Defines a contour flange by adding a sheet metal face defined by an open profile and other parameters to an edge or edge loop on a face.
What's New: 2026
The Contour Flange Property Panel populates with the default settings from the active Sheet Metal Style. You can override these settings on a per flange basis or on a set of flanges. The property panel provides an optimized workflow.
To learn more about property panels see the following topics:
Ribbon: Sheet Metal tab Create panel
Flange
Specifies the profile, edges, and other parameters from which the contour flange is created.
A default name is provided, but you can double click the flange name to edit and change it.
The menu at the top-right provides commands relative to the flange workflow.
Displays the named preset in use and provides access to any flange presets you have created. When No Preset displays, property panel fields populate with the last used value.
Creates a custom preset using the current property panel settings. The preset is available for use when creating sheet metal flanges.
Provides control over the presets list and the order in which the presets display.
Requires an open profile. Automatically selects the open profile sketch if one exists and previews the flange with the default settings.
If no sketch exists or none is visible, the sketch environment activates so you can create the required sketch. If multiple sketches exist, the profile selector is active awaiting a sketch selection.
If multiple solids exist, to which the contour flange could be added, the Solid selector displays.
Specifies the new flange is to be a separate body.
Accept the default naming or specify a name. Displays when New Solid is used.
Select the sheet metal rule to use to create the contour flange. The Sheet Metal Style Default rule is used unless otherwise specified for the new body.
There are two methods for defining flange width extents.
Adds a contour flange along the selected edges. The following controls display for defining the flange.
Edge Sets A collection of one or more edges on which a flange feature is placed. The selected edges do not have to be contiguous.
Edge Loop. Sets the selection priority to edge loops, enabling the selection one edge to get all contiguous edges. The loop edges comprise one Edge Set.
Add Edge Set. Add an edge set to create a flange with different options. Expand an edge set to access the individual edges in the set and their options.
Select Edges
The selector adds edges to the set. To delete an edge selection set and reset the selector, click the X at the right end of the row, then begin selection.
For each Edge Set you can specify the following options:
Edge. Applies parameters to the full length of the selected edge.
Width. Applies parameters to the selected edge, where the flange width is distributed equally from the edge center. Enter the flange Width.
Offset
Enables a flange to start along the selected edge at a specified distance from a selected perpendicular face or plane.
Between
Flange width is defined by the portion of the selected edge lying between the From and To inputs.
Offset
Flange width is defined by offsets from each end of the edge.
Specifies the contour flange will begin from the profile sketch plane.
From. Uses the sketch plane as the beginning of the contour flange.
Between. enables the selection of a different starting plane. Select a plane or planar face.
Direction. Specifies the direction in which the contour flange is created. The default starting location is the profile sketch plane. Choose from:
Distance A specifies the length of the contour flange.
To. Enables the selection a termination feature rather than a distance. Choose from a work feature, point, or planar face.
Bend Edges specifies which edges will receive the contour flange. Select one or more edges.
Specifies which side of the profile the flange is created.
Defines the radius of the bend between the flange and the face containing the selected edges. The value defaults to the system parameter named BendRadius, which is defined on the Sheet Metal Styles dialog box. The field accepts numeric entries, formulas, parameters, or measured values.
Specifies which methods are used to create a flat pattern from the folded sheet metal part. Sheet Metal Unfold rules are defined in the Style Editor. For more information see To Add, Edit, or Sync a Sheet Metal Unfold Rule.
Default (by style)
Defined in the Sheet Metal Style. To change the default, modify the style. You can modify the default method by choosing one of the following shapes.
Tear
An acceptable bend relief resulting from material failure. It is common when tight bends are required and with certain materials. In the illustration, C represents the size of the material remnant left following the creation of the bend with relief. This parameter defines the value.
Round
A bend relief shape defined by a cut ending with a semicircle. It is often produced using laser cutting technology. In the following illustration, A indicates the bend relief width (diameter), B indicates the bend relief depth beyond the deformation zone to the tangent point of the diameter, and C represents the size of the material remnant left following the creation of the bend with relief. Each of these parameters define the bend relief defaults.
Straight
A bend relief shape defined by square corners. It is common in manual shop situations and often produced by a saw kerf. In the following illustration, A indicates the bend relief width, B indicates the bend relief depth beyond the deformation zone, and C represents the size of the material remnant left following the creation of the bend with relief. Each of these parameters define the bend relief defaults.
Defines the condition that shows in the flat pattern of the bend. The folded model shows either the transition type of None (for all transition types except Trim), or the type Trim if that is the selected type. The following images show the transition types for this folded model.
None
Depending on the geometry, results in a spline between the edges of the two faces meeting at the selected bend.
Intersection
Results in a straight line from the edge of the bend zone that intersects the edge of the bent feature. In the following illustration, the portion of the flat pattern showing this transition type is illustrated for the folded model shown previously.
Straight Line
Results in a straight line from the edge of the bend zone that intersects the edge of the bent feature. In the following illustration, the portion of the flat pattern showing this transition type is illustrated for the folded model shown previously.
Arc
Results in a straight line from the edge of the bend zone that intersects the edge of the bent feature. In the following illustration, the portion of the flat pattern showing this transition type is illustrated for the folded model shown previously.
Trim to Bend
This type of transition is displayed in the folded model and results in a cut to the bend zone perpendicular to the bent feature. In the following illustration (left), the portion of the flat pattern showing this transition type is illustrated for the folded model shown on the right.
Corner defaults are specified in the Sheet Metal Style. Corner defaults are enabled when more than one flange is being created in the same feature. This enables a smooth workflow where the flange requirements are completely defined in one pass. For individually created flanges that require specific corner treatments, use the Corner Seam command.
Auto-mitering automatically extends material between adjacent flange edges during creation or edit of at least two flange edges during a single operation where bend angle is greater than 90 degrees. Select the option to have it automatically extend the flanges to create the corner gap.
Specifies the gap width used when creating mitered corners. The default is GapSize, which is defined in the Sheet Metal Style.
Default (by style)
The default is defined in the Sheet Metal Style. To change the default, modify the style.
Intersection A circular cut out centered on the intersection of the bend lines.
Tangent A circular cut out tangent to the mitered edges.
Vertex A circular cut out whose circumference intersects the shared face tangency point
Intersection A square cut out centered over the intersection of the bend lines.
Vertex A square cut out whose corner intersects the shared face tangency point.
Tear
Extends the flange edges to their intersection. No relief, which allows material failure (tearing) across the bend zone in the folded model.
Trim to Bend
A polygonal cut out bounded by the bending zone lines.
Linear Weld
A v-shaped cut out defined from the intersection of the inner bend zone lines to the outer bend zone intersection of the line with the flange edges. Minimum relief allows a subsequent weld operation to close the corner.
Arc Weld
Curves tangent to the flange edges along the outside edge of the bend zone which converge to a flat gap equal to the Miter Gap value. A gap between the flanges that is equidistant along the length of the relief is suitable for subsequent arc welding.
Laser Weld
Curves tangent to the flange edges along the outside edge of the bend zone which converge to a tangent arc equal to the Miter Gap value. A gap between the flanges that is equidistant along the length of the relief is suitable for subsequent laser welding.
Default (by style)
The default is defined in the Sheet Metal Style. To change the default, modify the style.
No Replacement
Does not replace the geometry as modeled in the flat pattern.
Intersection
Extends and intersects the flange edges.
Full Round
Extends the flange edges to their intersection, and then places a fillet tangent to the bend zone tangency lines. Radii are likely larger than what is produced using the Round with Radius option.
Round with Radius
Extends the flange edges to their intersection, and then places a tangent fillet of the size specified. Radii are likely smaller than what is produced using the Full Round option.
Provides overriding relief and shape options for each selected corner when the flange feature is composed of more than one flange.
Corner #
Uniquely identifies corners participating in the selected feature.
Relief Override
Provides corner relief types for the selected corner only. Use the drop down list to select the desired relief condition.
Shape Override
Provides corner shape types for the selected corner only. Select the desired shape from the drop down list. The corner shape list is outlined above.
Gap Size
Sets the gap size for the selected corner. Uses the default size defined in the sheet metal style. Click the icon on the right to override the default.
Relief Size
Sets the relief size for the selected corner. Uses the default size defined in the sheet metal style. Click the icon on the right to override the default.