Add or edit a sheet metal rule

Named sheet metal rules combine sets of parameters and option selections which define how a particular sheet metal part is modeled in both the folded and flattened model state. How the corner relief on a flat blank of aluminum of a given thickness differs from the corner relief for stainless steel of a different thickness is determined by the options and values defined.

Autodesk Inventor is delivered with a pre-defined sheet metal rule called: Default. This rule consists of selected options and values that are organized on three tabs in the right-hand portion of the Style and Standard Editor dialog box.

Create and name a new sheet metal rule:

To create a sheet metal rule, copy the supplied Default rule (or an existing rule) and make and save changes to the selections and values on all three tabs.

1. Click Manage tab Styles and Standards panel Styles Editor to open the Style and Standard Editor dialog box.
2. Click the expand/collapse “+” to the left of the Sheet Metal Rule entry in the left-hand portion of the Style and Standard Editor dialog box to display the list of existing rules.
3. Click the Default rule to serve as the template for the rule to create.
4. Click New along the top of the right-hand portion of the Style and Standard Editor dialog box.
5. The New Style Name dialog box appears allowing you to name the rule you are about to create. Enter a descriptive name to replace the supplied Copy of Default in the Name field and click OK.
6. The New Style Name dialog box closes and a new sheet metal rule is listed. The new rule is an exact copy of the Default rule. Make optional edits as described in each of the sections below before your new rule definition is completed and saved.

Note: If there are already sheet metal rules defined in your file or library you can select any rule to serve as the basis for your new rule.

Edit sheet metal rules:

The Flat Pattern tab of the sheet metal rule definition provides access to the selection of sheet metal unfold rules as well as to the representation of sheet metal punch iFeatures in the flat pattern.

1. Optionally select a material that differs from the selection defined by the copied rule. If you must define a new material at this step, click Edit located to the right of the unfold rule name field and by follow the steps linked here which describe how to Add or access sheet metal materials.
2. Optionally, enter a value to define a material thickness that differs from the thickness defined in the copied rule. Click the right-pointing arrow to select from a history of previously defined thickness values.
3. Optionally, select a sheet metal unfolding rule that differs from the selection defined by the copied rule. If you must define a new unfold rule at this step, click Edit located to the right of the unfold rule name field and by follow the steps linked here which describe how to Add or edit a sheet metal unfold rule.
4. Optionally, enter a value to define a miter, rip or seam gap value that differs from the gap defined in the copied rule. Click the right-pointing arrow to select from a history of previously defined gap values.
5. Optionally select to report the bend angle in the flat pattern using a reporting option that differs from the option defined in the copied rule.
6. Optionally, select a display option for sheet metal punch iFeatures that differs from the selection defined in the copied rule.

Edit sheet metal bend rules:

The Bend tab of the sheet metal rule definition provides access to selections and parameter values that define the bend relief shape and size, the bend radius value and the bend transition type.

1. Optionally select a bend relief shape that differs from the shape shown in the copied rule.
2. Optionally alter the bend relief parameter values. These values are typically expressed in terms of the Thickness parameter but may be declared to be an absolute size as required by your manufacturing practices. For example the expression: Thickness * 0.5 ul would result in a value one half of the Thickness parameter.
3. Optionally alter the bend radius value. As noted above, this value is also typically expressed in terms of the Thickness parameter but may be declared to be an absolute size as required by your manufacturing practices.
4. Optionally alter the bend transition type from the type shown in the copied rule.

Edit sheet metal corner rules:

The Corner tab of the sheet metal rule definition provides access to selections and parameter values that define the relief for 2-bend and 3-bend corner relief shapes and sizes.

1. Optionally select a corner relief shape and size for 2-bend intersections that differs from the shape and size shown for the copied rule.
2. Optionally select a corner relief shape and size for 3-bend intersections that differs from the shape and size shown for the copied rule.

Save sheet metal rule edits:

Once any selection or value is altered from the rule copied two additional commands are enabled along the top of the right-hand portion of the Style and Standard Editor dialog box.

1. Click Save to save all of the changes you have made to the newly created sheet metal rule.

Note: To discard any changes that you made and start over using the settings originally copied, click Reset and return to the previous Step 7 to begin again.

Edit a sheet metal rule

The procedure for editing a sheet metal rule is the same as for the creation of a new sheet metal rule as described previously. Omit steps 4 - 6 where a copy of an existing rule is made and given a new name.

1. Click the expand/collapse “+” to the left of the Sheet Metal Rule entry in the left-hand portion of the Style and Standard Editor dialog box to display the list of existing rules.
2. Click the rule to edit.
3. Make the needed changes to selections and values on each of the three tabs: Sheet, Bend and Corner.
4. Click Save to save all of the changes to the selected sheet metal rule.