Need help with flat pattern

[Bubba85]

Ok I need to make a flat pattern of this part. I usually don't have a lot of trouble developing flat patterns, however this one has me stumped. It is not a constant radius but more of a conical shape. Any assistance with this would be greatly appreciated. I do have a file can share if needed.

[jeff]

Do you mean like a silhouette boundary?

[mkd]

I've done it in solidworks.....

[Bubba85]

3 minutes ago, jeff said:

Do you mean like a silhouette boundary?

I need to make a flat pattern that when formed will result in this shape without having to be trimmed.

 

2 minutes ago, mkd said:

I've done it in solidworks.....

I wish I had access to Solidworks.

[crazy^millman]

I would old school it. I would go to a plane normal to the part to a view that gives me a good looking down prospective or top. Then I would draw grid lines and project them to the part. I would then start working with them to see what way gave mt the best ones to work on being flat. I could get close, but I would offset it 1/4 big to be safe and go form there. 

[crazy^millman]

1 minute ago, Bubba85 said:

I need to make a flat pattern that when formed will result in this shape without having to be trimmed.

 

Almost impossible. With those joggles in there going to be real hard to make a flat pattern that doesn't need to be trimmed. I said almost, but not just plan on some trial an error until you get it correct. Best to make large and trim to size and call it a day. Let us know many hours you have in this. I would think 4 to 8 hours.

[Bubba85]

2 minutes ago, C^Millman said:

I would old school it. I would go to a plane normal to the part to a view that gives me a good looking down prospective or top. Then I would draw grid lines and project them to the part. I would then start working with them to see what way gave mt the best ones to work on being flat. I could get close, but I would offset it 1/4 big to be safe and go form there. 

That is what I am getting ready to do, create a bunch of cross section arcs and work out the math for the flat length, the create points for a splines. 

[Bubba85]

3 minutes ago, C^Millman said:

Almost impossible. With those joggles in there going to be real hard to make a flat pattern that doesn't need to be trimmed. I said almost, but not just plan on some trial an error until you get it correct. Best to make large and trim to size and call it a day. Let us know many hours you have in this. I would think 4 to 8 hours.

The flat pattern I develope will be used to make a blank die, so it at least needs to fall into tolerance after it is formed. 

[mkd]

12 minutes ago, C^Millman said:

Almost impossible. With those joggles in there going to be real hard to make a flat pattern that doesn't need to be trimmed. I said almost, but not just plan on some trial an error until you get it correct. Best to make large and trim to size and call it a day. Let us know many hours you have in this. I would think 4 to 8 hours.

yep, trying to flatten on two planes aint going to be any fun.

 

what profile tolerance r u trying to hit?

[Bubba85]

It's just a profile tolerance of +-.030, so hopefully I can get it in the ballpark.

[crazy^millman]

48 minutes ago, Bubba85 said:

That is what I am getting ready to do, create a bunch of cross section arcs and work out the math for the flat length, the create points for a splines. 

That is how I would go about doing it. If you go about ti this way I think you can hit that profile tolerance. Best of luck.

[Leigh @ Kodiak]

Take a look at Onshape. It's free, and there is also a flatten add-in that is also free. 

 

https://www.onshape.com/videos/onshape-and-exactflat

[AMCNitro]

Cant you use FlattenSurf chook?

[Bubba85]

On 5/27/2017 at 0:06 AM, AMCNitro said:

Cant you use FlattenSurf chook?

I tried that, it made the surface square and didn't keep the profile shape.

[Bubba85]

On 5/26/2017 at 1:49 PM, Leigh @ Kodiak said:

Take a look at Onshape. It's free, and there is also a flatten add-in that is also free. 

 

https://www.onshape.com/videos/onshape-and-exactflat

I'll look into that when I get back to work on Tuesday. 

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

On 5/26/2017 at 1:49 PM, Leigh @ Kodiak said:

Take a look at Onshape. It's free, and there is also a flatten add-in that is also free. 

 

https://www.onshape.com/videos/onshape-and-exactflat

I'll have to check that out.  If it works it could be great for armor patterns.

[Bubba85]

Here is the final product. Had to do it old school. Took me forever.