Parametric Sheet Metal Machinery Corner Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CAD/CAM systems for sheet metal forming are limited in creating complex machinery corners with varying bend angles and radii, particularly when corners involve bends in different directions, leading to material wastage and rework.
Innovation Solution
A method for creating a parametric corner in three-dimensional sheet metal designs by associating adjacent geometric members, calculating mapped bend lines, and connecting parametric surfaces to form a machinery corner, allowing for the successful placement of design features with parameters such as bend angles, radii, and directions, and uniting the corner with the target body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional CAD/CAM systems are used for sheet metal forming, then simple corner configurations can be created, but complex machinery corners with varying bend angles and radii cannot be properly formed
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the corner creation process based on the specific configuration of adjacent geometric members. The parametric corner feature automatically adjusts to different bend angles, radii, and directions by calculating mapped bend lines and generating appropriate parametric surfaces, transforming a static corner tool into a dynamic solution that responds to varying geometric conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes multiple discrete parameters including bend angle, bend radii, corner angle, and bend direction to define and control the geometry of machinery corners. By varying these parameters, the system can accurately represent complex corner configurations while maintaining manufacturing precision through parametric control.
2Loss of substance
If traditional corner creation methods are used, then material usage may be simplified, but material wastage and rework increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of mapped bend lines and generates parametric surfaces before actual manufacturing. This advance planning allows for accurate prediction of material requirements and corner geometry, preventing material wastage and rework by ensuring correct corner formation from the outset.
3Adaptability or versatility
If simple corner features are used, then the design process is faster, but the system cannot handle various bend angles and radii
Solution Approach 1:
The corner feature is segmented into multiple parametric surfaces, each constrained by mapped bend lines and geometric member common points. This segmentation allows the complex corner to be constructed from manageable surface components while maintaining the ability to handle various bend configurations through parametric control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional flange representations to three-dimensional parametric surfaces that accurately model the complex geometry of machinery corners. By working in three-dimensional space with parametric surfaces, the system can represent varying bend angles, radii, and directions while maintaining design efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more embodiments of the presently preferred invention provides a method and a computer-program product for creating a parametric corner on a sheet metal design. The parametric corner is a machinery corner that can be constructed in the formed or unformed state and successfully handles a bend corner with different radii and bend angles. Further, the machinery corner allows placing features thereon, as well as producing unformed geometrical representations of said placement.