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This is in the case of a flexible PCB. I want to model in a flex PCB that fits into grooves of a plastic part. I'd then like to flatten out this part and hand it off to the EE dept for layout. Does anyone know how to do this? Thanks.
Best is to create the flexPCB as sheetmetal. Unlike what's mentioned in the last post referred to here above, I prefer to design the PCB as flexed, guiding it along the path it should follow and create the flat pattern as a last step. The flat pattern is also very important to check that you don't create an "impossible" PCB. The flat pattern can be exported to the electronics guys to design the copper layout.
I model it as a surface in it's installed form, thicken the final surface, convert to sheetmetal and then flatten. I've done this with success on some pretty complicated flexible membrane switches.
In the thread referred to I was designing a part that was mostly rigid pcb with a small flexi section. It was a case of trial and error especially to model an accurate part that could be used to generate a placement export (keepin, keepouts etc) for the layout guys.
As I had a part of varying thickness, I found that for the instance used to create the ecad export the thickness had to be uniform. That meant adding protrusions to either side of the flexi portion to effectively thicken it to the same thickness as the rigid parts.
If you're creating ECAD areas be careful what you choose as references so that the ecad areas move with the part in it's folded and unfolded state. Same applies if you're adding protrusions to create thicker rigid sections.
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