SOLIDWORKS gets used in a lot of fabrication shops and a question that often comes up is how to create a model and generate a flat pattern for a sheet metal square to round.
 A square-to-round transition built with a single Lofted Bend feature. |
It’s actually pretty easy to do this using the lofted bend feature, but there are a few tricks to be aware of. To start, 2 sketches on 2 different planes are needed to define the ends – a square and a circle.
 Two sketches on two planes define the square and round ends. |
Seems obvious. However, these need to be open profiles so each sketch needs a small gap. Construction lines and relations can help keep things symmetrical.
 Each profile needs a small gap so it is an open sketch. |
With these sketches in place, the Lofted Bend can be created.
 Lofted-Bend lives on the Sheet Metal CommandManager tab. |
The manufacturing method should be set to Bent. This will give a more accurate model and flat pattern for fabrication with a press brake. The Faceting can be defined by a value for the Chord Tolerance, Number of Bends, Segment Length, or Segment Angle. (If you decide you want to use the Formed manufacturing method option, all sketch entities need to be smoothly connected, so sketch fillets are required on the square.)
 Set the manufacturing method to Bent for an accurate press-brake flat pattern. |
When selecting the sketches, it’s important to click on corresponding locations on each sketch. In other words, if you click on the right side of the square, click on the right side of the circle. If this isn’t done correctly, the loft will be misaligned and a pair of crossed yellow lines will appear instead of a preview.
 Click matching locations on both sketches or the loft will twist. |
The Refer to endpoint option specifies whether the created bends refer to a sharp corner or adjacent bends are used to form an approximated arc in the corner.
 Refer to endpoint controls whether corners are sharp or approximated with adjacent bends. |
The sheet metal thickness, bend radius, and bend allowance need to be properly specified as usual. And that’s it – just one lofted bend feature is all that’s needed to model a sheet metal square to round. Since the bent manufacturing method option was used, the flat pattern – complete with bend lines – can be generated the same as any typical sheet metal model.
 The flat pattern generated from the lofted bend, ready for the press brake. |
The lofted bend feature also works with sketches on non-parallel planes and shapes other than squares and circles, so there’s quite a bit of flexibility to make some interesting shapes.
 Lofted Bend also works with non-parallel planes and other profile shapes. |
For more information, check out our YouTube channel, get a SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD quote or contact us at Hawk Ridge Systems today. Thanks for reading!
