Flatten command in Solid works

Flattening a surface

1. Click Flatten Surface (Surfaces toolbar) or Insert > Surface > Flatten after choosing the surface or face you want to flatten.
2. Choose a vertex or a point on an edge in the Property Manager's Vertex or Point on Edge to Flatten from selection.
3. Decide on the Accuracy, then, if desired, click Show Mesh Preview.
   It takes longer to manufacture flattened surfaces with more accuracy.
4. Click .
   The vertex or Point on Edge to Flatten From chosen in Step 2 creates the flattened surface tangent to the folded surface.
5. Optional: Carry out one or more of the following actions to make the flattened surface easier to see:
   • Click the folded surface and select Hidden in the FeatureManager design tree.
   • Choose the flattened surface in the graphics area, choose Insert > Features > Move/Copy, and then move the flattened surface using the Property Manager.
6. Use one or more of the following to determine whether the flattened surface is accurate:
   • To make sure there are no significant differences in the surface areas of the folded and flattened surfaces, use the Measure tool to compare them.
   • To see where and how much the flattened surface is stretched or compressed, right-click it and select Deformation Plot.

Flattening a Surface as an Example

Flattening a surface

1. Click Flatten (Surfaces toolbar) or Insert > Surface > Flatten in an open portion.
   Displayed is the Flatten Property Manager.
2. Choose faces from the Feature Manager design tree or the graphics section.
3. choose a vertex next.
   There is a sneak peek of the flattened surface.
4. Click Relief Cuts in the Property Manager to start.
   Curves or drawings might be chosen as cuts to release tension from the flattened surface. The drawing entities in this illustration are parallel to the edge.
   You can decide whether to include relief cutbacks.
5. Other sketch components, curves, and lines can be transferred to a flattened surface. The drawing, however, cannot be changed in a flattened surface feature. Use the Convert Entities tool to include the entities into other drawings.
6. Right-click the flattened surface in the graphics area and choose Deformation Plot to add a deformation plot.

Flatten surface

SOLIDWORKS can produce manufacturing templates from any face, surface, or combination of faces. When working with surfaces that can be developed, such as sheet metal components with irregular bends, this is helpful.

The developable and non-developable surfaces and faces may be flattened using the SOLIDWORKS programme. A surface is said to be developable if it can be flattened onto a plane without distorting. When flattened, non-developable faces and surfaces sag.

On the surface, you may choose which drawings and curves to flatten. Also, you may choose which surface edges, curves, and doodles you want to be split lines or relief cuts. SOLIDWORKS creates a flattened surface body tangent to the edge from where the surface was flattened when you do so.

Folded surface Flattened surface tangent to the folded surface

The Feature Manager design tree has a Flatten-Surface feature. With Move Body, you may shift the Flatten-Surface functionality. Choose Move/Copy under Features > Insert.

To ensure the precision of your flattened surface, utilize the Measure tool. Calculate the folded and flattened features' surface area. The flattened characteristic could not be correct if the surface areas differ significantly. Deformation charts can be used to validate accuracy.

Many Faces/Surfaces Flattening

If the faces or surfaces match the criteria listed below, you can flatten several faces or surfaces into a single flatten-surface feature.

• The same surface body includes several surfaces.
• The same vertex or point can flatten both.
• They provide an expandable surface.

Solid Body Faces Flattening

A solid body can have its face flattened. This is helpful when making decals, dealing with fiberglass boat hulls and body panels, and in other situations where a solid body is given an outside surface.

One continuous direction of flattening is possible. For instance, two flattening features must be created to flatten the surface of the lantern top. Each feature is made up of a number of coincident faces that are all oriented in the same general direction.

Plot of Deformation

Right-click the flattened surface and select Deformation Plot from the menu that appears. The flattened surface's highest stretch and compression points are visible on the deformation plot. The proportion of deviation at each spot on the surface may be seen by moving the mouse over it.