Help with evaluating flattened surface

[u/Weird-Flower-6727]

Can some one help me understand the flattened surface deformation plot. How much is the deviation as its shown as a percentage of what exactly and is 0.047% even going to matter?

Its for a 4.4m aluminium boat

[u/jesseaknight]

In aluminum, I would assume the compression is more of a problem than the stretch.

Also, you'll get better info from people who work with metal than with CAD - specific Engineers, Machinists etc

[u/deebo_dasmybikepunk]

What matters with forming is the elongation percentage. Look up the alloy. Aluminum can go higher than 20% in some applications.

[u/SolidxpertsCAD]

A developable surface - such as a planar, cylindrical or conical surface - can be flattened without stretching or compressing it. A surface with compound curvature cannot, so SOLIDWORKS has to calculate the deformation required to create the flat.

The deformation plot shows that required deformation as a percentage and highlights the areas experiencing the most stretch or compression. The 0.047% therefore describes the deformation needed to flatten the geometry; it isn’t directly a material or structural result.

Whether 0.047% matters in practice will depend on how the aluminum panel will be manufactured and on the acceptable dimensional variation. The location and distribution of the highest values may be more informative than the maximum percentage alone.

[u/Difficultsleeper]

Rhino is the tool for this kind of work. It's makes generating developable surfaces super easy.