Forming Unfolding

 

 

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This command allows you to unfold a piece of part by an unfolding by unstamping simulation. The unfolding computing is realized from a mesh of one shape side, projected on a surface.

 

Creation stages / Use:

 

Click the  icon or select Strip > Forming Unfolding... command from the drop-down menu.

 

 

 

  1. Determine the piece of the shape to be unfolded.

  2. Create or choose the projection surface.

  3. Adjust the parameters of the mesh used for the calculation.

  4. Validate .

 

 

 

 

This command is only available with the  TopSolid'FormingSimulation licence.

 
This module use the technology of our partner:

FTI, Forming technologies incorporated.

 

 

Available options:

 

 

  • Shape to unfold: The shape to strip is selected by default.

Two unfolding modes are available:

  • Local: With this mode, one piece of the shape will be considered as fixed, the other will be unfolded.

    • Face on part to unfold: This face allows you to identify the shape side which be unfolded. This face does not need to be connected to the boundary edges between the two pieces of the part.

    • Projection surface: This option allows you to choose the surface where the unfolding result will be projected. It is necessary to select a surface, even this one is a plane.
      It is also possible to create an Extension surface with the "special inputs" icon.

    • Stamping direction: this option is necessary to accurately estimate the unfolding according to the forming process of the part.

    • Boundary edges: Select the edges loop to separate the shape to be unfolded into two pieces. If the loop is not closed, red balls are used to identify these holes. It is possible to print any missing edges with the "special inputs" icon.

 

 

 

  • For any selected edge, its opposite edge is automatically added to the selection if found.

  • The lateral edges are automatically selected if found.

  • The edges of the selected projection surface are automatically considered as boundary edges.

 

 

  • Global : With this mode, all the shape to strip is unfolded.

    • Face on side to consider : This face determine the sheet metal part side which be unfolded.

    • Projection surface: This option allows you to choose the surface where the unfolding result will be projected. It is necessary to select a surface, even this one is a plane.
      It is also possible to create an Extension surface with the "special inputs" icon.

    • Stamping direction: this option is necessary to accurately estimate the unfolding according to the forming process of the part.

    • Constrained edges: To ensure a right positioning for the unfolding, select a set of edges staying fixed during the forming process of the part.

 

  • If the chosen Shape to unfold is a surface (and not a surface sheet metal), additional options allow you to take in account the part thickness:

    • Thickness: It allows you to give the part thickness.

    • and how this thickness is distributed around the surface:

        • Normal

        • Middle surface

        • opposite

 

 

 

  • Two unfolding calculation modes are available, the choice of the mode slightly modifying the dimensions of the flattening obtained:

  • Progressive die: In this mode the forming process is done without stripper.

  •  Draw die: This mode considers that the part forming process will be done with a stripper.

  • Approximation tolerance et Maximum element size: These options allow you to adjust the sharpness of the mesh, according to the part to be unfolded. Several pairs of values are proposed by default and allow to adjust the mesh of the majority of the parts.

  • Fill holes: The mesh will be created without taking in account the holes on the part. This option is dedicated to the global unfolding mode.

  • Interpolated edges, Maximum sampling distance: By default, 7 points are distributed on each edge to unfold. These 7 points are then positioned according to the calculation of the unfolding, on the projection surface. They are used to create the forming unfolding sketch. In the case of parts containing long edges, it is possible to ensure a minimum distance between these points. If the distance becomes greater than the chosen value, the number of calculated points is increased.

 

 

  • Hide tools: It is possible to choose to hide or not the projection surface after the command execution.

  • Points: Selected characteristic points on the part can be also computed together with the unfolded shape. It could be used to position key construction geometries.