About Unbends

The unbend feature flattens any curved surface on the sheet metal part, whether it is a
bend feature or a curved wall.
There are three types of unbend available:
 Regular—Unbends most bends in a part. You select an existing bend or wall
feature to unbend. If you select all bends, you create a flat pattern of your part.

 Transition—Unbends undevelopable surfaces, such as blended walls. You select

stationary surfaces and specify a cross-sectional curve to determine the shape of the
unbend feature.

 Xsec Driven—Unbends undevelopable surfaces, such as hems and flanges. You

select stationary surfaces and specify a cross-sectional curve to determine the shape
of the unbend feature.

When creating an unbend you are asked to designate a surface or edge to remain fixed.
Your choice changes the default view of your model. Try to pick major surfaces that you
want to keep in the same position. If possible, be consistent and use the same surface
when creating several unbend features. You can save design time and maintain
consistency by setting an automatic fixed geometry element (Set Up > Fixed Geom).
Features created after the unbend are children/dependent on the unbend. If you are only
temporarily unbending the part and do not need the unbend to maintain your design
intent, you should delete the unbend. By keeping it, you are merely crowding the model
tree with extra features that slow down part regeneration. Remember, if you delete an
unbend that has features created after it, those additional features will also delete.
To sketch the flat state of walls that cannot be unbent due to complicated and non-
regular geometry, use the Metamorph option. With the DEFORM CONTROL menu you
can highlight and sketch contours of corresponding deformation areas. The formed state
of the wall suppresses and that flat state becomes active after the unbend feature
creation. The DEFORM CONTROL menu is available in the unbend dialog box when you
select Unbend All.

See Also
About Regular Unbends
About Transition Unbends
About Xsec-Driven Unbends
About Fixed Geometry
About Bends
About Bend Back