Convert Surface to Sheet Metal Wall

You can convert a ruled surface to Sheet Metal surface.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Create a ruled surface by using the Loft command.

Create Sheet Metal Wall from a Closed Ruled Surface

You can create sheet metal wall from a ruled surface.

  1. Open or import the model into the xSheetMetal application.
  2. From the Sheet Metal section of the action bar, click Convert Surface .
  3. From the Sheet Metal Parameters dialog box, enter the Sheet Metal parameters as required. You can change these parameters anytime from the Design Managertree or by clicking the Sheet Metal Parameters from the Sheet Metal tab on the action bar.
  4. Click from the upper-right corner of the Sheet Metal Parameters dialog box.
  5. In the Convert Surface dialog box, select the surface to be converted.
  6. From the dialog box, select the surface orientation, bottom, middle or top.
  7. A reference wire and fixed point are automatically selected. To modify them:
    1. Select a reference wire lying on the selected surface.
    2. Select a fixed point that lies both on the surface and on the reference wire.
  8. Optional: Select a tear wire.
    You can select the tear wire to determine where the Sheet Metal wall splits when flattened.
    Important: The reference wire, the fixed point, and the tear wire, used to flatten the model, must lie on the surface.
  9. To offset the converted surface, enter a value in the Offset box.

    By default, the offset value is 0 mm.

    You can see the preview of the converted surface with the offset.
  10. Click .
  11. Optional: From the Sheet Metal section of the action bar, click Flat Pattern to unfold the model.
    Note: The model is unfolded from the selected tear wire.

Create Sheet Metal Wall from an Open Ruled Surface

You can create sheet metal wall from a ruled surface.

  1. Open or import the model into the xSheetMetal application.
  2. From the Sheet Metal section of the action bar, click Convert Surface .
  3. From the Sheet Metal Parameters dialog box, enter the Sheet Metal parameters as required. You can change these parameters anytime from the Design Managertree or by clicking the Sheet Metal Parameters from the Sheet Metal tab on the action bar.
  4. Click from the upper-right corner of the Sheet Metal Parameters dialog box.
  5. In the Convert Surface dialog box, select the surface to be converted.
  6. From the dialog box, select surface orientation, top, middle, or bottom.
  7. A reference wire and fixed point are selected automatically. To modify them:
    1. Select a reference wire lying on the selected surface.
    2. Select a fixed point that lies both on the surface and on the reference wire.
      Important: The reference wire and the fixed point, used to flatten the model, must lie on the surface.
  8. Selecting a tear wire is not applicable for an open-profile model.
  9. To offset the converted surface, enter a value in the Offset box.

    By default, the offset value is 0mm.

    You can see the preview of the converted surface with the offset.
  10. Click .
  11. Optional: From the Sheet Metal section of the action bar, click Flat Pattern to unfold the model.