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[DesignSmith]

Creating a Base Flange as a Cross Section
On some parts it is a great time saver to create the base flange by sketching the cross section. While this makes the part's design real easy, it can really mess up the flat pattern if you have different bend radii on each bend. Take a look at my example at http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_cross_section.htm.

SolidWorks Tips and Tricks Archive
June 2008: Use a Miter Flange Instead of a Hem! (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_miter_flange.htm)
May 2008: Getting a Clean Tapered Edge in the Flat Pattern (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_tapered_edge.htm)
April 2008: Custom Relief Type (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_custom_relief_type.htm)
February 2008: Controlling the Default Bend Radius (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_gauge_table.htm)
December 2007: Control the Corner Gap of a Four-sided Box (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_gap_distance.htm)
November 2007: Create a Fill Pattern with a Fill Boundary (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_fill_pattern.htm)
October 2007: Using SolidWorks Vent Feature for Sheet Metal (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_vent.htm)
September 2007: Fixing Corner Relief (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_corner_trim.htm)
July 2007: Bend Tables (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_bend_table.htm)
June 2007: SolidWorks Built-In Calculator (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_calculator.htm)
May 2007: Displaying Toolbars with Keyboard Shortcuts (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_toolbar_shortcut.htm)
April 2007: Change the Orientation of the Standard Views (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_orientation.htm)
March 2007: Biggest Time Saver for SolidWorks ... The Scroll Mouse? (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_mouse.htm)
February 2007: Moving and Copying Features (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_drag.htm)
January 2007: Jog Fixed Length vs Non-fixed Length (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_jog.htm)
December 2006: Add your Personal Touch to SolidWorks - Part 2 (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_personalization2.htm)
November 2006: Add Your Personal Touch to SolidWorks - Part 1 (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_personalization1.htm)
October 2006: Repeating the Same Commands in SolidWorks (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_last_command.htm)
September 2006: Radial Dimension on a Revolved Feature (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_revolve_sketch.htm)
August 2006: Create an Edge Flange on a Curved Planar Edge (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_edge_flange.htm)
July 2006: Create a New Sheet Metal Forming Tool (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_forming_tool.htm)
June 2006: Turn Off Sketch Relations Flags to See the Sketch Better (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_flags.htm)
May 2006: Copy Entities Versus Mirror Entities (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_sketch.htm)
April 2006: Hole Wizard Pre-Selection Versus Post-Selection (http://www.SheetMetalGuy.com/tips_hole_wizard.htm)