Unfold a SHS with sheet metal?

[UGMENTALCASE]

Hi all,

I have a bent/folded part which someone has asked me to unfold. I didn't think I could do this inside Alibre, but thought I'd ask to be sure. It's basically a length of 25 x 25 SHS with a V cut out of it. It's then bent at that point.
I've attached an image of the imported folded part, and a version I started modelling with the V cut out in it

 

[HaroldL]

If you already started to model it in Sheet Metal then hit the Flat Pattern button and see what happens. Likely it will unfold into a flat sheet and not a straight tube. For that you would need to apply an Unbend and select the bend at the V-notch to unbend the tube. Use a configuration to create an Unbend state for the part then just switch between Unbend and Bend states as needed.

 

[UGMENTALCASE]

Nice I'll try that tomorrow. I wanted to try and use the imported part but I'll check it out.
Cheers

 

[HaroldL]

Thought I'd take a couple of minutes to show an example - if you need one.



Just one reminder on the configurations, make sure you unlock the Parameters Values on both configurations if/when you need to edit any of the driving parameters.

 

[UGMENTALCASE]

That's great thanks. I had gone the other route of modelling a tab moving the surfaces to the right SHS length, putting the V cut in and trying to bend that round.
Great help thank you!