To meet unique sheet metal design challenges, like manufacturability, Solid Edge streamlines the entire sheet metal product development process, from CAD design through flat pattern and drawing development. Unlike general purpose CAD tools, Solid Edge includes sheet metal-specific features, like Emboss, Dimple, Drawn Cut, Bead, Contour Flange, Straight Brake and Etch. And with integrated applications for analysis, NC programming, and related tasks, Solid Edge helps you speed design time, improve quality, and reduce costs.

Develop Sheet Metal Models With Fewer Steps

Effortlessly create sheet metal models from 2D sketches, and work directly with geometry. With synchronous technology in Solid Edge, unlike in history-based CAD, features can be edited independently. You can reorder, reorganize, and sort them by name or type. Specialized sheet metal design capabilities allow you to create and make edits to sheet metal features, such as dimples and beads, using sketches and engineering parameters, without having to regenerate unrelated geometry or downstream operations. In addition, Solid Edge allows you to “wrap” sheet metal around a solid part.

Easily Make Changes At All Stages Of Design

Easily make unplanned design changes to sheet metal models while maintaining design intent. Automatically find and maintain design intent, including geometric conditions and model parameters, during drags or dimensional edits. Add driving dimensions to any part of your 3D sheet metal model. Unlike traditional CAD systems, Solid Edge with synchronous technology doesn’t force edits down the tree in the order of creation, or the regeneration of unrelated features—so you can edit the first operation as fast as the last.

Seamlessly Reuse Supplier and Legacy 3D Designs

Import sheet metal model files and convert them to usable parts where edits can then be made. Solid Edge recognizes key parameters on imported parts, such as thickness and bends. With Solid Edge, you can continue to design and make edits to imported parts as if they were native geometry—by simply dragging features like tabs or flanges—without remodeling.

Save Time With Purpose-Built Capabilities

Specialized sheet metal design capabilities in Solid Edge deliver significant productivity gains compared to general-purpose CAD tools. Process-specific commands—like Lofted Flange for ducting, Part to Sheet Metal for hopper design, and Blank Body for press flat patterns—allow you to model sheet metal parts more quickly. Built-in intelligence saves additional time by automatically calculating material treatments and validating parts for manufacturability. In addition, the ability to create manufacturing-ready sheet metal flat patterns helps eliminate scrap and rework.

Improve Quality With Built-in Design Validation

Solid Edge provides unmatched model validation to ensure manufacturability and reduce the need for physical prototypes. Solid Edge includes design sensors that can automatically measure parameters, like the distance between bends, or calculate factors such as cost, variables, and surface area. And with scalable finite element capabilities, you can conduct simulations earlier in the design phase, allowing you to improve the quality of sheet metal parts and reduce product failures, while minimizing material and weight.