How do you make a flat pattern in Inventor
William Taylor
Updated on April 22, 2026
With a sheet metal part open, on the ribbon, click Sheet Metal tab Flat Pattern panel Create Flat Pattern. With the flat pattern active, in the browser, right-click the node for the Flat Pattern, and then click Edit Flat Pattern Definition.
How do I export a flat pattern in Inventor?
In the browser, right-click the icon for the flat pattern click Save Copy As, browse to the desired folder, and then in File Name, enter a name. In Save as Type, specify SAT, DWG, or DXF file type. Click Save.
What is flat pattern drawing?
Help. Dec 01 2021In-product view. Use a flat pattern, which is the shape of the sheet metal part before it is formed, to create drawings for manufacturing. Flat patterns show bend lines, bend zones, center lines, and the shape of the entire part with all bends flattened and bend factors considered.
How do you bend a flat part in Inventor?
- Click 3D Model tab Modify panel Bend Part .
- Use the Bend Line selector in the Bend Part dialog box to select the line about which the feature hinges or folds.
- Click the pop-up menu and choose how you want to define the bend: …
- Choose whether the part bends left, right, or both ways around the bend line.
Which command creates funnel that can be unfolded into flat pattern?
The Unfolded View command is active in the Generative Drafting workbench with a Version 5 SheetMetal Design, Generative Sheetmetal Design or Aerospace SheetMetal Design license.
How do I create a flat pattern in Autocad?
- Click Place Views tab Create panel Base .
- In the Drawing View dialog box, select a sheet metal component as File.
- In the Sheet Metal View area, select Flat Pattern view.
- If appropriate, select or clear the selection of the Recover Punch Center option.
- Set other options in the Drawing View dialog, and then click OK.
How do I convert a flat pattern to DXF?
- Click File > Save As and select Dxf (*. dxf) for Save as type.
- Right-click Flat-Pattern in the FeatureManager design tree and select Export to DXF/DWG.
How do you make a flexible part in Inventor?
- Create an assembly that contains the required degrees of freedom. …
- Right-click the placed subassembly in the graphics window or the browser, and then select Flexible. …
- Continue to select subassemblies and make flexible, as needed.
How do I export DXF from inventor?
- Open a drawing in Inventor.
- Go to “File” -> “Save As” -> “Save Copy As”
- In the dialog select DXF.
- Click on “Options…”
- Configure the export as needed.
- Save the configuration in “C:\ProgramData\coolOrange\powerJobs\Modules\Export”
- On the ribbon, click Sheet Metal tab Modify panel Unfold.
- Select a stationary reference at either end of the contour roll feature.
- Select the contour roll.
- Click Apply.
- Select a stationary reference on the now straightened section to begin the application of the second Unfold.
How do you flatten sheet metal in Inventor?
In the ribbon, click Sheet Metal tab Flat Pattern panel , and then click either Go to Flat Pattern( ) or Go to Folded Part ( ) to switch to the other state.
How do you create a flat pattern in Solidworks?
- Open the sheet metal part for which you want to add a drawing.
- Click Make Drawing from Part/Assembly. …
- Select a format or click OK to use the default format.
- From the View Palette, drag the Flat pattern to the drawing sheet. …
- Click .
How do you show a flat pattern on a solid edge?
Use the Edge Display tab on the Solid Edge Options dialog box. The flat pattern created with the Flatten command contains all bend centerline information used to create bend centerlines in drawing views. In draft, you also can add the centerline to a bend (A) using the By Two Lines option with the Center Line command.
How do you make a flat pattern in Solidworks?
- In a sheet metal part, create a new configuration.
- In the FeatureManager design tree, do one of the following: Right-click Flat-Pattern and select Unsuppress . Select Process-Bends and all of the features after it.
How do you make a sketch sheet metal?
- Open the sheet metal part for which you want to add a drawing.
- Click Make Drawing from Part/Assembly (Standard toolbar), and click OK to open the drawing sheet.
- Select a format or click OK to use the default format.
- From the View Palette, drag the Flat pattern to the drawing sheet.
How do I convert IDW to DXF?
Go to save copy as – select DXF – selection Options. In the Export dialog – set Data scaling to – Base view scale-Layout. Save drawing as DXF.
How do I open a DWFx file?
DWFx files can be viewed with Autodesk Design Review or AutoCAD 2009. They can also be opened using Microsoft’s XPS Viewer, which is included with Windows Vista.
How do I export faces in Inventor?
All you need to do is Right Click on the face, and then select “Export face As…” you will then be prompted for a file name, and you have the option to select either a DXF or DWG file format.
What is flexible inventor?
Flexibility is often used in conjunction with positional representations to save an assembly in various states that can be recalled and represented in assembly modeling and drawing views. Each instance of an assembly may be displayed in a different position, but the BOM is not affected.
How do you use adaptive in Inventor?
- In the graphics window or the browser, select a feature.
- Right-click, and click Adaptive.
- To fix a feature at its current size and shape, right-click the feature and clear the checkbox for Adaptive. Note: When you make a feature adaptive, all occurrences of the feature are also adaptive.
How do you change the bend radius in Inventor?
On the Notes and Leaders tab, select Bend Note Settings. If needed, edit the default bend note text in the edit field: Click Bend Direction, Bend Angle, Bend Radius, or kFactor in the Values and Symbols section to insert the corresponding property in the edit field.
How do you use pipe and tube in Inventor?
They optimize the process for defining tube and pipe features. The style attributes contain criteria for route type, nominal diameter, minimum and maximum segment length, material, bend radius, and other details that are typically consistent throughout a route. The software applies these attributes as you design.
How do you make a 3D sketch in Inventor?
To begin an Inventor 3D sketch, simply click the Start 3D Sketch button on the ribbon. At first, not much will look different between the 2D sketching and 3D sketching environments. Many of the same sketch tools are available in both sketching environments including lines, arcs, and splines.
How do you use the flange in Inventor?
On the ribbon, click Sheet Metal tab Create panel Flange . Select two coplanar edges that share a virtual corner. In the Flange dialog box, Corner tab, verify that Apply Auto-mitering is selected. Specify the flange parameters, and click OK.
How do you calculate flat sheet metal?
Flat Length = Length A + Length B – Bend Deduction To sum up, Sheet metal flat pattern can be calculated using the k factor. And k factor value can be determined by calculating the position of the neutral axis or bend allowance. Calculation of the neutral axis position is a tough task.
How do you fix a flat pattern in Solidworks?
- Open the part file within SOLIDWORKS.
- Enable the FLAT-PATTERN configuration within the configuration tab (the Flatten tool will likely be un-toggled)
- If the Flatten tool is un-toggled, re-enable it so the sheet metal returns to its flatten state.
How do you unwrap in Inventor?
- On the ribbon in a part file 3D Model tab Create panel Unwrap.
- Click the Advanced Settings Menu and enable Create Dedicated View Representation to create a view that displays only the flattened surface. …
- If desired, specify a preset. …
- Faces: In the graphics window, select one or more contiguous faces.