Creating a Flange

This task explains how to generate a flange from a spine and a profile.

For the Generative Sheetmetal Design workbench, open the NEWSweptWall01.CATPart document.

For the Aerospace SheetMetal Design workbench, open the Aero_SweptWall01.CATPart document.

1. Click Flange in the Swept Walls sub-toolbar.

   The Flange Definition dialog box is displayed.

   Note that the image in the right-hand pane of the dialog box is updated as you choose your parameters and options, and provides a graphical explanation about the current selection.

   	By default, the icon which is pre-selected next to the Angle field corresponds to an acute angle  for the Generative Sheetmetal Design workbench, and to an obtuse angle  for the Aerospace SheetMetal Design workbench.

2. Select the edge as shown in red.

   The Spine field is updated with the selected edge.

   You can use the Remove All button to remove the selected edge(s). You can use the Propagate button to select all tangentially contiguous edges forming the spine.

   The drop-down list offers two choices:

   • Basic: the flange is created along the whole support.

   • Relimited: the flange is created within limits you define on the support (points, for example).

3. Select Basic.

   	Selecting Relimited updates the dialog with two new fields (Limit 1 and Limit 2) to let you specify the flange limits. You can then select as the limits two points, two planar faces, a point and a planar face, or a point and a vertex, as shown below, for example. Note that right-clicking in the Limit 1 and Limit 2 fields lets you create the limits (points, plane) or choose the X, Y or Z plane on-the-fly.

4. Choose the flange parameters:

   1. Enter 15mm in the Length field. Use the icons next to the field to specify the type of length. Note that the length is always computed using the lowest external point of the flange.

   2. Enter 45deg in the Angle field. Use the icons next to the field to specify whether the angle is acute  or obtuse .

   3. Enter 2mm in the Radius field.

5. Check the Trim Support option to trim the selected edge.

   The Trim Support option only works in the case of a planar support.

6. Click the Reverse Direction button to reverse the direction of the flange.

7. Click the Invert Material Side button to invert the material side. (This option is only available when the Trim Support option is checked, otherwise it is deactivated.)

8. Click the More button to display the Bend Allowance tab allowing you to locally redefine the bend allowance settings. 
    

   Note that according to the DIN standard, if the radius is modified, the K factor is adjusted accordingly.
   
   You may need to deactivate the formula using the contextual menu on the field and choosing Formula > Deactivate before editing the value.

   In this case, the new K Factor value overrides the value set in the Sheet Metal Parameters.

   A preview of the flange to be created is displayed in the geometry area.

9. When you are satisfied with the result, click OK to create the flange. The flange is created and the feature is added to the specification tree.