Flatten a 3D model?

[dflores.83105]

I create closure plate templates for circular forms consisting of rolled steel plate. Basically, picture a round concrete column with a doorway cut into it. The closure plate conforms to the outer diameter of the column and 'closes' the opening.

The end product will be templates representing the flat pieces of steel plate that are required in order to build the finished closure plate.

Is there a way to have CAD flatten my model to represent the pieces?

Currently, I create this closure plate as a 3D model with the desired diameter and plate thickness and the height. Next I take sections through the model every few inches in order to get arc dimension that I then use to draw the flattened object. For any odd shaped plate (such as closing the gap at a 90 degree elbow) can require many sections.

Is there a way to have CAD flatten my model in order to save the considerable time it takes to create the pieces manually via sections?

I can provide further clarification if my description does not make sense.

[JD Mather]

Autodesk Inventor will do this with one click. Attach one of your dwg examples here.

[dflores.83105]

Autodesk Inventor will do this with one click. Attach one of your dwg examples here.

I figured that Inventor good do it in a snap. No work around available with AutoCAD?

[scj.schulz]

Have a look at
www.ant-ares.de
There are shown solutions for unfoldings for AutoCAD.
Regards
Jochen
PS: A picture would be helpful...

[fhoffnar]

Something like this needs to be on the AutoCad development wish list.

[JD Mather]

Something like this needs to be on the AutoCad development wish list.

Why? Autodesk has already developed a solution which they sell.

[fhoffnar]

Why? Autodesk has already developed a solution which they sell.

I need a non-history based explicit modeler, which 3d AutoCad works well as. I'm not a spreadsheet engineer, so Inventor has zero interest to me.

I may consider Inventor Fusion down the road. CoCreate and Spaceclaim come close also. but not Inventor.

[jnoon]

Try rhino3D it will perform the task you need done, plus you can move models back and forth between the two easily.
john

[JD Mather]

I need a non-history based explicit modeler, which 3d AutoCad works well as. I'm not a spreadsheet engineer

No spreadsheet needed. I have taught hundreds of AutoCAD and Inventor beginners. Without exception the new users seem to prefer Inventor as much easier to learn and use. Most consider AutoCAD as something akin to torture and audibly groan every time I say we are going to do some 3D in AutoCAD.

[RobertB]

Have you looked at the FlatShot command?

[bcourter]

Just checked, and SpaceClaim Engineer can flatten a bent sheet metal doorway cut into a cylinder, in case you were looking for this capability in a direct modeler. You can manually set the x-factor to specify the neutral axis of the bend, which varies based on manufacturing process and material.

http://twitpic.com/n517o

-Blake (a SpaceClaim employee)

[fhoffnar]

No spreadsheet needed. I have taught hundreds of AutoCAD and Inventor beginners. Without exception the new users seem to prefer Inventor as much easier to learn and use. Most consider AutoCAD as something akin to torture and audibly groan every time I say we are going to do some 3D in AutoCAD.

It's not a surprise that a novice would prefer Inventor.. it's wizard based and allows one to spoon feed neat and precise calculations into it. It's not a replacement for common sense, or good design practices though. And this is what isn't taught in schools anymore. Which isn't to say that AutoCad can't be used to create garbage either, because it can.. in copious amounts. :lol:

AutoCad is a 3d sketch pad for me.. I can concentrate on solving geometric problems, often times wholesale deleting an entire days work if I've gone down the wrong path, or if client information changes. Inventor, from my experience, wants to nail you down early to your choices, and then further constrain you the longer you work on it. It's unhealthy to entire concept of problem solving. You can almost see the point where an engineer runs into trouble in complicated Inventor/SolidWorks designs, because they keep pushing the complexity down the line.. until they reach the end and then can't back out (for those that design with the software, or those that fix problems of those that design with the software).

Inventor has it's place in certain manufacturing circles, and that's fine. But it's not a automatically a better replacement for 3D AutoCad. Which is why it's been great getting new 3D features over the past 10 or so years from AutoCad updates. :mrgreen:

[JD Mather]

... or good design practices though. And this is what isn't taught in schools anymore. Inventor, from my experience, wants to nail you down early...

Sounds like you might need more training.

[richardronan]

I create closure plate templates for circular forms consisting of rolled steel plate. Basically, picture a round concrete column with a doorway cut into it. The closure plate conforms to the outer diameter of the column and 'closes' the opening.

The end product will be templates representing the flat pieces of steel plate that are required in order to build the finished closure plate.

Is there a way to have CAD flatten my model to represent the pieces?

Currently, I create this closure plate as a 3D model with the desired diameter and plate thickness and the height. Next I take sections through the model every few inches in order to get arc dimension that I then use to draw the flattened object. For any odd shaped plate (such as closing the gap at a 90 degree elbow) can require many sections.

Is there a way to have CAD flatten my model in order to save the considerable time it takes to create the pieces manually via sections?

I can provide further clarification if my description does not make sense.

The easiest method for this is to extract the edge of the arc portion and take the arc length from the properties to generate a flat image.

If you want to learn dynamic constraints (parametric modelling) you could also experiment with parameters and create a rectangle which is dependant on the arc length.

Also try tracing the cross sections a polyline. You can then manipulate that poly line to generate the edge of the plate needed for fabrication.

All available in ACAD.
-R

[fhoffnar]

Sounds like you might need more training.

Nope.. just tired of the uninformed trying to sell parametric modeling programs as a zero-sum replacement to AutoCad.

[JD Mather]

Nope.. just tired of the uninformed trying to sell parametric modeling programs as a zero-sum replacement to AutoCad.

Fortunately I am exceptionally well informed.