize the link to thickness and normal cut options.
Create folded hems on sheetmetal parts to strengthen parts and eliminate sharp edges. Use the hem tool to edit the size, type, direction, and length of hems. Add folded hems on sheetmetal parts. Practice creating hems and editing the type and dimensions.
Import parts into SOLIDWORKS, then use the rip feature to create thin cuts in sheetmetal geometry between adjacent flanges. Insert bends to convert the model to a sheetmetal part to flatten and further edit the part. Import other file types into SOLIDWORKS. Use rip feature to create thin cuts. Add bends to part to convert part to sheetmetal.
Create a swept flange using profile and path sketches. Create profile and path sketches for a swept flange. Use the Swept Flange feature to create a swept flange. Define sheetmetal parameters within the Swept Flange tab.
Explore the Edge Flange feature, including edge selection, bend direction, and other pertinent options. Create an edge flange. Learn and understand the different options for edge flange.
Bend a sheetmetal part by using a line sketched on a flat portion of the sheetmetal body. Bend a sheetmetal part in two locations using separate sketches. Sketch bend lines.
Utilize cut list properties for multibody sheetmetal parts. Assign custom properties to the individual sheetmetal bodies. Create a customized cut list table for the sheetmetal part.
Explore the Miter Flange feature, including sketching the profile, edge selection, and other pertinent options. Create a miter flange. Learn and understand the different options for miter flange.
Explore flat pattern feature options including parameters, corner options, grain direction, and faces to exclude. Create a drawing from a flat pattern, adding dimensions and other annotations. Explore flat pattern options. Create a drawing from a flat pattern.
Explore gauge tables and bend tables which store default values of specifc parts. Populate and utilize sample tables provided during installation. Create and customize the sample tables to meet your own needs. Customize and create bend tables. Understand the use of gauge tables and bend tables.
The Design Library contains a number of sample forming tools, including embosses, extruded flanges, lances, louvers, and ribs. Learn to use these standard tools, as well as to create your own simple custom tools, to meet design needs. Drag and drop standard forming tools from the Design Library to form a sheetmetal part. Edit a standard forming tool, customizing it to meet individual design needs. Set the stopping face and faces to remove within a part to be used as a custom forming tool.