SolidWorks Sheet Metal: Custom Form Tools - SolidWorks Tutorial by SolidWize

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This SolidWorks training video will take you through creating custom form tools, for use with sheet metal components.
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[@pavelpepeliaev2181]

Important note for making this tutorial useful. Before you apply forming tools to sheet metal parts, in the Design Library you must right-click the folder that contains the forming tools and select Forming Tools Folder to designate its contents as forming tools. This applies to forming tools that are part files (*.sldprt), not Form Tool (*.sldftp) files.

[@MrWoohuuw]

this helped me a lot! solidworks always wanted to make the part a derived part and not a forming tool :D

[@jaksamaric5086]

SolidWize Thanks for that tip, I had issues bringing in the form tool as well.

[@SolidWize]

Show hidden folders in window. Then go to your C: drive and find the program data folder. Then go to solidworks>solidworks (year)>design library. Set this as the location from "file locations" in the options. Alternatively resetting your settings should work to.

[@ranganafernando511]

Thank you very much. you give very helpful tips in this videos.

[@SolidWize]

Go into the design library folder in the task pane. Right click on the folder where you store your forms tools and set that folder as a form tools folder. Otherwise it thinks you're trying to bring in another part.

[@elless27]

Good tutorial and to the point. Thanks

[@miashanholtzer3517]

Great video, thanks for this.

[@robertagill]

Great video. Thanks!

[@andreypopov4660]

Thanks a lot! Very helpful!

[@jbelle7435]

Great Video. Its not like your turning 3 steps(extrude, cuts, etc) into 1. Your doing it how it would be made in the real world! More work 1st is less work later as well.

[@andrewlane5186]

great Video. However, you did not save the part as a Form tool (.sldftp) which is why Alejandra is having a problem. If you save this as a form tool then it works perfectly!

[@mohandatta8461]

if we do flat pattern in sheet metal after using forming tool will the forming tool area in sheet metal will flatten in flat pattern or not????

[@SolidWize]

That would be one way to do it, but you can also just design it with normal features. You can't flatten a form tool in SolidWorks, so it doesn't really make much of a difference.

[@rodrigochiozzini]

Parabéns !!!

[@joshmnky]

Is this how I would design a part that I planned on having deep drawn?

[@diegokamlofsky2481]

gracias !

[@user-cj1si1zb3j]

thanks you create a form on a planer face but how we can create it on a round face for exaple a steel pipe

[@SolidWize]

You can't create a sheet metal form tool indent on a round face unfortunately. You can create the geometry you want as a separate body and then use the indent tool to create the form you're after.

[@danieltremblay1772]

SolidWize is it possible to create a swage affect to a cylinder... like bumping out a radius (plumbing fitting or something to that effect)? Thanks... Great video

[@SolidWize]

I assume you're asking if you can do the same on a cylindrical shape as the form tool. You'll need to use the indent tool. It won't play as well with sheet metal flat patterns, but you can just suppress the feature when needed.

[@Dagghy]

When I drag mi forming tool into the part I want to form the following shows: Are you trying to make a derived part? And no features of the forming tool are available. Help please!

[@derbaderb123]

Anyone know how to what to do about my design library not having a default location? it gives me an error saying there is no default design library save location. subsequently i cant pull form tools into sheet metal parts because i have nothing in my design library

[@eslamhalaby5247]

Hey I am under graduated student. I am working on my graduation project specialized in sheet metal I have some problem in the part to unbend it by logo press 3 So, I need your help to draw a part i have tried to draw by solid works by using sheet metal features. please write your email to send the details.

[@tkzsfen]

it's so easy to use solidworks..if you know how to use it :)

[@alessiopatrizi8786]

which gpu do you use?

[@SolidWize]

I use a Nvidia Quadro K620. You'll typically need an Nvidia Quadro or AMD Radeon Pro to use realview graphics. You can check the SolidWorks Forum for more information. If you have a gaming graphics card with decent power, you'll want to google: "solidworks realview non approved graphics cards"

[@alessiopatrizi8786]

@@SolidWize i can't afford Nvidia quadro cards so i wanted to buy a wx 3200 but now i Think rx580-590 whould be better. I'll use it for slicing, 3d modelling(solidwordks, rhino, inventor...) and some programming on linux. Which one of the 2 cards i mention above would be better for me? Is it true radeon pro cards crash less than gaming gpus?

[@SolidWize]

@@alessiopatrizi8786 I've only used workstation cards, so I can't comment much on the gaming cards. The k620 I use has been quite good and the same price as the wx3200. If you want a deeper answer, I would ask this question on SolidWorks' forum.

[@alessiopatrizi8786]

​@@SolidWize I've already read some forums and In small projects a professional card doesn't make the difference so I'll go with the rx 580 because it's more suitable for things like programmming. I'll buy a professional gpu when i'll have to draw more compliceted drawings. Thank you so much.

[@alessiopatrizi8786]

PS: your tutorials are amazing

[@abboberg]

I cannot get this to work. It asks me if I want to add a derived part. I renamed the folder to "Forming Tools Folder" and "Form Tools Folder" and neither worked. I'd be happy to make the form tool a form-tool type part, but I have not found a way (through my SW lessons) or on the internet as to how to modify a form-tool type part. I think your video is very sneaky in that you are hiding the file type of your form tool. Because of that, your video provides no value to me.

[@harishmjyok]

Hi its asks me to if i want to add a derived part ... you got any solution for this ... problem

[@codykiley3343]

Arne Boberg Go into the design library folder in the task pane. Right click on the folder where you store your forms tools and set that folder as a form tools folder. Otherwise it thinks you're trying to bring in another part. You did everything but read the comments