FreeCAD SheetMetal Workbench
A simple sheet metal tools workbench for FreeCAD
![Demo Workflow](https://github.com/shaise/FreeCAD_SheetMetal/raw/master/Resources/SheetMetal4.gif)
Tutorial by Joko Engineering:
![Tutorial](https://github.com/shaise/FreeCAD_SheetMetal/raw/master/Resources/smvideo.jpg)
Developers:
- Folding tools:
@shaise Shai Seger
@jaisekjames
@ceremcem Cerem Cem ASLAN
(@JMG1) Based and inspired by Javier Martínez's code
- Unfolding tool:
Copyright 2014 by Ulrich Brammer <ulrich1a[at]users.sourceforge.net> AKA @ulrich1a
Wiki
SheetMetal Wiki at FreeCad
Terminology
Sheetmetal Workbench definitions
Physical material definitions
Test case
As a simple test case, consider the following example:
- Inputs:
- Thickness: 2mm
- K-factor: 0.38 (ANSI)
- Leg length: 48.12mm
- Inner effective radius: 1.64mm
- Flange length: 51.76mm
- Output:
- End to mold-line distance: 50mm
You can find a simple calculator in tools/calc-unfold.py
.
Material Definition Sheet
Description
You can use a Spreadsheet object to declare K-factor values inside the project file permanently. This will allow:
- Different K-factor values to be used for each bend in your model
- Sharing the same material definition for multiple objects
Usage
-
Create a spreadsheet with the name of material_foo
with the following content (see this table):
Radius / Thickness |
K-factor (ANSI) |
1 |
0.38 |
3 |
0.43 |
99 |
0.5 |
Notes:
- The cell names are case/space sensitive.
- Possible values for
K-factor
is K-factor (ANSI)
or K-factor (DIN)
.
Radius / Thickness
means Radius over Thickness
. Eg. if inner radius is 1.64mm
and material thickness is 2mm
then Radius / Thickness == 1.64/2 = 0.82
so 0.38
will be used as the K-factor. See lookup.py for more examples.
-
Use "Unfold Task Panel" to assign the material sheet.
-
Unfold as usual.
Screencast
Engineering Mode
Description
Some sort of parameters effect the fabrication process but are impossible to inspect visually, such as K-factor, which makes them susceptible to go unnoticed until the actual erroneous production took place.
In engineering mode, such "non-visually-inspectable" values are not assigned with default values and explicit user input is required. "Engineering mode" is a safer UX mode for production environments.
Activating
- Switch to SheetMetal WB at least once.
- Edit -> Preferences -> SheetMetal
- Select
enabled
in Engineering UX Mode
field.
Installation
For installation and how to use, please visit:
http://theseger.com/projects/2015/06/sheet-metal-addon-for-freecad/
Starting from FreeCAD 0.17 it can be installed via the Addon Manager (from Tools menu)
References
Release notes:
- V0.4.24 09 Aug 2024: Support linked and cloned objects in Fold On Sketch.
- V0.4.23 17 Jul 2024: Fix bug with zero length walls.
- V0.4.22 08 Jul 2024: Eliminate temporary errors when base shape fields are edited.
- V0.4.21 30 Jun 2024: Fix Form tool not working.
- V0.4.20 24 Jun 2024: Change origin selection methos in base shape gui.
- V0.4.19 22 Jun 2024: Update icon colors in base shape gui.
- V0.4.18 08 Jun 2024: Yet more TNP issues.
- V0.4.17 04 Jun 2024: Temporary bypass TNP problem for other commands.
- V0.4.16 01 Jun 2024: Temporary bypass TNP problem.
- V0.4.15 29 May 2024: Disable fold and extend icons when a sketch is selected.
- Make unused parameters readonly when are not used by @hasecilu.
- GUI translation update from Crowdin by @kaktusus.
- V0.4.14 13 May 2024: Add Italian translations by [@robbeban][robbeban].
- V0.4.13 27 Apr 2024: Hot fix: revert material preservation system. New system has issues.
- V0.4.12 26 Apr 2024: Add 'intersection of planes' to fold options by @free777cat.
- V0.4.11 07 Apr 2024: Make material preservation system a bit more robust.
- V0.4.10 31 Mar 2024: Some code refactoring and cleanup by @sliptonic.
- Add Flat shape to base shapes.
- V0.4.09 28 Mar 2024: Enhance bend function to work on refined faces as well.
- V0.4.08 27 Mar 2024: Add option to set origin of base shape.
- V0.4.07 26 Mar 2024: Fix Translation issues by @hasecilu.
- Update function names to match the wiki help by @hasecilu.
- V0.4.06 22 Mar 2024: Fix SolidBend function to be more robust and autodetect thickness.
- Fix issues with auto-miter not working in some cases.
- V0.4.05 20 Mar 2024: Update all other sheetmetal icons by @maxwxyz.
- V0.4.04 18 Mar 2024: Change main icon to comply with freecad's theme by @maxwxyz and @pierreporte.
- Fix base shape UI's minimum values.
- V0.4.03 10 Mar 2024: Add Spanish translation by @hasecilu.
- Update translation script by @hasecilu.
- Set fold direction by selected edge position
- V0.4.02 21 Feb 2024: Update bend sketch tooltip by @Syres916.
- V0.4.01 10 Feb 2024: Fix basic shape dimensions by @RexLinz.
- V0.4.00 27 Jan 2024: Relicense SheetMetal WB from GPL3 to LGPL2 by @prokoudine.
- V0.3.16 17 Jan 2024: Compatability with python 3.11 by @Syres916.
- V0.3.15 10 Jan 2024: Unfold compatability with old freecad versions by @ksigurdur.
- V0.3.14 04 Jan 2024: Fix export of dxf.
- V0.3.13 10 Dec 2023: update polish translations by @kaktusus.
- V0.3.12 11 Nov 2023: Fix duplicate lines in unfold sketches issue #284.
- V0.3.11 11 Nov 2023: Fix broken engineering mode. Some unfold gui cleanup.
- V0.3.10 09 Nov 2023: Add base Sheetmetal shape tool, proposed by [@blindmessenger][opic82482].
- V0.3.02 10 Oct 2023: Add Polish translation by @kaktusus.
- V0.3.01 09 Oct 2023: Add Spanish translation by @hasecilu.
- V0.3.00 02 Sep 2023: Refactoring Unfolder by @sliptonic.
- V0.2.63 28 Mar 2023: Fix further unfolding issue by @Syres916.
- V0.2.62 24 Mar 2023: Add translation support + Portuguese translation by @riqueenz.
- Add dxf/svg export option to unfolder + fix unfolding issue by @Syres916.
- V0.2.61 01 Jan 2023: Add option to link all bend radii to base bend radius by @alexneufeld.
- V0.2.60 24 Dec 2022: Improved unfolding script to better handle chamfers by [@chappatted.
- V0.2.59 11 Nov 2022: Make unfolder sketch work with linkstage version by @Syres916.
- Fix refine function when multiple edges selected
- Make unfolder work with counter bore holes by @chappatted.
- Fix typos by [@luzpaz]luzpaz.
- V0.2.58 06 Oct 2022: respect 'midplane' and 'reverse' options by @alexneufeld.
- V0.2.57 07 Sep 2022: Fix unfold issue with compound holes by @chappatted.
- V0.2.56 04 Aug 2022: Fix issue #206 (object color changes by every sheetmetal command) by @Syres916.
- V0.2.55 03 Aug 2022: Add more backward compatibility to pr #242 by @Syres916.
- V0.2.54 30 Jul 2022: Fix version 20 compatibility with pr #242 by @Roy-043.
- V0.2.53 28 Jul 2022: Fix getBendetail and smExtrude for non-planar connecting faces by @Roy-043.
- V0.2.52 25 Jul 2022: Better fix for the UseSubtraction issue. Thank you @akshimassar
- V0.2.51 23 Jul 2022: Several fixes and new features: Thank you all!
- Add Length Spec feature to set adaptive flange lengths by @rmu75.
- Fix smExtrude for cylindrical connecting faces by @Roy-043.
- Fix Face.UseSubstraction typo by @mangelozzi.
- V0.2.50 09 Jul 2022: Moved 'Drawing' to 'TechDraw' for FC0.21 compatibility. Thank you!
- V0.2.49 03 Jul 2021: Add SubShapeBinder as source by @s-light. Thank you!
- V0.2.48 02 May 2021: Add context menu @jaisejames. Thank you!
- V0.2.47 24 Feb 2021: Add translation support by @jaisejames. Thank you!
- V0.2.46 31 Jan 2021: Small bug fixes and code clean by @jaisejames. Thank you!
- V0.2.45 24 Dec 2020: Added punch tool feature by @jaisejames. Thank you!
- V0.2.44 19 Dec 2020: Added extend feature by @jaisejames. Thank you!
- V0.2.43 01 Dec 2020: Added corner feature and map sketch to cut openings by @jaisejames. Thank you!
- V0.2.42 09 Jun 2020: Added Engineering UX Mode by @ceremcem. Thank you!
- V0.2.41 01 Jun 2020: Added Drop down Menu
- V0.2.40 24 May 2020: Added added tools for conversion of solid corners to sheetmetal by @jaisejames. Thank you!
- V0.2.34 09 Mar 2020: Rename "my commands" context menu to sheet metal
- V0.2.33 09 Mar 2020: Fix bend radius bug on sketch bends. Thank you Léo Flaventin!
- V0.2.32 02 Jan 2020: Python 3.8 update by @looooo. Thank you!
- V0.2.31 24 Apr 2019: Added better K factor control by @ceremcem. Thank you!
- V0.2.30 30 Mar 2019: Added Fold-on-sketch-line tool by @jaisejames. Thank you!
- V0.2.22 24 Jan 2019: Fix some typos, Issue #54
- V0.2.21 20 Jan 2019: Fix some typos, Issue #52
- V0.2.20 10 Jan 2019: Added sheetmetal generation from base wire by @jaisejames. Thank you!
- V0.2.10 01 Nov 2018: Merge new features by @jaisejames. Thank you!
- Added Edge based selection
- Added Auto-mitering
- Added Sketch based Wall
- Added Sketch based Guided wall
- Added Relief factor
- Added Material Inside, thk inside, Offset options
- V0.2.04 21 Sep 2018: Fix K-Factor bug
- V0.2.03 20 Sep 2018: Merge @easyw PR: Add separate color for inner sketch lines. (issue #46). Change Gui layout
- V0.2.02 15 Sep 2018: Add color selection for unfold sketches (issue #41)
- V0.2.01 15 Sep 2018:
- Fix bug when not generating sketch (issue #42)
- Support separate color for bend lines (issue #41)
- V0.2.00 04 Sep 2018: Make SheetMetal compatible with Python 3 and QT 5
- V0.1.40 20 Aug 2018: Merge Ulrich's V20 unfolder script - supports many more sheet metal cases and more robust
- V0.1.32 25 Jun 2018: New feature: Option to separately unfold bends. Thank you @jaisejames!
- V0.1.31 25 Jun 2018: Support ellipses and parabolas, Try standard sketch conversion first
- V0.1.30 25 Jun 2018:
- New feature: Generate unfold sketch with folding marks. Issue #33. Thank you @easyw!
- New feature: K-Factor foe unfolding is now editable. Issue #30
- V0.1.21 19 Jun 2018: Fixed back negative bend angles, restrict miter to +/- 80 degrees
- V0.1.20 19 Jun 2018: (Thank you @jaisejames for all these new features!!)
- Add bend extension to make the bended wall wider
- Add relief shape selection (rounded or flat)
- Double clicking on a bent in the tree view, brings a dialog to select different faces (good when editing the base object breaks the bend, and new faces need to be selected)
- Setting miter angle now works with unfold command
- V0.1.13 10 May 2018: Change unbending method so shape refinement can work.
- V0.1.12 25 Mar 2018: Allow negative bend angles. Change XPM icons to SVG
- V0.1.11 01 Feb 2018: Fix Issue [#23][23]: when there is a gap only on one side, an extra face is added to the other
- V0.1.10 11 Nov 2017: Add miter option to bends. By @jaisejames
- V0.1.02 22 Jun 2017: Fix nesting bug, when saving and loading file
- V0.1.01 03 Mar 2017: Support version 0.17 (starting from build 10423)
- V0.0.13 07 Sep 2015: Add negative gaps for extrude function. (per deveee request)
- V0.012 07 Sep 2015: Fix issue submitted by deveee
- V0.010 13 Jun 2015: Add Ulrich's great unfolding tool. Thanks!!!
- V0.002 12 Jun 2015: Fix Save/Load issues
- V0.001 11 Jun 2015: Initial version
[robbeban]https://github.com/robbeban/FreeCAD_SheetMetal/tree/master
License
GPLv3 (see LICENSE)