Converting part documents to sheet metal
In some cases, it may be easier to convert an existing part model to a sheet metal part than to create it in the sheet metal environment. You can use the following commands to covert a part model to a sheet metal part:
It is important that you understand how these commands work before deciding which command you should use to convert the part model to sheet metal.
You can use the Part to Sheet Metal command to convert an ordered part model to an ordered sheet metal part. You can select linear edges or partial cylindrical faces on the model to define the bends for the resulting sheet metal part. The tabs for the sheet metal part are defined by the bend edges.
You can use the Thin Part to Sheet Metal command to transform a uniform thickness solid body to a sheet metal model. In ordered, the command uses a reference face on the input body to identify and marks tabs and bends. In synchronous, it creates native tabs and flanges. The input face defines the thickness for the sheet metal model. You can add sheet metal features to the body as well as edit the thickness or bend radius.
You can use the Thin Part to Synchronous Sheet Metal command to transform a uniform thickness ordered or synchronous part consisting into a synchronous sheet metal part that consists of native tabs and flanges. The transformed body contains sheet metal attributes just as if you used sheet metal features to create it. You can add sheet metal features to the body as well as edit the thickness or bend radius.
Partial holes that do not fully penetrate the converted sheet metal flange cannot be converted.
Adding features in the Part environment
You can access a sheet metal document (.PSM) in the Part environment to add features to it. On the Tools tab, use the Switch to command to access the Part environment. After you have finished, you can use can use the same command to return to the Sheet Metal environment..
You can add any type of part feature to a sheet metal part, but some features can prevent the Part Copy command from flattening the part. If you intend to flatten a part later, you should create a test part and see if the part features you want to add can be flattened.
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