Creating Custom Sheet Metal Forming Tools In SOLIDWORKS

There are a set of Forming Tools for punching Sheet Metal models inside the Design Library in SOLIDWORKS. You can find these items in the Forming Tools folder. There are a number of useful tools here: ribs, lances, Louvers and extruded flanges, to name some of the categories. However we can customize our own forming tool depending upon our requirements, the following example illustrates it .

Here’s how to do it

• The first step is to create the desired geometry that you would like to punch into your model. Initially this can just be a very basic sketch and extrude drawn out on a flat plate.



Figure 1: Customized forming tool depending upon requirements.

• Now go to forming tool option, SOLIDWORKS > Sheetmetal > Forming tool



Figure 2: Selection of stopping face and faces to be removed.

1. This can be launched from the sheet metal toolbar
2. Two property boxes are contained within this command.
3. One for a stopping face in green, and one for faces to be removed in red/pink.



Figure 3: Forming tool ready to get saved in library.

• The file is now complete, when saving the file there are two options;
1. Saving the files in the Design Library\Forming Tools\ as any SOLDIWORKS part (.sldprt/.sldlfp/.sldftp)
2. Saving the files in any folder on your machine, but saving it as a SOLIDWORKS forming tool part (.sldftp)



Figure 4: Creation of based flange of desired dimensions.



Figure 5: Positioning of forming tool from the library.



Figure 6: Final product from the forming tool option.