gesrancamdianina.netlify.app Open in urlscan Pro
2a05:d014:58f:6202::64  Public Scan

Form analysis
1 forms found in the DOM

GET #

<form role="search" method="get" class="default-main-site" action="#"><label><input type="search" class="clear-site-col" placeholder="Search..." value="" name="s"></label><input type="submit" class="clear-col-area" value="Search"></form>

Text Content

7/9/2022»»Saturday



GESRANCAMDIANINA.NETLIFY.COM





SHEET METAL TAB AND SLOT DESIGN GUIDE

7/9/2022
    91 - Comments

gesrancamdianina.netlify.com › ▲▲▲ Sheet Metal Tab And Slot Design Guide ▲▲▲

One of the coolest new features in SOLIDWORKS 2018 is the Tab and Slot command.
In manufacturing we often wish to hold two parts together but want to avoid the
costly process of developing and manufacturing a fixture to hold these parts
together. A great way to work around this challenge is to design tabs into one
part and slots into another so the two parts may be aligned without the need for
a fixture. In previous versions of SOLIDWORKS this would take several steps,
which would look something like this: Sketch> Boss Extrude> Fillet/Chamfer>
Pattern of Boss Extrude>Second Sketch> Cut Extrude>Pattern of Cut Extrude.
SOLIDWORKS 2018 gives us the ability to create these features in a single
command, the new Tab and Slot command.

Bosses and Cuts in a single command

Tab and Slot Weld Fixture Design Tutorial. Holding a complex tubular weldment
for welding. Traditional plate & block jigs cost thousands and take weeks. We go
to finished part for $1500 in 21 DAYS FLAT! Because sheet metal products have a
history of being designed by the guy who actually does the work on the floor,
sheet metal products (think HVAC ducting, as well as the lockers in your gym)
tend to be excellent examples of design for assembly, especially when looking at
self-locating parts, which reduce assembly errors.

Figure 1. The fundamental elements of a Tab and Slot command.

When working with Tab and Slot command in SOLIDWORKS 2018 we want to break down
the feature into four fundamental areas. The first two areas are the boss and
cut features. The image above shows we are working with an assembly of two
parts. Our goal is to create a boss extrude on one part and a cut extrude on the
other part. The boss extrude feature will be our tab. The cut extrude feature
will be our slot. After establishing which component gets the tab and which gets
the slot, we will specify how much larger the slot should be relative to the
tab. This offset distance is our slot clearance. Lastly, at the outer corner of
each tab we can choose to apply a fillet or chamfer, and we can set the desired
size of the fillet or chamfer.

These are the four fundamental specifications for a Tab and Slot command. As
this blog proceeds we will also see how to set values like Number of Tabs, Tab
Offset from End, Width of Tabs and Height of Tabs.

Not Just for Sheet MetalParts

Figure 2. Where to find the Tab and Slot command in SOLIDWORKS 2018.

As we can see in Figure 2 the Tab and Slot command is found in the pulldown menu
INSERT>SHEET METAL>TAB AND SLOT. This is a little misleading because this great
new command is not limited to sheet metal parts and can be used in any part
type.

Figure 3. The Tab and Slot command being executed on a non-sheet metal part.

In Figure 3 we see a simple part file with two boss extrusions. This file is not
a sheet metal part. However we are able to execute the new Tab and Slot command
to create the finger joint for this woodworking project.

Figure 4. Adding the Tab and Slot command to the features section of the
SOLIDWORKS command manager.

Since we can use the new Tab and Slot command on any part types, not just sheet
metal parts, I like to customize the SOLIDWORKS Features command manager and add
the Tab and Slot command icon. (This way I don’t forget where to find the
command).

How it works

To get started with the Tab and Slot command in SOLIDWORKS 2018 we will begin
with a simple multi-body sheet metal part.

Figure 5. A simple sheet metal part with two solid bodies, each with a different
thickness and material specified.

When we launch the command using INSERT> SHEET METAL> TAB AND SLOT we are
presented with the following property manager:

Figure 6. The property manager for the Tab and Slot command.

Since there are a lot of options in the property manager for the tab and slot
command, we will tackle a few of the options at a time.

Figure 7. The first group of options for the Tab and Slot command.

The first option we see is for Group. A group can be thought of as a series of
tabs (and slots) along a single edge. If we wanted to create another series of
tabs and slots along another edge, but we wanted both features to share some
commonalities, we could accomplish this by creating a second group rather than
finishing one feature and beginning an entirely new Tab and Slot command. For
today’s example we will simply use a single group.

Next, we see the option for Tab Edge, shown in blue in Figure 7. The Tab Edge
will be selected by the user and dictate the component from which the tabs will
be extruded, as well as the location of the tabs. In Figure 7 we have selected
the edge from the rear, thicker component. This component will be the component
that has tabs added to it, and the tabs will be added to this edge (as shown in
the preview).

We now have the option for Slot Face, shown in pink in Figure 7. The slot face
will be selected by the user and dictate the component upon which the slots will
be cut, as well as the location of the face for the cut extruded slot. In Figure
7 we have selected the face of the front, thinner component. This component will
have the slots added to it, and the slots will be cut extruded from the face
selected.

Next, we see the two options for Start Reference Point and End Reference Point,
shown in purple and green in Figure 7. This indicates the start and end points
of the edge to be used in the Offset settings (see below). These points are
selected automatically when the user selects the Tab Edge and do not need to be
manually selected.

Figure 8. The next group of options for the Tab and Slot command.

As we continue down the Tab and Slot property manager we next see the option for
Offset. This option can be enabled or disabled. It allows the end user to
specify a distance from each of the end reference points specified earlier in
the command. The offset distance from the start reference point and end
reference point may be specified independently.If the user chooses to uncheck
the option for Offset, the tabs will simply be created exactly at the end of the
tab edge. This would be similar to indicating an offset distance of 0.00. In
Figure 8 we have specified an offset distance of 0.125 in from each reference
point to our first and last tab.

Next, we have the section for Spacing. In this section we can specify a distance
between tabs or the desired number of tabs. In Figure 8 we have specified that
we would like to generate three tabs equally spaced along our tab edge.

The we have the option for our tab length and height. These options are fairly
straightforward, and I generally set the desired length and then the desired
height to a blind value. In our model the thinner front sheet metal component
has a wall thickness of 0.060 in.With this in mind we have set my tab height to
a value of 0.100 in. This will generate a tab that sticks out from the mating
component by a distance of 0.040 in, which will make alignment and welding of
the two components a little easier. In the Tab Height section we have options
for Blind, Up toSurface and Offset From Surface.

Figure 9. The final group of options for the Tab and Slot command.

The final group of options for the Tab and Slot command, found at the bottom of
the property manager, allows us to set the option for Edge Type and Slot Gap.

There are three options for edge type:Sharp Edge, Fillet Edge and Chamfer Edge.
In Figure 9 we can see the option for Fillet Edge was chosen and that a radius
of 0.040 in was applied.

The slot gap represents an offset distance, relative to the dimensions of the
tab, which will be applied to the slot cut extrudeon all four sides. In Figure 9
we can see that we are applying an offset distance of 0.020 in to provide the
desired clearance for our tabs.

And that’s the overview of the Tab and Slot property manager. There are a lot of
options in this property manager and like so many tools in SOLIDWORKS, if you
don’t see a preview right away the culprit is usually a bad dimension for the
width of the tab or there are too many instances of the tab to fit along the
selected edge. Another trick that I find handy is to change the end condition of
the tab from UpToSurface to Blind, as this seems to yield more consistent and
reliable results.

Patterns and Mirrors

One of the best things about the new Tab and Slot command is that it can be used
as part of a pattern or mirror feature.


SHEET METAL TAB AND SLOT DESIGN GUIDELINES

Figure 10. Mirroring the Tab and Slot features.

One important concept to remember when using a feature pattern (or mirror) is
that when working in an assembly or on a multi-body part, we can only create a
feature pattern on one single body at a time. This means that we will need to do
two pattern features to pattern both the tab and slot. In Figure 10 we can see
that we were able to mirror the tab feature (shown with the green line) and the
slot feature (shown with the pink line), but we had to do it in two separate
mirror commands due to the concept of multi-body design mentioned earlier.

Conclusion

SOLIDWORKS 2018 has made some great improvements to help speed up the process of
working with parts and features. One of my favorite improvements is the cool new
Tab and Slot command. This command allows users to create a boss extrude and
pattern (the Tab) on one part and a corresponding cut extrude and pattern (the
Slot) on a second part, all in one single command. Although the Tab and Slot
command is found in the pulldown menu INSERT> SHEET METAL> TAB AND SLOT, it is
not a command limited to sheet metal type parts. Tab and slot can be applied to
any part file type, which makes it incredibly valuable for woodworking type
projects. Check out the new Tab and Slot command in SOLIDWORKS 2018 and enjoy
this great new time saving feature.

About the Author


SHEET METAL TAB AND SLOT DESIGN GUIDE PDF

Tobias Richard is a SOLIDWORKS elite applications engineer from Philadelphia,
Pa. He has been working with SOLIDWORKS software since 1998 and has been
providing training, technical support, and tips and tricks since 2001.


SHEET METAL TAB AND SLOT DESIGN GUIDE FREE

Folding and adding bending tabs is one of the easiest and most economical way of
making moderately strong joints in sheet-metal parts that will permanently or
semi-permanently attach to one another. It requires no screws, rivets, or other
pieces of fastening hardware.

There are few limitations on fastening tabs. The metal tabs that are to be bent
should be between 0.12 and 0.8 in. thick. And the metal should have the
ductility to stay in place and not spring back after being bent. The metals most
commonly joined using tabs are soft steel, aluminum, copper, and brass.

For the best results, parts should be designed to bend perpendicularly to the
direction of sheet rolling, or at least 45 deg. from that direction. Also, the
stamping burr should be at the inside of the bend when possible. The final bend
should be made in the same direction as the preliminary bend.





POST NAVIGATION

Gambling Law In Northern Ireland
Classic Free Casino Slot Machine



RECENT POSTS

 * How Much Money Can You Win Gambling Before You Have To Pay Taxes
 * Apollo Slots Casino Mobile Lobby
 * Palace Casino Greene County Alabama
 * Crown Casino Melbourne Poker Room
 * Is There A Casino Near Port Angeles Washington
   
   



 gesrancamdianina.netlify.com © 2022