Creating Flat Patterns for Bent Tubes in Fusion 360
In this video, I walk you through an advanced technique in Fusion 360 for creating flat patterns for bent tubes, a necessary step for tube manufacturing. I start by setting up a parametric model, using parameters for pipe diameter, bend radius, and overall dimensions so that I can easily adjust the design for future projects. The core problem is that Fusion's sheet metal tools are not designed for round tubing, so I show you my "cheat": modeling the tube's geometry using a flat sheet metal component with the correct width and flanges to represent the bent part. I then demonstrate how to successfully generate the flat pattern from this sheet metal body and place it on a drawing, complete with a bend table and the use of ordinate dimensioning, ensuring both my tube model and my flat pattern update instantly when I change a parameter.
If the Bend doesn't work make the width of the part wider • Fusion 360, Bend not working
Video Chapters
[00:00] Setting up Parameters for a Parametric Tube Design
[02:49] Benefit of Using Parameters for Design Changes
[04:29] Adding Angle Parameters
[08:14] Troubleshooting Bend Radius Errors
[11:01] The Challenge: Creating a Flat Pattern for Round Material
[12:40] The "Cheat": Creating a Sheet Metal Component
[14:53] Applying Flanges and Bend Radius to the Cheat Model
[18:16] Creating and Exporting the Final Flat Pattern
[19:54] Adding Dimensions and a Bend Table to the Drawing
[21:51] Debugging Parameter Links for Consistent Models