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Turn a 2D sketch into a 3D sheet metal part.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
3 min.
Tutorial resources
These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:
Transcript
00:03
In Inventor, you can use the Face command to add thickness to a sketch profile to create a sheet metal face.
00:11
The first feature that you create is the base feature.
00:14
For subsequent sheet metal faces, when one line in the profile is coincident with an existing sheet metal edge,
00:21
a bend is created automatically.
00:24
Begin with Inventor open to the Sheet Metal environment with Sheet Metal Defaults already applied and a 2D sketch created and open.
00:33
This 2D sketch should be a profile that represents the shape of the sheet metal face you want to create.
00:40
Or, to use the exercise file, from the Home tab, click Open, locate and select Motor Bracket_001.ipt, and then click Open.
00:50
Then, in the graphics window, right-click to open the marking menu.
00:54
Select Face.
00:56
The sketched profile is automatically selected, and the Face dialog displays.
01:01
Enable Follow Defaults to link the material thickness and rules to the Default setting.
01:08
If you wish to specify a unique material thickness and rules, deselect Follow Defaults and configure the rules from this dialog.
01:16
To change the direction for the thickness of the face, select one of the options in Offset Direction.
01:22
Flip Side offsets the material thickness to the other side of the selected profile.
01:27
Both Sides offsets the material thickness equally to both sides of the selected profile.
01:34
For this exercise, make sure that the first Flip Side option is selected, and then click OK.
01:41
The profile is created and the view updates.
01:45
Now that the sketch profile has a thickness added, you can assign it a color override.
01:52
This makes the part more visible if it is to be included in an assembly later.
01:57
From the toolbar, expand the Color drop-down and select a color, such as Anodized Blue.
02:05
If the part is to be used in an assembly, save the part file.
02:10
Using the Face command is an easy way to add material thickness to a closed profile.
Video transcript
00:03
In Inventor, you can use the Face command to add thickness to a sketch profile to create a sheet metal face.
00:11
The first feature that you create is the base feature.
00:14
For subsequent sheet metal faces, when one line in the profile is coincident with an existing sheet metal edge,
00:21
a bend is created automatically.
00:24
Begin with Inventor open to the Sheet Metal environment with Sheet Metal Defaults already applied and a 2D sketch created and open.
00:33
This 2D sketch should be a profile that represents the shape of the sheet metal face you want to create.
00:40
Or, to use the exercise file, from the Home tab, click Open, locate and select Motor Bracket_001.ipt, and then click Open.
00:50
Then, in the graphics window, right-click to open the marking menu.
00:54
Select Face.
00:56
The sketched profile is automatically selected, and the Face dialog displays.
01:01
Enable Follow Defaults to link the material thickness and rules to the Default setting.
01:08
If you wish to specify a unique material thickness and rules, deselect Follow Defaults and configure the rules from this dialog.
01:16
To change the direction for the thickness of the face, select one of the options in Offset Direction.
01:22
Flip Side offsets the material thickness to the other side of the selected profile.
01:27
Both Sides offsets the material thickness equally to both sides of the selected profile.
01:34
For this exercise, make sure that the first Flip Side option is selected, and then click OK.
01:41
The profile is created and the view updates.
01:45
Now that the sketch profile has a thickness added, you can assign it a color override.
01:52
This makes the part more visible if it is to be included in an assembly later.
01:57
From the toolbar, expand the Color drop-down and select a color, such as Anodized Blue.
02:05
If the part is to be used in an assembly, save the part file.
02:10
Using the Face command is an easy way to add material thickness to a closed profile.
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