Sheet Development

Sheet Metal > Sheet development > Develop sheet

The Develop sheet pull-down menu in the Sheet development function group provides various functions for developing of Sheet Metal parts or 3-D parts, resulting in a 2-D or 3-D development.

You can derive several developments with different parameter settings from one Sheet Metal part. The parameter settings will be saved in the development. The functions for the definition of the development parameters can be found at Sheet Metal > Sheet development > Update

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Functions	Description
	Develop sheet	This function creates the 3-D development of a Sheet Metal part. The sheet alignment can be determined automatically or via edge selection. If you choose the automatic development, the side with the processing direction symbol will be developed. If the sheet has no processing direction, the coated side will be developed. Then, the upper side will be determined by the number of powder marking lines and letterings.
Pull-down menu Dev.
	Part (approximative)	You use this function to develop the lateral surface of a 3-D part, taking into account the connecting angle In other words, all surfaces that do not exceed the connecting angle are taken into account. Identify two edges of the 3-D part and specify the sheet thickness. The sheet thickness will be queried in case of a possible length change, which makes sense for cylindrical surfaces. These are developed on the neutral axis. In the Configuration Editor at Sheet Metal > Default setting you can specify the position of the neutral axis. For all non-cylindrical surface types, the query can be skipped with a right-click (RMB = No length change). Position the development by placing a fitting point in the drawing. Example (1) First edge (2) Second edge (3) Lateral surface of truncated cone To set the connecting angle, open the Configuration Editor and go to Sheet Metal > Default setting > Limiting angle for connecting facets.
	Part + Sub-Parts (approximative)	You use this function to develop the lateral surface of a 3-D part and its sub-parts, taking into account the connecting angle. In other words, all surfaces that do not exceed the connecting angle are taken into account. The sub-part must be added to the main part below the connecting angle. Identify two edges of the 3-D part and specify the sheet thickness. The sheet thickness will be queried in case of a possible length change, which makes sense for cylindrical surfaces. For all other surface types the query can be skipped with a right-click (RMB = No length change). Position the development by placing a fitting point in the drawing. To set the connecting angle, open the Configuration Editor and go to Sheet Metal > Default setting > Limiting angle for connecting facets.
	Surface (analytical)	Use this function to develop the outer shell of a 3-D part (e.g. a truncated cone) analytically. You are always prompted to specify an offset (sheet thickness) for the cutting depth. For filleted surfaces, this will cause changes of the surface area of the developed object. Identify the surface and enter the offset. For free-form surfaces: 0. Identify a tear-open point. The tear-open point determines the cutting line in the lateral surface. Specify a point for the position in the drawing. You change the parameters of the tear-open edge in the Configuration Editor at Compatibility > Itemisation control > Extended settings > Tear-open edges for analytic development: .... Example In this example the tear-open edge is green When developing freeform surfaces, the sheet thickness always need to be set to 0, and automatic sheet thickness detection (RMB) must not be started! Facets lying on a torus can also be developed. This takes place approximatively by means of a double development, first with regard to the torus axes and then, once more, with regard to the cylinder axis resulting from this development. Therefore, the following warning message will be displayed: The development contains a torus that might not have been developed correctly. Please check the result! Example (1) Facet (2) Development When developing freeform surfaces, the sheet thickness always need to be set to 0, and automatic sheet thickness detection (RMB) must not be started!
	Surface on neutral axis (analytical)	Use this function to start automatic sheet thickness calculation immediately after identification of the surface of a 3-D part (solid, freeform surface). After calculation of the surface thickness, the offset will be set, without any further entries, to half of the sheet thickness, i.e. the development takes place on the neutral axis. If the sheet thickness cannot be calculated, an input window appears. For freeform surfaces you always need to set the sheet thickness to 0. Identify the surface. Identify a tear-open point. The tear-open point determines the cutting line in the lateral surface. Specify a point for the position in the drawing. You change the parameters of the tear-open edge in the Configuration Editor at Compatibility > Itemisation control > Extended settings > Tear-open edges for analytic development: .... If you remove the minus - before the layer, the layer, the colour and the line type will be considered for evaluation. Facets lying on a torus can also be developed. This takes place approximatively by means of a double development, first with regard to the torus axes and then, once more, with regard to the cylinder axis resulting from this development. Therefore, the following warning message will be displayed: The development contains a torus that might not have been developed correctly. Please check the result! Example (1) Facet (2) Development

Functions

Description

Develop sheet

This function creates the 3-D development of a Sheet Metal part. The sheet alignment can be determined automatically or via edge selection. If you choose the automatic development, the side with the processing direction symbol will be developed. If the sheet has no processing direction, the coated side will be developed. Then, the upper side will be determined by the number of powder marking lines and letterings.

Pull-down menu

Dev.

Part (approximative)

You use this function to develop the lateral surface of a 3-D part, taking into account the connecting angle In other words, all surfaces that do not exceed the connecting angle are taken into account.

Identify two edges of the 3-D part and specify the sheet thickness.

The sheet thickness will be queried in case of a possible length change, which makes sense for cylindrical surfaces. These are developed on the neutral axis. In the Configuration Editor at Sheet Metal > Default setting you can specify the position of the neutral axis. For all non-cylindrical surface types, the query can be skipped with a right-click (RMB = No length change).

Position the development by placing a fitting point in the drawing.

To set the connecting angle, open the Configuration Editor and go to Sheet Metal > Default setting > Limiting angle for connecting facets.

Part + Sub-Parts (approximative)

You use this function to develop the lateral surface of a 3-D part and its sub-parts, taking into account the connecting angle. In other words, all surfaces that do not exceed the connecting angle are taken into account. The sub-part must be added to the main part below the connecting angle.

Identify two edges of the 3-D part and specify the sheet thickness.

The sheet thickness will be queried in case of a possible length change, which makes sense for cylindrical surfaces. For all other surface types the query can be skipped with a right-click (RMB = No length change).

Position the development by placing a fitting point in the drawing.

To set the connecting angle, open the Configuration Editor and go to Sheet Metal > Default setting > Limiting angle for connecting facets.

Surface (analytical)

Use this function to develop the outer shell of a 3-D part (e.g. a truncated cone) analytically. You are always prompted to specify an offset (sheet thickness) for the cutting depth. For filleted surfaces, this will cause changes of the surface area of the developed object.

Identify the surface and enter the offset.

For free-form surfaces: 0.

Identify a tear-open point.

The tear-open point determines the cutting line in the lateral surface.

Specify a point for the position in the drawing.

You change the parameters of the tear-open edge in the Configuration Editor at Compatibility > Itemisation control > Extended settings > Tear-open edges for analytic development: ....

When developing freeform surfaces, the sheet thickness always need to be set to 0, and automatic sheet thickness detection (RMB) must not be started!

Facets lying on a torus can also be developed. This takes place approximatively by means of a double development, first with regard to the torus axes and then, once more, with regard to the cylinder axis resulting from this development.

Therefore, the following warning message will be displayed:

The development contains a torus that might not have been developed correctly. Please check the result!

When developing freeform surfaces, the sheet thickness always need to be set to 0, and automatic sheet thickness detection (RMB) must not be started!

Surface on neutral axis (analytical)

Use this function to start automatic sheet thickness calculation immediately after identification of the surface of a 3-D part (solid, freeform surface). After calculation of the surface thickness, the offset will be set, without any further entries, to half of the sheet thickness, i.e. the development takes place on the neutral axis. If the sheet thickness cannot be calculated, an input window appears.

For freeform surfaces you always need to set the sheet thickness to 0.

Identify the surface.
Identify a tear-open point.

The tear-open point determines the cutting line in the lateral surface.

Specify a point for the position in the drawing.

You change the parameters of the tear-open edge in the Configuration Editor at Compatibility > Itemisation control > Extended settings > Tear-open edges for analytic development: .... If you remove the minus - before the layer, the layer, the colour and the line type will be considered for evaluation.

Therefore, the following warning message will be displayed:

The development contains a torus that might not have been developed correctly. Please check the result!

Please note:

To ensure an error-free production, e.g. during laser cutting, line elements must not be smaller than the laser beam. For this purpose you can specify a minimum line length in the Configuration Editor at Sheet Metal > Sheet development > CAM-relevant minimum length of development.

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