converting to sheet metal in solidworks with no fixed face

TIP: If you are dealing with imported geometry or a sheet metal style part modeled with traditional SOLIDWORKS features, it’s worth trying the Insert Bends command from the Sheet Metal tools to convert it into what SOLIDWORKS considers a Sheet Metal part. In this case, the thickness is also automatically assigned from the sheet metal thickness properties and is not editable from within the study. If the part is modeled with SOLIDWORKS Sheet Metal features, good news! The conversion to shell mesh type is automatic upon creation of the study. There are three workflows for creating shell mesh in SOLIDWORKS Simulation:ġ. Note: SOLIDWORKS Simulation allows mixing and matching solid, shell and beam mesh (another mesh type for long slender structural members) within a single study, so it doesn’t have to be all one or the other. This greatly speeds up run time and has an added benefit of being able to quickly modify the wall thickness and re-run the study if desired. Shell mesh avoids this issue by using 2D triangle elements, while the shell thickness is stored as a separate assigned parameter.

It’s quite common that we receive reports of users struggling with excessive simulation run times only to find out that they should really be using shell mesh! Solid tetrahedrals can produce an excessive number of elements on geometry that is wide/long and thin.

Shell mesh can and should typically be used for a variety of geometries such as: sheet metal, PCBs, tubing/piping, formed or thermoform materials, and fiberglass/composites. For geometries that happen to be constant wall thickness, there is another option that can be beneficial: shell mesh. General solid bodies are automatically meshed using solid tetrahedral elements, which are a great fit in a variety of cases. In order to effectively set up complex studies, it is important to understand the variety of meshing options that are available in SOLIDWORKS Simulation.

Converting to sheet metal in solidworks with no fixed face