In sheet metal design, the k factor is used to calculate how much sheet metal one needs to leave for the bend in order to achieve particular final dimensions, especially for between the straight sides next the bend. Here i show the principle of the k factor in sheet metal design. The flat pattern can be used to document and manufacture associatively as. This is one of the lessons of my course about solidworks solid, sheet metal and weldments modeling. Kfactor archives javelin canadas largest solidworks. Right now how my department has the bend stuff setup is we apply a 0. Rightclick on the toolbar and activate sheet metal. This is a sheet metal part symmetric vertically with respect to the right plane. For applications where it is not critical on thinner materials i use k 0. The picture below is what i get with non sheet metal features. Shows up in the property manger of the sheet metal feature in the sheet metal gauges group box, under the table name. Sheet metal design software considers the fabrication methods needed for manufacturing. A cad program equipped with a suite of sheet metal specific tools, ironcad acts as a powerful sheet metal software. A great tool available to solidworks sheet metal users is the sheet metal gauge table.
The solidworks application also comes with a kfactor bend table in microsoft excel format. My concern is, ive been reading that the k factor lies between 0 to 0. Please dont comment it cant be done because just dont reply if its not possible. Kfactor is a ratio that represents the location of the neutral sheet with respect to the thickness of the sheet metal part. Instead, we will simplify this area of the blog by agreeing to work with a k factor value of 0. I personally use the k factor version, but many may prefer bend allowance or go with a bend table. This article sheds light on the engineering aspect of sheet metal and bend allowance methods in solidworks. Teaches you about the k factor, a principle fundamental to bending your sheet metal parts. It focuses on precise processing calculated according to the machinery, tools and processes used. Select keep body if you want to keep the solid body to use in another convert to sheet metal feature. Solidworks sheet metal design 3d design demo library. This is one of the lessons of my course about solidworks solid, sheet metal and. When you select k factor as the bend allowance, you can specify a k factor bend table.
Now lets see how we can obtain these values for a specific sheet. The k factor would obviously make a difference to the flat pattern. The k factor in sheet metal bending is the ratio of the position of neutral axis to the material thickness. When cleared, the body is consumed by the convert to sheet metal. We use a k factor of 0 and would like it so that whenever we create a part the k factor is 0. The solidworks application also comes with a k factor bend table in microsoft excel format. How to calculate the kfactor in solidworks for perfect. It ultimately allows you to estimate the amount of stretch without knowing what type of material you are bending. Basic sheet metal parts in fusion 360s sheet metal. The fourth part writes the equations for defining the k factor by ifstatment and adds two equations which links the bend radius and the k factor from the sheet metal feature to the thickness and the defined k factor.
In sheet metal, there is a powerful bend constant known as the kfactor. If you create a sheet metal gauge table, use a semi colon. What are bend allowance, bend deduction and kfactor. Dxf file to send to the metal cutting cnc laser or waterjet also shows how to add. With gauge tables, the radii and angles can differ. If you right click on the sheet metal feature you will find k factor. Then under bend allowance section select this new custom made table. When you select kfactor as the bend allowance, you can specify a kfactor bend table.
Sheet metal design is already foreign to me, and trying to do it properly in inventor has been a hassle. Select a face as the fixed face for the sheet metal part. Sheet metal k factor what is it and how to measure it. The fourth part writes the equations for defining the kfactor by ifstatment and adds two equations which links the bend radius and the kfactor from the sheetmetal feature to the thickness and the defined kfactor. Let me make it clear that it is a very important term used in sheet metal design. Solidworks sheet metal tutorial for beginners shows how to make a simple sheet metal part and then saveas a. The material is stressed beyond its yield strength but below its ultimate tensile strength. Select the sheet metal feature from the feature manager. I have a few questions about the settings available. By the end of this video, youll be able to create a basic sheet metal part in fusion 360s. Users can create a box around a sheet metal component or multibody a single body. Standard k factor s can be found from your sheet metal supplier, online, or through real world testing. Db sheetmetals ltd k factors for solidworks bending is a manufacturing process by which metal can be deformed by plastically deforming the material and changing its shape. In this table, users can configure a microsoft excel spreadsheet to represent the appropriate sheet metal wall thickness, based.
When sheet metal parts are unfolded using the k factor to calculate the developed length, this can be captured and driven using the advanced feature parameters. Macro to set sheet metal feature to use kfactor solidworks. How to create a custom solidworks sheet metal bend table. You can use the sheet metal gauge table to assign values for the whole part. Bend allowance, bend deduction and k factor tables in solidworks. Best way to calculate k factor value is by reverse engineering.
Click on the top plane and then create a new sketch. Sheetmetalworks covers the sheet metal process chain right through to the manufacturing stage. I hope this will help you, if you need more information, let me know. You can do this in the propertymanager by selecting custom bend allowance and making selections. The completion of the certified solidworks professional advanced sheet metal cswpasm exam shows that you have successfully demonstrated your ability to use solidworks sheet metal tools. Where this is from the inside of the bend is the key for solidworks k factor. Now to use this table for a sheet metal part, all you need to do is to rightclick on sheet metal feature in the design tree and edit the feature.
K factor is used in defining the bend allowance, thus by using bend allowance tables it is possible to automatically set the k factor for defined materials see gauge tables. It is helpful for engineers and designers who have to check the pressure levels of pieces of their layouts as it delivers a factor of safety wizard. In my previous post i talked about k factor, bend allowance and bend deduction and what they mean in sheet metal design. K factor is actually the ratio of the offset t of the neutral axis from the inside bend and the thickness of the sheet t when a piece of sheet metal is bent. Term k factor is used in cad programmes to calculate sheet metal blank size. Sheet metal design software ironcad cad software solutions. Solidworks sheet metal solidworks tech tip total control for the bend allowance in. In solidworks this is achieved by selecting the relevant bend allowance options in the sheet metal tool. Properly setting up kfactor in sheetmetal solidworks.
The sheet metal tool allows you to quickly create sheet metal part designs using a simple design process, all helping to save time and development costs. Employers can be confident that an individual with this certification understands the set of solidworks tools that aid in the design of sheet metal components. Sheet metal features are used so that the part can be flattened out to create a flat pattern. Learn more about solidworks sheet metal with tutorials, tips, and tricks from javelins team of certified solidworks experts. Discover the solidworks sheet metal design demo from the solidworks 3d design demo library.
The problem with a solidworks sheet metal bend table is that it can only control the bend allowance, bend deduction or k factor. K factor is a ratio that represents the location of the neutral sheet with respect to the thickness of the sheet metal part. Use the known k factor and the known inner bending radius to. However, you can modify k factor, bend allowance, and bend deduction per feature or per bend. As i mentioned in my last post you need to do some tests to calculate these values for a specific sheet. He has presented webinars on sheet metal tips and tricks and sheet metal bend tables. Solidworks sheet metal tools are relatively straight forward, but may not be clearly understood. Calculating bend allowance, bend deduction, and kfactor. Because if i put a k factor in the part, it is okay in sheet metal, but in sheet metal1 its overwriting the existing value and sometimes when i have an old part with different k factor its putting the old k factor which is terrible. In this series of blog posts it was discussed what different terms like bend allowance, bend deduction and kfactor mean and how we can calculate them for a specific sheet. In sheet metal, there is a powerful bend constant known as the k factor. Converting a solid part to a sheet metal part solidworks. When working in sheet metal, we need to be able take a folded sheet, flatten it, and have an accurate size flat pattern.
Solidworks tutorials sheet metal 2012 what is k factor. How to convert a solid to sheet metal in solidworks. Does anyone know how to setup k factor for sheet metal every time i draw a sheet metal component in solidworks the flatdevelopment always come out to big when i form it on a pressbrake. Sheet metal features determines the thickness, bend radius, and k factor.
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