Re: Sheet metal Cad

Tom,

Nearly any high school drafting textbook will have the techniques for
drawing this sort of sheet metal work. Done manually, it is fast and
interesting. The "K" factor (which takes into account the metal
thickness. The amount the metal "grows" or "shrinks" as it makes
bends) may be overlooked in these texts, but IS found online. Try a
search on "sheet metal layout" or "K factor".

Also, a few of the woodworking magazines have published plans for
cyclone type collectors, which have the sheet metal already worked
out. Try Fine Woodworking and American Woodworker and WOOD for a
start.

Hope this helps.

Ballendo

P.S. BTW, the K factor for .063 alum, with relatively tight bends of
90° is .100 . Using an import 3 in 1 press brake, this has worked
well for me.

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "Tom Eldredge" <harmonyt@r...> wrote:
> Jeff, Fred, Smoke, "machines", Doug, and Jerry,
>
> Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my querry
regarding sheet
> metal CAD. I am studying all of the good alternatives you
proposed, and
> will let you know what I decide to do. I do not need the ability
to design
> complex shapes, just things like cones, and also, I remembered that
I will
> need to design for sheet metal tubes which connect into the sides
of the
> cones at angles, to produce the swirling motion inside the cone.
>
> I should have looked through the great book selection at NAMES for
an old
> sheet metal design book. I don't have any yet.
>
> Thanks again, gentlemen.