What’s New in 3D Sheet Metal Creator
3D Sheet Metal Creator was introduced back in July of 2020 with the release of 2021x FD01. This role offers a comprehensive toolset specific to sheet metal design for press brake manufactured components, assemblies, and enclosures.
The best part is that 3D Sheet Metal Creator offers engineers and designers a complete workflow to create production-ready sheet metal designs entirely from a web browser!
Since the introduction of this role, there have been two other Functional Deliveries (FD02 and FD03). Let’s take a look at some of the awesome new tools and features that these two updates delivered.
One of the most important and requested features since the launch of this role was the ability to save the flatten state of the sheet metal model as a DXF file. Well, it didn’t take long before this option became available. Users can opt to save the flattened view of the model as a DXF since FD02. This enables downstream manufacturing with direct export from 3D Sheet Metal Creator.
You can also reuse existing model data and reduce modeling time by converting models to sheet metal geometry using the new Recognize feature. This allows for either geometry made in other 3D Experience Design roles or even sheet metal models created in other 3D Desktop applications and convert them into a sheet metal body inside 3D Sheet Metal Creator.
Another great new enhancement in 3D Sheet Metal Creator FD02 was the ability to create User Stamps. This new feature eliminates the need for complex modeling techniques to create models that contained stamped geometry and allows users to utilize their favorite suppliers’ tool geometry to form your sheet metal model. Have a library of stamps and formed tools? Bring it into 3DEXPERIENCE and keep using it, as long as it is a solid body it can be used regardless of the application it was designed in.
For anyone that works with surface models and needs to reuse those models or convert them into sheet metal geometry, FD02 also introduced the new Convert Surface command. This increases the design productivity by using existing surfaces and simply converting them into sheet metal geometry, more like formed sheet metal geometry than press brake manufacturing but will be very beneficial to have additional design options.
In addition, the Check Overlapping feature was introduced in FD02. This great new feature allows users do a quick sanity check to eliminate design errors and reduce costly manufacturing delays due to overlapping geometry when parts are formed. Just like we like to use the interference detection feature when making assemblies to make sure that all parts fit properly, this new feature allows users to make sure that parts can be flattened and formed without any unexpected or unidentified overlaps.
Sketch tools are the most important tools of any design application. This is why in FD03 new sketch commands such as parallelogram, midpoint centerline slot, three point arc slot, and center arc slot were added to all of the 3D EXPERIENCE Design applications including 3D Sheet Metal Creator. The list continues to grow to sketch smarter and save your valuable time.
3D Sheet Metal Creator, as well as 3D Creator and 3D Sculptor, each have Design Assistant capabilities to improve and save time in user interface everyday tools and features. In FD03, this design assistant adds automatic edge recognition when creating a sheet metal chamfer or corner. Subtle but very important new functionality that will save tons of clicks and extend your mouse battery life!
With its growing solution portfolio and secure cloud technology, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform enables you to manage all facets of your product development process while reducing infrastructure costs, IT overhead, software maintenance and complexity. All 3DEXPERIENCE solutions work together seamlessly, simplifying data management, sharing and collaboration across your entire business ecosystem.
Interested in trying out this fantastic sheet metal, 100% web-based design tool? Request a 7 Day Free Trial of 3D Sheet Metal Creator.