Hello, I am currently working on a project for my dream vehicle and I need to flatten this part for the cutting process. Unfortunately, the ‘Unroll’ command does not seem to be working, and I am also unable to flatten it using the ‘Smash’ command. Could you please kindly assist me with this issue? Thank you in advance for your time and help.
PMP_BRK.stp (2.2 MB)
is there a reason you never post a rhino file?
Geometrically, it’s impossible to properly flatten a surface that doesn’t have a null curvature (i.e. surfaces that contain one straight line and no more, such as a cylinder, a cone, extruded surfaces…)
I assume you want to cut the piece flat out a sheet of metal, then fold it along the ridges. In that case, you need a small recess in the corners to allow a clean fold.
I would advise you to discuss such details with whoever will do the laser cutting for you to know the best way to model that
it will unroll if you take out the double curved part mentioned above.
so basically extract all surfaces on one side. (you’ll need to figure out how to handle the indent in the circular part, but that’s post laser-cutting machining.)
if you want to control where the unroll command will split the edges on your polysurface, use _UnjoinEdge to create a break, like in this screenshot:
Unfortunately, I can’t do it myself, so I need help. The person who will be doing the cutting doesn’t have any knowledge of the process.
If accuracy is critical then the “neutral surface” should be unrolled. The neutral surface usually is between the outer surfaces, and it’s location depends on the material and how it will be formed.
So practically your options are to do what you’ve been told to take out the double-curved part and create the “mid surface” that you can unroll, if this is for some sort of hand-made prototype that will be good enough you don’t need to worry about precise K factors, or find a serious steel shop that will work with you to figure this stuff out.
