Convert to sheet metal error

[WillB]

Pretty simple ,trying to convert the sides of this hopper to a sheet metal and keep getting this error. Also included the PRT file.

 

[Hunter]

You have too many geometric errors in that model, some examples below.

There are multiple sharp corners in one location


Below you have an open fold of some sort, this is not physically possible to produce from a single sheet of metal


Here you have a face inside the sheet metal, again, not possible to have since it is a discontinuity of the sheet.


You'll have to clean up the part first. In essence, a sheetmetal part is a single developable surface (with zero thickness) and the thickness is merely a parameter. That is an oversimplification, but if you think along those lines it will give you an idea of what the part should look like.

 

[DavidJ]

You have some impossible aspects of the design - see image.



If you are modelling it as hollow, not sure why you didn't do it directly in sheet metal - typically it's much faster to model a solid lump, and use convert to SMP to create 'panels' from the faces of solid. That's also what the conversion tool expects.

 

[Hunter]

Here is what David is talking about, pretty cool...

 

[WillB]

That would be great except the top and bottom widths are different on this hopper therefore creating a need for the bend down the side

 

[WillB]

Actually the front and back of the hopper(vertical sides) are not a problem as i have those doing what i want

 

[Hunter]

Yes, sometimes you'll need multiple sheetmetal parts.

 

[WillB]

Here is the updated version I just need the two sides w/ the kinky bends

 

[DavidJ]

That would be great except the top and bottom widths are different on this hopper therefore creating a need for the bend down the side

So just cut off part of one side - then mirror the cut across the solid.

 

[WillB]

thats genius! new design coming up. my boss is gonna love this

 

[HaroldL]

Will,
I took a few minutes to grab some dimensions off your solid model and created a sheet metal version. I made each side a separate part because of the extra bends on the ends and .0625 thick based on your model.
If nothing else it can serve as a tutorial of sorts for you.



I'm not sure but are you planning on making this hopper out of .0625 thick material? That seems pretty thin given the over all size of it. Unless it will be added to some other structure it may need some support or stiffeners on the sides.

 

[WillB]

Yes it does get a frame around the top