The Ultimate Guide to SOLIDWORKS Training - Sheet Metal

SOLIDWORKS Training - Sheet Metal

The goal of the course is to teach you how to build sheet metal parts using SOLIDWORKS mechanical design automation software.

The sheet metal application in the SOLIDWORKS software is so robust and feature rich that it is impractical to cover every minute detail and still have the course be a reasonable length.

Therefore, the focus of this course is on the fundamental skills and concepts central to successfully building sheet metal parts. 

COURSE BREAKDOWN

Prerequisites

Students attending this course are expected to have the following:

• Mechanical design experience.
• Completed the course SOLIDWORKS Essentials.
• Experience with the Windows operating system.
  
  

Course Design Philosophy

This course is designed around a process- or task-based approach to training. Rather than focus on individual features and functions, a process-based training course emphasizes the processes and procedures you follow to complete a particular task. By utilizing case studies to illustrate these processes, you learn the necessary commands, options and menus in the context of completing a design task. 

Laboratory Exercises

Laboratory exercises give you the opportunity to apply and practice the material covered during the lecture/demonstration portion of the course. They are designed to represent typical design and modeling situations while being modest enough to be completed during class time.

So What Will You Learn?

Lesson 1: Sheet Metal Flange Method
Lesson 2: Sheet Metal Convert Method
Lesson 3: Multibody Sheet Metal Parts
Lesson 4: Sheet Metal Forming Tools
Lesson 5: Additional Sheet Metal Features and Techniques

Lesson Breakdown 

Lesson 1: Sheet Metal Flange Method

This lesson will teach you how to: 

• Understand unique sheet metal FeatureManager tree items.
• Create a sheet metal part using a base flange.
• Flatten a sheet metal part to see the flat pattern.
• Add edge flanges and miter flanges to sheet metal parts.
• Use the Hem feature
• Create Tab features. 
• Understand specialized sheet metal cut options. 

Lesson 2: Sheet Metal Convert Method

This lesson will teach you how to:

• Use Insert Bends to add bend regions to a thin-walled part.
• Rip the corners of a thin-walled part so that it can be unfolded.
• Add a welded corner to a sheet metal part.
• Use Insert Bends to unroll a cone or cylindrical part.
• Use the Convert to Sheet Metal command. 

Lesson 3: Multibody Sheet Metal Parts

This lesson will teach you how to:

• Understand different mehods of creating and using multibody sheet metal parts.
• Control sheet metal parameters for separate bodies within the same part.
• Create drawings of multibody sheet metal parts and individual bodies.
• Use split to divide a single body into multibody sheet metal parts. 
• Use Mirror to create a separate sheet metal body.
• Use different techniques to detect interference in a multibody part.
  
  

Lesson 4: Sheet Metal Forming Tools

This lesson will teach you how to:

• Use forming tools to create features such as ribs, louvers, and lances.
• Modify existing or create custom forming tools. 
• Create a Punch Table.
• Create Sheet Metal Gussets.
• Understand the options associated with showing form tools and gussets in the flat pattern. 
  
  

Lesson 5: Additional Sheet Metal Features and Techniques

This lesson will teach you how to:

• Use the Cross Break feature.
• Mirror to create a new sheet metal part that can be flattened.
• Use the Tab and Slot feature to interlock sheet metal parts.
• Use configurations to show steps in the forming process.
• Use the Costing tool to evaluate sheet metal designs. 

Conclusion

So there you have it. If you are interested in reserving a seat for the next SOLIDWORKS Sheet Metal Course offered at Alignex, check out our training calendar for dates and locations. For any questions, feel free to reach out to our Training Coordinator by phone at (952) 288-2627 or by email at training@alignex.com 

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