TS7 Unfolding Computation Methods
TS7 Unfolding Computation Methods
Manufacturing of sheet metal parts requires the computation of their flat patterns.
For parts made by bending, breaking or rolling, this document presents how TopSolid 7 computes the
dimensions of flat patterns.
1. Unbending method.
An unbending method provides a method to compute the unfolded length of a bend.
A bend is a cylindrical face with thickness than can be described by:
- Thickness: Th
- Internal Radius: IR
- Aperture Angle: AA
- External Radius: ER
- Bending Angle: BA
Computation type indicates how the base length of the unfolded bend is computed.
Available computation types are:
- Neutral Fiber: NF
- Internal Dimension: ID
- External Dimension: ED
- Tangent Internal Dimension: TID
- Tangent External Dimension: TED
K factor gives the ratio of thickness that is added to the internal radius to compute the compensated base
length. Its value must stand between 0 and 1.
C gives a correction value that is added to the base unfolded length. Its value can be positive or negative.
2. Unfolded length.
For each computation type, unfolded length is computed with the general following formulas:
Neutral Fiber:
UL = (IR + K . Th) . AA + C
Base unfolded length for bending angle >, = and < to 90, for neutral fiber, with k = 0.35 and C = 0.
Most of the time, neutral fiber method is used with no correction (C = 0).
It is also the base of some other computation method where k is a function of thickness and internal radius
as for method DIN6935 where K = (0.65 + 0.5 . log(IR / Th) ) / 2.
Internal Dimension:
UL = 2 . (IR + K . Th) . Tan(AA / 2) + C
With K = 0, it gives
UL = 2 . IR . Tan(AA / 2) + C
Base unfolded length for bending angle >, = and < to 90, for internal dimension, with k = 0 and C = 0.
External Dimension:
UL = 2 . ((IR + Th) - K . Th) . Tan(AA / 2) + C
With K = 0, it gives
UL = 2 . (IR + Th). Tan(AA / 2) + C
Base unfolded length for bending angle >, = and < to 90, for external dimension, with k = 0 and C = 0.
Base
unfolded length for bending angle >, = and < to 90, for tangent internal dimension, with k = 0 and C = 0.
Base
unfolded length for bending angle >, = and < to 90, for tangent external dimension, with k = 0.35 and C = 0.
Most of the time, internal dimension, external dimension, tangent internal dimension and tangent external
dimension methods are used with K = 0.
Usually, correction values are given by tables storing the correction values for different materials,
thicknesses, internal radius (given by the V of the bending tool) and bending angles.
Using these methods leads to ignore the bending radii defined on the part, using the dimensions and
corrections coming from measurements and tryouts.
3. Samples.
3.1. Part.
3.2. Neutral fiber with k = 0.33 and C = 0.
UL = 51.34 + 9 - (2.3 + 2.3) + 9 + 102.34 + 9 - (3.95 + 3.95) + 207.27 + 3.73 (1.2 + 1.2) + 3.73 + 146.27
= 51.34 + 9 4.6 + 9 + 102.34 + 9 7.9 + 207.27 + 3.73 2.4 + 3.73 + 146.27
= 535.78
C1 C2 C3
4. Equivalent K factor.
For any unfolded length, and a given internal radius and thickness, it is possible to recompute an equivalent
K factor that with produce the same unfolding length (assuming that correction is null).
Keq = (UL / AA IR) / Th
TopSolid provides the most common unfolding rules used, standing in the TopSolid Mechanical library:
Especially, Steel Tables unfolding rules document is using bending tools and bending tables for steel.
It also defines a default unbending method for hem bends:
A limit bending radius is defined in the Processes index. Upon the defined value, bend are rolled and
their unbending length is computed with neutral fiber method with k = 0.5.
You can define your own unbending tables using Unfolding Rules documents.