Defining the blank length direction for a sheet metal part

How do I tell the software along which edge the sheet length should be calculated?

Bent sheet metal part

Quantity calculation requires that a flat pattern projection has been created in the drawing and, when using Flow, that the raw material (sheet material) has been defined for the part.

The blank is determined based on a rectangle, and its length direction is the one the user selects as the X-direction of the flat pattern projection. By default, the software uses the longest straight edge line of the flat pattern’s reference face.

Cut sheet metal part without bends

Works the same way as for bent parts — the flat pattern projection is identical to the part itself, but it is still required in order to capture the blank dimensions.

If you are using G4’s own databases (without Flow integration), you can enter a value in the part’s material information that differs from the automatically updated dimensions. In this case, the accuracy of the dimensions must be maintained manually.

Defining custom dimensions for a sheet metal part

This function is available for non-bendable (i.e., cut straight) parts when Flow is in use.

1. Create a 3D sketch in the part and copy into it the lines that are relevant for the dimensions.

2. Add the blank length dimension as a non-driving dimension and assign it the parameter “L”.

3. Add the transverse dimension in the same way, using the parameter “K”.

4. Also define the sheet thickness parameter “t” either in the extrusion feature or in the formula field for sheet thickness in the sheet metal feature.

This way, the sheet blank dimensions will appear in the format L x K x t, e.g., 263.6 x 182.4 x 5.