Constructing flanges

You can construct flanges on sheet metal parts using the Flange command, the Contour Flange command, and the Bend command.

The Flange command quickly constructs a simple, 90 degree flange without having to draw the flange profile yourself.

Later, you can edit the flange profile,

Flange angle,

Or flange offset.

Editing flange angles

After you construct a 90° flange, you can edit the flange angle dimension to construct a flange at any angle.  When constructing flanges at an angle other than 90° you should also set the Bend Outside option on the command bar.

Partial flanges

You can also construct flanges that do not extend the full distance of the edge you select. In the synchronous environment, you can use the Partial Flange option on the Flange QuickBar to create partial flanges.

Partial flanges are created along a selected face from the point at which you click (A) to a distance that is one-third (B) of the total length (C) of the selected thickness face.

The partial flange uses your first click as the starting edge (A) and is created on the long side (B) of the selected thickness face.

Partial flanges work slightly different in the ordered environment. After you select the edge from which you want to construct the flange, you can use the options on the command bar to specify one of several types of partial flanges.

For example, you can use the Centered option to specify a partial flange that is centered on the selected edge. The default flange width is one-third the width of the selected edge. A geometric relationship (A) is automatically placed between the midpoints of the selected edge and the flange profile line. This relationship allows you to edit the flange width dimension (B), but keep the flange centered on the edge.

Offsetting flanges

In the ordered environment, the Offset Step option on the command bar allows you to quickly create a flange that is offset from the selected edge, match the flange orientation to a selected target face, or create a flange with no offset.

You can offset the flange towards the part (A) or away from the part (B).

When matching the orientation of a flange face, the target face can be a face within the same sheet metal part,

A face on another part,

Or, a reference plane.

Note:

When matching a face to another part in an assembly, you must use the Inter-Part Copy command to copy the target face into the active document first.

The target face must be a planar surface. It cannot be a splined or curved surface.

Complex flanges

In the ordered environment, you can construct a more complex flange by editing the profile of a simple flange.

Editing the flange profile
Constructing the new profile
Disconnecting the original profile
Finishing the profile
Flanges along non-tab linear edges

While working in the ordered environment, you can now construct flanges on non-tab linear edges such as contour flange edges,

Bend edges,

And dimple edges.

When creating a flange along a linear bend edge

only the Bend Outside option is available so the flange and bend are created on the outside of the profile plane. Also, only the system defined reliefs are supported so the relief related controls on the Flange Options dialog box are disabled.

Matching flange faces in the ordered environment

There are two ways to match the orientation of a flange face to a target face. When constructing a new flange with the Flange command, while in the Offset step, you can use the Match Face button on the Flange command bar to match the flange to a target face. For an existing flange, use the Match Flange Face command to match flange faces.

The workflow for matching flange faces is the same for methods.

  1. Select the flange face you want to match.

  2. Select a target face and enter an offset value if you want the faces to be offset.

  3. If you entered an offset value, click to indicate the offset direction.

  4. Click Finish to match the faces.

Selecting a target face

Note:

When matching a face to another part in an assembly, you must use the Inter-Part Copy command to copy the target face into the active document first.

Inserting bends

You can also construct flanges with the Bend command. For example, you may need to add a flange where the width of the flange is defined by existing cutouts (A).

The profile for a bend feature must be a single linear element.

What are you looking for?
Learn more about
Look up more details