To Create a Flat Pattern Cosmetic Centerline

Cosmetic centerlines (not a feature of the folded model) represent features of the folded model on the flat pattern and subsequent drawings of the flat pattern.

Examples include: a die-formed lofted flange model that requires manufacture using a press brake, cross-break (stiffening) creases or flattened features which contain no bend zone extents (spline face).

Sheet metal flat patterns support the creation and use of cosmetic centerlines and the resulting bend extent lines. Cosmetic centerlines allow the ability to utilize lines sketched on the flat pattern as bend lines within a drawing. Drawings of flat patterns can include cosmetic centerlines within bend tables or through annotation call-outs. These tables and notes can include attribution applied during the creation of the cosmetic centerline.

Sketch lines that cross over holes on a flat pattern produce cosmetic centerlines that span the hole. For example, the cosmetic centerline and bend extents are not trimmed to the hole boundaries. Sketch lines that are constrained to an edge on the flat pattern result in cosmetic centerlines and bend extent lines trimmed to the edge. Unconstrained sketch lines result in cosmetic centerlines and bend extent lines that are untrimmed

Note: It is possible that bend tables and annotation call-outs include blank fields and/or custom formatted text strings due to the attribution (or lack of attribution) applied during the creation of the cosmetic centerline.

Working in the Flat Pattern model state, create a sketch on the flattened face.
Place line geometry within the sketch representing the required bend centerlines.
Dimension and constrain the lines.
Exit sketch.
On the ribbon, click Flat Pattern tab Create panel Cosmetic Centerline .

Using Sketched Bend Lines, select one or more straight lines in the sketch that share bend attributes.
(Optional) In the Cosmetic Centerlines dialog box, Information Type drop-down list, specify the information type:
- Press Brake. Specifies that the resulting cosmetic centerlines provide press brake attributes.
- Crease. Specifies that the resulting cosmetic centerlines represent stiffening creases.
- None. Specifies that no attribution is required on the resulting cosmetic centerlines.
(Optional) To change the up/down attribute associated with the cosmetic centerline, click .
If necessary, edit the information displayed in Bend Angle, Radius, or Unfold Rule.
- Bend Angle checkbox. Specifies a bend angle attribute and its value. Available when Information Type is Crease.
- Radius checkbox. Specifies the radius attribute and its value. Available when Information Type is Crease. Defaults to the Bend Radius specified in the active sheet metal rule.
- Unfold Rule. Specifies existing Unfold Rules. Associates an Unfold Rule with the cosmetic centerline. Defaults to Default_KFactor. Available when Information Type is Press Brake.