SheetMetal Forming: Difference between revisions

From FreeCAD Documentation
(description extended, Native speakers please review - my vocabulary on this topic is a bit limited)
(Added workflow steps for different features)
Line 40: Line 40:
== Usage == <!--T:5-->
== Usage == <!--T:5-->


===Dimple===
# Select the wall of the SheetMetal object to be embossed

# Select the '''back side''' of the shape defining solid
# Select the face of the SheetMetal object to be embossed
# Select the '''bottom face''' (back side) of the shape defining solid
#*'''Note:''' Don't forget the {{KEY|Control}}/{{KEY|Command}} key!
#*'''Note:''' Don't forget the {{KEY|Control}}/{{KEY|Command}} key!
# Activate the [[Image:SheetMetal_Forming.svg|16px]] [[SheetMetal_Forming|Make Forming in Wall]] command using:
# Activate the [[Image:SheetMetal_Forming.svg|16px]] [[SheetMetal_Forming|Make Forming in Wall]] command using:
Line 47: Line 49:
#* {{MenuCommand|SheetMetal → [[Image:SheetMetal_Forming.svg|16px]] Make Forming in Wall}} drop down menu
#* {{MenuCommand|SheetMetal → [[Image:SheetMetal_Forming.svg|16px]] Make Forming in Wall}} drop down menu
#* keyboard shortcut: {{KEY|M}} then {{KEY|F}}
#* keyboard shortcut: {{KEY|M}} then {{KEY|F}}

===Louvre===

# Select the face of the SheetMetal object to be embossed
# Select the '''bottom face''' (back side) of the shape defining solid
# Select a '''side face''' adjoined to the bottom face to mark the area to be cut open
#*'''Note:''' Don't forget the {{KEY|Control}}/{{KEY|Command}} key!
# Activate the [[Image:SheetMetal_Forming.svg|16px]] [[SheetMetal_Forming|Make Forming in Wall]] command (see above)

===Bridge===

# Select the face of the SheetMetal object to be embossed
# Select the '''bottom face''' (back side) of the shape defining solid
# Select a '''side face''' adjoined to the bottom face to mark one area to be cut open
# Select the '''opposite face''' adjoined to the bottom face to mark the other area to be cut open
#*'''Note:''' Don't forget the {{KEY|Control}}/{{KEY|Command}} key!
# Activate the [[Image:SheetMetal_Forming.svg|16px]] [[SheetMetal_Forming|Make Forming in Wall]] command (see above)

===Drawn Cutout===

# Select the face of the SheetMetal object to be embossed
# Select the '''bottom face''' (back side) of the shape defining solid
# Select the '''top face''' adjoined to the bottom face to mark the area to be cut open
#*'''Note:''' Don't forget the {{KEY|Control}}/{{KEY|Command}} key!
# Activate the [[Image:SheetMetal_Forming.svg|16px]] [[SheetMetal_Forming|Make Forming in Wall]] command (see above)

===Multiply and Pattern===

To muliply and pattern the embossed feature a '''sketch''' containing circles and arcs can be added to the '''WallForming''' object's property {{PropertyData|Sketch}}.

The centerpoints of the circles or arcs are used to provide positions to put instances of the embossed feature; they don't influence the instances' orientation.

The orientation still depends on the orientation of the first selected face.

===Adding Fillets===

# Switch to the [[Image:Workbench_PartDesign.svg|16px]] [[PartDesign_Workbench|PartDesign]] workbench
# Select an edge on the upper side of the SheetMetal object to receive a fillet
# Activate the [[Image:PartDesign_Fillet.svg|16px]] [[PartDesign_Fillet|Fillet]] command using:
#* {{Button|[[Image:PartDesign_Fillet.svg|16px]] [[PartDesign_Fillet|Fillet]]}} button
#* {{MenuCommand|PartDesign → Apply a dress-up feature → [[Image:PartDesign_Fillet.svg|16px]] Fillet}} drop down menu
# Set the Fillet object's property {{PropertyData|Refine}} to {{TRUE}}.
::(It is quite '''important''' for the next fillet)
# Select an edge on the bottom side of the SheetMetal object to receive a fillet
# Activate the [[Image:PartDesign_Fillet.svg|16px]] [[PartDesign_Fillet|Fillet]] command (see above)


== Properties == <!--T:6-->
== Properties == <!--T:6-->

Revision as of 12:09, 16 September 2021

This documentation is not finished. Please help and contribute documentation.

GuiCommand model explains how commands should be documented. Browse Category:UnfinishedDocu to see more incomplete pages like this one. See Category:Command Reference for all commands.

See WikiPages to learn about editing the wiki pages, and go to Help FreeCAD to learn about other ways in which you can contribute.

Other languages:

SheetMetal Forming

Menu location
SheetMetal → Make Forming in Wall
Workbenches
SheetMetal
Default shortcut
M F
Introduced in version
-
See also
None

Description

The SheetMetal Forming command creates an embossed shape in a SheetMetal wall using a separate solid object.

The back side plane of the shapedefining solid is used to position and orient the embossed shape, i.e. their local coordinate systems will have the same origin and the same orientation by default.
The angle around the z-axis and offsets in x, y, and z direction may be altered by changing the parameter values in the properties window.

A sketch can be added to multiply and distribute the embossed shape in regular or irregular patterns (using the center points of circles or arcs)

A small selection of features that can be created:


dimples, louvres, drawn cutouts, bridges

Usage

Dimple

  1. Select the face of the SheetMetal object to be embossed
  2. Select the bottom face (back side) of the shape defining solid
    • Note: Don't forget the Control/Command key!
  3. Activate the Make Forming in Wall command using:
    • Make Forming in Wall button
    • SheetMetal → Make Forming in Wall drop down menu
    • keyboard shortcut: M then F

Louvre

  1. Select the face of the SheetMetal object to be embossed
  2. Select the bottom face (back side) of the shape defining solid
  3. Select a side face adjoined to the bottom face to mark the area to be cut open
    • Note: Don't forget the Control/Command key!
  4. Activate the Make Forming in Wall command (see above)

Bridge

  1. Select the face of the SheetMetal object to be embossed
  2. Select the bottom face (back side) of the shape defining solid
  3. Select a side face adjoined to the bottom face to mark one area to be cut open
  4. Select the opposite face adjoined to the bottom face to mark the other area to be cut open
    • Note: Don't forget the Control/Command key!
  5. Activate the Make Forming in Wall command (see above)

Drawn Cutout

  1. Select the face of the SheetMetal object to be embossed
  2. Select the bottom face (back side) of the shape defining solid
  3. Select the top face adjoined to the bottom face to mark the area to be cut open
    • Note: Don't forget the Control/Command key!
  4. Activate the Make Forming in Wall command (see above)

Multiply and Pattern

To muliply and pattern the embossed feature a sketch containing circles and arcs can be added to the WallForming object's property DataSketch.

The centerpoints of the circles or arcs are used to provide positions to put instances of the embossed feature; they don't influence the instances' orientation.

The orientation still depends on the orientation of the first selected face.

Adding Fillets

  1. Switch to the PartDesign workbench
  2. Select an edge on the upper side of the SheetMetal object to receive a fillet
  3. Activate the Fillet command using:
    • Fillet button
    • PartDesign → Apply a dress-up feature → Fillet drop down menu
  4. Set the Fillet object's property DataRefine to true.
(It is quite important for the next fillet)
  1. Select an edge on the bottom side of the SheetMetal object to receive a fillet
  2. Activate the Fillet command (see above)

Properties

See also: Property editor.

A SheetMetal WallForming object is derived from a Part Feature object and inherits all its properties. It also has the following additional properties:

Data

Base

  • DataLabel (String): Default value: WallForming (+ a sequential number for second and following items).
    The user editable name of this object, it may be any arbitrary UTF8 string.
  • Data (hidden)Base Feature (Link): Base Feature. Link to the parent feature.
  • Data (hidden)_Body (LinkHidden):

Parameters

  • DataSuppress Feature (Bool): "Suppress Forming Feature". Default value is false.
  • Dataangle (Angle): "Tool Position Angle". Default angle: 0,00°.
  • Database Object (LinkSub): "Base Object". Link to the planar face to be embossed.
  • Dataoffset (VectorDistance): "Offset from Center of Face". Default: [0,00 mm, 0,00 mm, 0,00 mm].
  • Datathickness (Distance): "Thickness of Sheetmetal". Thickness of the Data (hidden)Base Feature:.
  • Datatool Object (LinkSub): "Forming Tool Object". Link to the planar face used to position the Forming Tool

Parameters1

  • DataSketch (Link): "Point Sketch on Sheetmetal".

Example

A hexagon bowl with embossed centre

Preparation

This bowl is made of a folded sheet metal object with a shape embossed, both have to be prepared in advance.

No need to work with coplanar sketches here.

SheetMetal bowl and embossing object

Workflow

  1. Select the wall of the SheetMetal object to be embossed
  2. Select the back side of the shape defining solid
  3. Press the Make Forming in Wall button
    or use the keyboard shortcut: M then F


    Done!

  4. Alter orientation and position
    1. Activate the WallForming object in the Tree view
    2. Set the value of the parameter angle to e.g. 45°
    3. Set the value of the parameter offset, x to e.g. greater than 0

      Here it is plain to see that it doesn't make sense to move the embossed geometry outside the selected wall.

    4. Setting the value of the parameter offset, z to e.g. greater than 0 isn't any better:

      At least the FreeCAD doesn't crash when a part has two bodies...

  5. Some hints
    1. The height of the defining solid determines the depth of the embossed shape.
      That means changing the parameter offset, z to alter the depth won't deliver expected results.
    2. The embossed geometry is made of a shell object i.e. it has a constant thickness.
      And so the defining solid has to be offsetable, otherwise the tool will fail to create the emboss.