Thanks for that Gaieus.
You are correct that the thing is not very complex in the scale of such things.
In my shop simplicity is king...and form follows function.

I will look at beveling plugins and will go ahead and download Freescale.
I will keep an eye on the segments count just to be aware.

Even after all these years...Learning how to do stuff makes me feel good.

Thanks to everyone for the input and...
Any further input is appreciated.

MP

Thanks for the replies.

I am actually drawing dimensionally exact (to .000) horizontal base rectangles and then pulling them up 100/1000 so that the sheet metal has accurate thickness and my various contours, holes and tabs are accurately modeled in extreme closeup which is helping me to refine the design.
Then I notch the 4 corners of the base (100/1000 x 100/1000) to allow for the simulation of bent tabs.
Then finally I define a 100/1000 wide rectangle along each edge of the horizontal base rectangle (between the notches) and pull them up to create a side wall which is correct in everything except in the absence of the inside and outside radius curves that make up corners actually created by a sheet metal brake

Because the radius of the bends is integral to the way the parts interact I am hoping to find a way to
model the entire flat sheet and then make the various bends via one of the bend plug-ins such as freescale (by Fredo).

I suppose I will just install it and try it out.
If freescale allows for accurate bend allowances (shortening and bend radii depending upon tools and material) it could be a great addition.

Failing... that I will explore the "follow me" option which I have not so far figured out how to use to connect two surfaces, at angles, with a specific radius arc.

Thanks again...
Any input appreciated.

mporter88

Hi. I am an inventor of sorts and have begun messing around with Sketchup (which I wish I had done years ago!).
Currently I am using 100/1000" aluminum sheet metal and have been using Sketchup to model and refine the components as I finish the prototyped parts.

My question is regarding how best to use sketchup to model "bent" sheet so that it will have the radius edge that bending on a break creates.

All of my bends are 90 degree and are square to the mating edges...meaning that basically I am attempting to model a rectangular box made on a sheet metal break.

I have been just defining a 100/1000ths edge rectangle and pulling it up to create a side wall which is dimensionally accurate but results in sharp edged angles.

I now see that there are some plug-ins that add a bending capability and thought to ask a question of you guys as to recommendations for which plug-in and what you would propose for a work-flow for doing what I need.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks very much.

mporter88