double spinal bend/living hinge

[ecosse]

I am trying to figure out how to put 2 or more spinal bends into a model (WF3). I have seen the examples from the file section on this site, and I understand how to put a basic spinal bend into a model. What I want to do is essentially put 2 spinal bends in a model that has two living hinges. I do not seem able to create both bends in one feature, because the start point has to be coincidentwith geometry. After I create the first living hinge bend, I lose a chunk of the geometry and can't put in the second bend.


Can multiple spinal bends be created in one model? Does anyone have a part file that has multiple living hinges and spinal bends they can share?


Thanks.

 

[mjcole_ptc]

Yes I could share a model but I made it on the Student Edition so If
you have a home copy you can look at it. I'll try to explain the
procedure below



In order to do what you want you must do a Copy of the Solid surfaces
before the first bend. Select Geometry selection tool pick a solid
surface Right click and select Solid surfaces then do a simple copy
paste. Resume the Spinal Bend and then create another sketch or edit
the original sketch to sketch the curves for the other bend with the
start point being the plane where your part got clipped.



Do your second spinal bend on the Copied solid surface quilt. Doing
this will clip the quilt leaving it with an open end. You can solidify
this feature using the Patch option which is the icon next to remove
material.



If you aren't given the ability to do a patch, you can copy the clipped
face of the bent solid and merge it with the open Spinal bend surface
and solidify that.

The picture below shows the solid after the first bend and the Spinal
bend surface the original copy surface will also display but I've
hidden it for clarity. The red is the full sketch used for the bend
which must be tangent along the entire curve. If you have an L shaped
part where the bends cannot be on the same plane You should be able to
another merge to obtain all your solidbody.

Michael



Edited by: mjcole_ptc