Convert a 2D Drawing into a Sheet Metal Model

Sheet-Metal Design

If you have, for example, received a 2D drawing of a sheet metal part, you can convert it into a 3D model with the Hatch to 3D Model function. You can bend a sheet based on the hatch and the bendlines of a 2D drawing, taking into account the strain on the sheet in accordance with the calculation method selected.

Figure 1: A hatch and bend lines have been added to a 2D drawing, after which it has been converted to a 3D model.

Convert into a 3D model as follows:

  1. Open a 2D drawing in the working window.
  2. Select Drawing | Hatch | Hatch.
  3. Select one of the edges of the sheet. The function will add a hatch onto the whole area of the sheet.
  4. Draw the bend lines with the Drawing | Lines | Two-Point Line function, for example.
  5. Select the bend lines that you drew and select the context-sensitive function Properties.
  6. Select Bending line.
  7. Select Change values.
  8. Fill in the data in the Properties of Bend dialog box.
  9. Select OK and OK again.
  10. Select the hatch in the 2D drawing.
  11. Select the context-sensitive function Hatch to 3D Model.
  12. Fill in the data in the Sheet Metal Parameters dialog box.
  13. Select OK.
  14. If you selected BendTable or K-Factor as the stretch calculation method, fill in the data in the Bend Properties dialog box. Select OK.
  15. The sheet metal model will open in the model window. Edit the model, if necessary, and save it.