2010

aluminum to stainless steel. A change of material often requires changes to
the attributes that define bends and corners. Such changes often require
changes to shop floor machinery and set-ups used to fabricate the parts.
Like other parts created within Autodesk Inventor, sheet metal parts begin
with a base feature. The base feature of a sheet metal part is often a single face
of some shape to which other features (often flanges) are added. A complex
design could use a contour flange or contour roll as the initial base feature.
Some parts could utilize a lofted flange as the initial feature.
Unlike regular parts, sheet metal parts are always created from a uniformly
thick sheet that is flat. This sheet is formed into the final part using various
fabrication techniques. In the sheet metal environment, you can create a
folded model and unfold it into a flat pattern. The flat pattern is typically
used to detail the fabrication. The sheet metal commands you use to work
with flat patterns can provide critical fabrication information.
If a regular part created in Autodesk Inventor is of a consistent thickness, you
can convert it to a sheet metal part. The same is true for parts imported from
other systems.
LocationFor more information
Search:
“Sheet Metal Defaults”
Help topics
“Templates for sheet metal parts”
Build sheet metal partsTutorial
Parts:
Sheet Metal Punch iFeatures - part 1
Skill Builders
Sheet Metal Punch iFeatures - part 2
12 | Chapter 2 Create Digital Prototypes