When working with sheet metal components, you might encounter an issue where the flat pattern is not oriented correctly in the desired view or normal view. This misalignment can prevent you from creating a proper view in the drawing since the flat pattern is not oriented as needed.
Example of not proper oriented Flat Pattern.
Solution: Edit the Flat-Pattern Feature
To resolve this problem, follow these steps to edit the flat-pattern feature and correct the orientation:
- Access the Edit Feature Tool:
- Locate and click on the “Edit Feature” option within the Flat-Pattern feature of your sheet metal part.
- Locate and click on the “Edit Feature” option within the Flat-Pattern feature of your sheet metal part.
- Modify the Fixed Face:
- In the Edit Feature dialog, find the section labelled “Modify Fixed Face.”
- Select the face that you want to remain fixed when the part is flattened. This face will be used as a reference for the orientation of the flat pattern.
- Set the Grain Direction:
- In the same dialog, locate the “Grain Direction” section.
- Choose the horizontal edge that is shown in the image below. This will help align the flat pattern correctly with the section edge.
- Apply Changes:
- Click “OK” to apply the changes.
Result:
After completing these steps, the top face of your sheet metal part will remain stationary when the part is flattened. Consequently, the bounding box will be correctly oriented with respect to the section edge, ensuring that the flat pattern aligns as expected.
