Take Sheet Metal To The Next Level - Fusion 360 Tutorial -

[@TheJedc43]

Have been forming sheet metal for 30 years...K factor stays at .433 for everything, thickness has nothing to do with it. Just make sure that your minimum inside radius is no less than 63% of material thickness

[@cadcamstuff]

Hi TheJedc43 Thank you for watching! I need to pin this to the top. I owe you a beer! This is the kind of knowledge that can be useful to so many! Thank you!! Best, Lars

[@mikemolt9770]

Not true at all. K factor is not the same for everything. Google it or get a text on the subject. Now it may be the same for what you do, but for different materials, thicknesses, and bend radius - if you’re doing it right it absolutely varies.

[@TheJedc43]

I have been bending sheet metal for over 25 years and I can assure you that it is the outside radius that changes for the harder materials and that radius is what needs to be added in the cad software to get the proper flat pattern.. I have formed stainless, crs, aluminum, brass ,copper , hastleoy, innconel, L605., Lexan. If its formable, I have done it. Please don't take my word for it. Cut some material and get some radius gauges and see for yourself. Whatever you get for an outside radius, subtract one stock thickness and that is the radius that you plug into cad. Use .433 for everything and the proper radius that you are achieving and you will be within .003 thousandths every time, guaranteed, regardless of the material or thickness you are using...Just make sure that your radius is 63% of the material thickness minimum. In other words, there is no physical way to achieve a .120 outside radius on .090 anything...

[@mikemolt9770]

I've been forming sheet metal for just a few years shorter than you, and can assure you I have used different k-factors. Back in the mid 90's I designed lots of good parts in mild steel using a k-factor of 0.25. How could this be? I have also cut sample coupons of different materials in different bending situations to arrive at the appropriate k-factor. Back when I first started working with sheet metal, I used to draw the flat patterns manually (2D AutoCAD)...which means that I geometrically understand that k-factor is used to determine the length of the neutral bending arc of the bent region of metal. Look, I have no desire to get into p!$$ing match with you. More importantly, I posted contrary to you so others don't take your word for it and do some research to educate themselves.

[@TheJedc43]

That is why I encourage everyone to try my method at the pressbrake with outside radius gauges. I know it works for me. .433 baby...keep it locked and loaded. :) here is a sample on how you can achieve the same flat pattern with the 2 different techniques . .drive.google.com/open?id=1CyJBKJ_-Tm3JF3MTvVPww6Mvmy8R6KnZ

[@RockLeeMC]

I'm like almost 4 years late, but this is an amazing software and tutorial. wow what a world.

[@mstoops69]

Hi Lars. I know it may be outside the scope of the video, but one thing that is important to mention is that it is very possible to design something that cannot be manufactured. In other words, the piece you did in this tutorial is very cool, but great care must be taken to design in such a way that the tooling required to bend can have ample access to the areas required. Another great tutorial! -Mike

[@cadcamstuff]

Hi mstoops69 Thank you for watching! Yes, that is always the end problem...How to make the part :-) need some fancy metal 3d printers and all our problems goes away ;-)

[@mstoops69]

Yes, someone please invent a 3D sheet metal printer please!!! LOL!

[@bdugh]

I was going to make the same comment, this part couldn't be made with standard tooling and this is a problem I run into frequently. Forget about 3d printers and just teach these enginerds a little common sense when it comes to manufacturing. Just because you can draw it doesn't mean it can be made. Also if you design a part that has 15 bends and needs 6 special setups your going to lose productivity over a whole shift for one part. Break it down to 4-5 parts that can be easily made and ship it off to welding to be assembled. Then you won't have a bunch of brake operators cursing you out every time you walk onto the floor.

[@ck2106]

Super thankful for this detailed lesson. Apricate you Lars!

[@MacCWB]

That was a great class! I've been looking for this for two days. Thanks, Lars, you rock!

[@lewtgoblin8437]

i totally missed the sheet metal thingy, i used to work with a cnc-mill and a cnc-router till july last year, changed job, to doing a lot of laser and press brake stuff, and we have a engineer doing the drawing now so i missed it. This is awsome :) And as usual you are doing really good streams/uploads. Many thanks for the education you give for free :)

[@cadcamstuff]

You are so very welcome :-) Thank you for watching!

[@petera155]

You using CAM, performed the solid body using the Unfold tool and not the Flat Pattern so does that mean the K factor and sheet length is not adjusted before the water jet cut?

[@cadcamstuff]

Hi Peter A Thank you for watching! I learned that you actually can use the flat pattern in the CAM environment. What I showed in this video was an old way to do things.....I missed that....I need to make a new video :-)

[@michaelnelson3985]

When you make the angled cut across the whole part it leaves edges that aren't normal to the sheet (like if the flat sheet is cut out on a laser or waterjet) . How does Fusion calculate the flat pattern with edges like that?

[@larryholter1130]

Thank you for all the insight! Like so many of the other fellows, my wife is getting jealous Hahahahaha Keep up the fascinating tutorials! Love em all ! Yes I am a newbie.

[@cadcamstuff]

You are so very welcome 👍😊Thank you for watching

[@CJICantLie]

Is there a way to v groove the bend lines to improve the bend radii and model that in the sheet metal space?

[@ButilkaRomm]

Hi. What is the workflow in general? Holes - > Metal Sheet Bending -> Drawing -> Send to sheet cutting and hole drilling -> Send to bend factory ? I am confused when do we put the holes and where do we put the measures of the holes.

[@dancollins1012]

Hi Lars, thanks for another great video. What's the best way to add v-grooves to a sheet metal project ? I need the v-grooves modelled so they can be cnc milled.

[@warrenhall5233]

Hey there, your videos are my savior thanks! Im wondering how to change the thickness of the sheet metal once the component is nearly complete?

[@kevCarrico]

incredible features - wonderful explanations - thank you!

[@cadcamstuff]

You are so very welcome :-) Thank you for watching!

[@JamesJohnson-qq4ww]

Hi Lars, great tutorials. Since bend radius is important, and can change depending on press tooling, can Fusion change the bend radius across the board on a multi part assembly you've already created with a specific bend radius ?

[@michaelpuzio6959]

Lars your great keep up the good work. I'm completely immersing myself in Fusion trying to get my little 26 year old job shop up to speed a little. I'm having a few issues so far. First is there a way to place a Folded View of a part on the same sheet as the Flat Pattern. This would be very beneficial for shop drawings.

[@jaroslavvalerian3028]

How is the cut line determined in the "cut all across" where you made it @30 degrees. No CNC cuts sheet metal down on an angle... it seems Fusion still (same as inventor) doesn't properly convert it to sheet metal, and the part is essentially cut a s a solid..?? any help with this issue?

[@handersonsouza3810]

Very good

[@doningram3978]

Hi Lars, is there a reason, other than variety, to generate the seperate new projected flat pattern object instead of just selecting the internally generated "flat pattern" as the basis of the CAM setup? ( Lucky you didn't fly all the way out to Australia with John, the restaurant where we all went out to dinner didn't have any Tuborg... ;-)

[@cadcamstuff]

Hi Don Ingram Thank you for watching! The flat pattern state is like it's own configuration and at this point it can't really be used for anything else than the 2D drawing. Would be a nice enhancement if it could be used in CAM. Glad you took the time to hang out with John, don't want him to be all lonely out there in Australia :-)

[@dandyscorner]

Not sure if I will get a response from anyone since this is an older video. If the part is unfolded and then worked with in CAM, does the program compensate for the material change required for bend compensation? I thought that feature only worked when making a flat pattern and not when unfolding. Hopefully I just misunderstood. I am new to all of this, have a new CNC Plasma table waiting to be put into service and am trying to determine what program to use (leaning toward Fusion 360 because of online tutorials available) and want to start drawing up the parts so that we can begin cutting them once the table is up and running. Fingers crossed for a reply....thanks!

[@bobsamuel1567]

Thanks Lars for the excellent tutorial!!!

[@thatsnumberwang7432]

i want to see how to speed up the process of making holes and measuring out positions for them. I have just finished a design with 35 holes, most of which were the same. Wasted so much time measuring out with the dimension tool for each one.

[@RonFloyd]

Thanks Lars. Question: Can a piece of sheet metal be rolled into a cylinder with F3D?

[@doningram3978]

Yes, The workflow is as follows: 1. Create a thin flat slither of a flange running along the length of the cylinder 2. Sketch a circular arc using the LH edge of the slither as the starting point. Stop the arc just short of the RH edge 3. Generate a flange using the top LH edge of the slither and select the arc as the profile on an inside edge. Rolled cylinder ensues... 4. Select the top face of the slither as stationary reference and hit flat pattern - sheet metal development Gotchas - The inside or outside location of the arc can do strange things as the flat disapears with the bend allowance Both the slither and the gap can be infinitesimally small to simulate a continuous cylinder or the area could be used to create an overlapping seam

[@RonFloyd]

Thanks Don!

[@cadcamstuff]

Thank you Don Ingram! :-) Best, Lars

[@carl160269]

I think sheet metal workspace still needs a bit of improvement. The things I have noticed and had to work around are the lack of normal cuts, inability to flatten curves (without a flat attached), too little control over non-mitre flange corner reliefs and bend reliefs in general - especially on thin sheet, lofting and the holy grail - convert to sheet metal. I do enjoy using Fusion and can usually knock up a sheet metal part in less time then it takes solidworks to load up and start.

[@cadcamstuff]

Hi Carl Barker Thank you for watching! I don't disagree, I know the team are working on some more enhancements....please go and vote here if you have the time; forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation-request-a/idb-p/125 Best, Lars

[@ketanahir9918]

Can you please give me suggestions for taking printout on A4 size paper with accurate measurement because i don't have cutting machine. I just want to cut all the things using grinder machine or Scissor ✂️ by sticking that A4 paper to the metal sheet.

[@danielaffleck2644]

Hi Lars. Love your work. Question: Is it possible to mitre join sheetmetal components. That would make me very happy. Thanks Cruze

[@cruzedickens2645]

It’s possible and very easy, you must enable joints in the taskbar menu

[@EZ_shop]

That was awesome Lars! Thank you.

[@cadcamstuff]

You are so very welcome :-) Thank you for watching!

[@bialyabnormal]

I'm curious Lars, does F360 support a quite different approach to sheet metal - what I have in mind is drawing everything flat and pointing where the edges will be?

[@cadcamstuff]

Hi Bialas Thank you for watching! I might need more coffee, but my answer would be no, for now. You really only have the option to wrap your sheet metal one bend at a time

[@bialyabnormal]

Thanks Lars for your reply. My question is related to Autodesk Philippines Community Monthly Challenges and their last two sheet metal challenges (SM environment isn't my strong side in F360). In their challenge they dimension one side of the sketch to the center of the bend, thus my question, as it would be the easiest way to draw in 2D and then point out the edges/bends. Trying to figure out what's the best way to approach it.

[@mpkleinbreteler]

@@bialyabnormal Maybe you can use the "Bend" feature. The sheet then bends around a sketched line :)

[@daggad02]

You are simply the best min danske venn !

[@davidcox692]

Cheers makes more sense now, why can't you live in Scotland and next-door to me would never be away

[@vinykani]

Are you using Space Mouse for orbit manipulation ?

[@cadcamstuff]

Yes, check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gn68dqGjesmjqsU Best, Lars

[@stevetracy437]

Is anything actually bent any more? Everything seems to be stamped now?

[@PaulColeVFX]

i have been trying to make a cardboard folded 6 pack case forever.. and i can model it in solid mode easily.. but every time i flange it breaks.. if i convert solid to flatpanel it breaks.. its got a middle section (with handle that is very curvy. and has some circles ) and separate section for dividers taht wrap aroudn the bottom and teh outside two sides to snap fit over some bumps that basically hold it up ( trying to make a glueless design) so that i can print a template to use as cutting guide or lasercut soem corrugated cardboard to make some props I jsut dont get why its difficult.. regualr square boxes dont cause me problems.. .. (think thehandle section of a 6 pack beign curved shapes and folded inhalf for strength.. then the final shape is like a W and two additional side pieces taht are perpedicular to the main W wrap along the bottom flat pars of each of the V parts of the W and then the outer wall on the outside folds up over to be held in place by teh weight of the bottles inside.. think a cardboard beer bottle six pack but fancy.. and out of stronger corrugated cardboard.. .. post apocalyptic style recycling :)

[@bobsamuel1567]

Thanks for another great tutorial!!!

[@ThomasHaberkorn]

is it possible to bend a flat strip into a continours circular shape using sheet metal in Fusion 360? Thinking about a sping band clamp here...

[@MrJdorrington]

Maybe could use a (contour) flange off a curved sketch...?

[@nich1067]

How do I get the little fold reliefs in the corners where the steel will be broke?

[@szsenyuk8887]

Very nice and helpful. Have a great weekend.

[@cadcamstuff]

Thank you S Zsenyuk you too

[@jasonsilva9091]

I watch a lot of your videos for the last 3 weeks I have been working with fusion I am working with sheet metal I am trying to make a part very much lie a louver lot of angels and I can't figure out how to join two bodies with a third in between them and create the bends so I have a flat pattern think about making a louver with multiple angels and multiple parts any help would be great

[@joseluisgonzalez2736]

lars extraordinario

[@Alan-rb2rx]

I have a situation that none of the videos seem to have addressed. For all practical purposes, I want to create a box. For simplicity, lets assume that there are only 4 bends and the box will be 10 x 20. I want my seam to be in the middle of one of the 20 sides. So, if you were to lay this out (we are going to ignore k factor, radii, etc for now) will be 10, 10, 20, 10, 10. My intent would be to butt weld the two 10 together to form the 20. OK, that isn't too difficult. There is enough give in the material that physically this is all possible. However, I can't model it in F360. As soon as I draw the last 10, it connects to the start of the first line (man, this is difficult to describe but is actually pretty easy to show) and the whole thing turns brown because it is now a closed sketch. When I try to create my joint, F360 interprets the closed sketch as a flat piece and I cannot 'extrude' (if you will) my box. How do I get around this?

[@cadcamstuff]

Hi Alan H Thank you for watching! I might need more coffee. Could you send me an email with a picture? [e-mail] I actually think you are describing it pretty well, just my brain that has some trouble seeing it

[@DennisJHarrisonJrHere]

I'm also very interested in this exact issue. Did you figure it out Alan?

[@Alan-rb2rx]

No. I sent an email to Lars, as requested, but I haven't heard back from him yet. I was about to send a follow-up email. My guess is that he is very busy; he produces videos like there is no tomorrow and keeping track of all the requests for help is probably really tough. Fantastic tutorial though; I love them! But, back to the point at hand, the one thing that might work is zooming really far in. It seems that Fusion is happy as long as the two faces are not on the same plane. This is kind of a hokey way to get around the problem, though, and I'm hoping Lars has a better solution.... I actually have a second question for him too. I want to weld the edges of my box after the bends, but the gap looks like it is too much. I'm searching for a setting to adjust the interference size. Do you know where it is, by chance?

[@Alan-rb2rx]

Sorry, Dennis... Still no reply from Lars. If you find out an answer, please post it. I think I'll try one of the other KZbin folks that are posting videos and tutorials. They might be able to help with the problem.

[@DennisJHarrisonJrHere]

Alan H Still same boat here, was just swearing at my desktop about it yesterday. Email Lars again, I will too. Have to imagine he gets a ton of emails. Squeaky wheel and all that :). I'm sure enough other people are running into the issue that it's worth covering in one of the Q/A streams.

[@babcockcopper]

Awesome! Thank you

[@alihms]

How do I model louvres and other formed shapes? Do I have to go back to Modelling workspace? Will it break the flat pattern afterwards?

[@cadcamstuff]

Hi Ali H M Salehuddin Thank you for watching! Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmGUmaBoaMeFeq8

[@uhmastudd03]

it won't break the flat pattern, however, depending on the number of louvres on your part. the workpiece will become more rigid, and at the same time create an oil can(warping) effect if you're familiar? As far as stretching or shrinkage, in MY particular experience working with punching/forming louvres in sheet metal, there have never been any issues with my part changing size.

[@alihms]

@@uhmastudd03 Thanks for your input. I've tried it and the model didn't break. As for the oil canning effect - never experienced it before; despite my 15+ years experience in this industry. I guess because I work mainly with relatively thick (1.5mm and above) CRS and SuS materials.

[@헬로모토r]

Hi Lars, Can I change thickness of sheet metal?

[@danesebastian2013]

Hi Lars, Is there anyway to make cross break on a 3d sheet metal surface in fusion

[@cadcamstuff]

Hi Dane Sebastian Thank you for watching! I am pretty sure you can't. Now where I am thinking about it, I wonder if you can even do that in Inventor and SolidWorks.....Hmm...I'll have to look into this. Great question

[@americorosales2085]

very good lars ,thanks

[@cadcamstuff]

You are so very welcome :-) Thank you for watching!

[@americorosales2085]

Thanks Lars, I like you tutorial, I would like you can do a screw and belt conveyors for grains,thank you in advance.

[@buildersbeacon]

Hi, I really need to find out how to create sheet metal parts that are not simple 90 degree bends. In fact, every bend and angle is different to create some of the components I require. I've spent hours on one single component trying to make it work and it just joins corners and doesn't mitre when it needs to etc. I'd love to email you a screenshot of what I'm dealing with, please.

[@BMacHumboldt]

THANK YOU!!!

[@naboulsikhalid7763]

good useful tips. help a lot. thank you

[@johnlewis7736]

Amazing!

[@timward3240]

Hi Lars, Great tutorials and insight on F360 - I'm a new user BUT have 25+ in the Packaging design and POS industry as a structural designer using industry specific CAD software (ArtiosCAD - Kasemake amongst others). I get how the Sheet Metal workspace works in principal BUT there are a few areas that don't really work with paper/corrugated boards. i.e the tolerances/corner notches, the folds for sheet metal work differently (K Factor -- I've played around with those a lot!) than they do with paper and boards - Do you think this might change in future?? Generally in the packaging industry things work the opposite way around - you draw in 2d then fold to 3d

[@cadcamstuff]

It really depends on end user requests. Generally Fusion is based on Mechanical CAD what is metal

[@joecool509]

Great stuff thank you

[@cadcamstuff]

Thank you Joe

[@Bigwingrider1800]

Does fusion have the capability to do a sheet metal prog die?

[@richardlewis8500]

Wow! what Good video.

[@Noahlochner0]

Hey Lars! I love your videos. I want to design a boat and then make it into a flat pattern to cut on CNC. Can this be done using the sheet metal function in fusion 360? Is it possible to incorporate long sweeping bends such as the bow of the boat to a more geometrical bend like the back edges of the boat? If it’s possible, can you show us how that would be done? Thank you! -Noah

[@cadcamstuff]

Hi Noah, I do have to topic on my list to do, but I know very little about boats

[@Noahlochner0]

Lars Christensen you could make just the absolute most basic shape of a boat in the video, nothing elaborate. I just want to better understand the process of making something with lofted edges into a flat pattern.

[@lewbruwer1872]

Thanks Lars, Great!!

[@cadcamstuff]

You are so very welcome :-) Thank you for watching!

[@seldompeace4492]

Thanks your lesson a lot

[@caddyguy5369]

How can someone dislike this?

[@cadcamstuff]

Hi Caddy Guy Thank you for watching! I really appreciate it!

[@holdilocks]

probably jealous competitors

[@D3nn1s]

Thanks :)

[@lapserdak24]

How do you seal such sheet for ip67?

[@Bigwingrider1800]

MY SHEET METAL PARTS HAVEN'T BEEN 4 BENDS AND 5 HOLES IN 30 YEARS...ALL OF THE PARTS I DO REQUIRE 3-D TOOLING AND GREAT STRATEGY IN CAD. WILL THIS UNFOLD A COMPLEX SHEET METAL PART LIKE VISI.. VISI GETS IT DAM CLOSE FOR LASER. BUT SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES A FEW BLANKS TO GET IT PERFECT..THANKS

[@greygremlin9747]

YES IT UNFOLDS THINGS YOU DESIGN IN THE SOFTWEAR PERFECTLY, AS LONG AS YOU DESIGN IT PROPERLY. WE'VE BEEN USING THE SOFTWEAR FOR 3 YEARS NOW. Also the caps lock is usually on the left of the keyboard in case you can't find it

[@markwitherspoon5736]

thanks

[@sariaalhalak]

Thank you

[@cadcamstuff]

You are so very welcome :-) Thank you for watching!

[@Roma-v5u]

Hi I need help, I'm contacting you several times but always with a negative result

[@cadcamstuff]

Sorry, having difficulties finding the time to help individuals. I’ll recommend the Fusion 360 forum, check that place out

[@Bigwingrider1800]

IT'S CALLED BEND ALLOWANCE WHERE I COME FROM. AND I USE 50% OF METAL FOR ALL..

[@jenspetersen5865]

Missing converting solid imported body to sheet metal

[@maxgeyer379]

not making an automatic angle like in video anymore