If you cannot insert an axis then the model is not an exact cylinder and cannot be unfolded.
Cpmvert cylinder to sheet metal.
Converting solid bodies to sheet metal.
Rule 1 you must have a consistent thickness.
Thanks for your time dan.
Here we have a solid body that i would like to convert into a sheet metal box then get the flat pattern to make it.
I understand that there are other simple ways of creating cylinders but the reason i started like this was because it s easier for me to put holes into a flat surface rather than a curved one.
Let s start with the rules of sheet metal.
If you can insert an axis the model is an exact cylinder.
Essentially you should calculate the centerline arc.
Which means regardless where the model geometry originates you can convert it to sheet metal add sheet metal features and generate the flat pattern.
If you don t have the sheet metal tab open right click in the area where the 1 arrow points then click sheet metal.
Pick the a face that will be fixed plane of the flattened sheet.
However sheet metal parts created with the lofted bends feature avoid.
Originally both a four cylinder the h2 and a v8 the h1 were available.
I would be very grateful for any advice or alternative methods that i could use.
I want to effectively roll the sheet up.
To develop the blank flat length for a cylinder rolled from sheet or plate is quite simple.
The extremely compact normally aspirated h1 v8 used two of the suzuki heads displaced 3 0l and went for 45 000.
Click convert to sheet metal 3.
Outside diameter thickness x 3 1416 length of plate required inside diameter thickness x 3.
As a test try to insert an axis on the cylindrical face.