I did some research, apparently SolidWorks has a sheet metal function
that allows one to unwrap an object and get the sheet metal layout. Plan
is to get a 10 day license to have at it. Word is I should be good to
start late Thursday.

OK, I NEEDED to get up to speed on SolidWorks but I didn't plan to do it
on an urgent project.

I suppose I could do it with cardboard, I stockpile corrugated material
for such things. But this would work better with poster board. Hmmmmmmm
do it right with SolidWorks or do it quick with cardboard. Hmmmmmmm
Decisions, decisions.

By the way, the double direction offset is a stinker. I had to do a bent
wire model to be able to wrap my braincells around what was going on.

Side story: I stopped at one sheet metal place, got blown out the door.
Stopped at another place, some 70+ year old guy at a layout table amid a
mound of unrelated stuff. I said "you look old enough to do what I
want". After some discussion, I told him I had a joint sample I would
show him if he wouldn't laugh. I dragged in a 24" sample part that I
pounded out with a snips, a regular pliers, and two beers. He said he
wasn't the least bit worried about MAKING the duct even with the
compound edges. But he was really worried about the pattern. We
compromised: I do the layout, he makes the part.

Don Young wrote:
"RoyJ" wrote in message
m...
I'm not doing metalwork because I can't figure out how to lay out the
!!@@##@!@! sheet metal pattern. Trying to do a double offset (both
directions) in an 8"x12" duct. But once I get the pattern, the
metalworking should be interesting: It requires a Pittsburgh lock on a
compound curve.

SteveB wrote:
I bought two gates at a yard sale that I'm going to mount in the garden.
Got a great old office chair that needs a little MIG welding to stabilize
the base. I went through a little 1.2 hp Gamefisher motor I got with my
used fishing boat. I'm getting some steel ready to make window awnings,
and getting the sewing machine tuned up.

What's everyone up to? So much damn political talk going on, you can't
hear the jaybirds.

Steve
I have not tried it with curves but I have made straight line transitions by
cutting cardboard patterns for each side and cutting the metal oversize for
laps. I bend the laps and screw or rivet together. If your patterns get cut
undersize you can just tape another piece on where needed until you get it
all how you want it. You can also make each pattern in more than one piece
and tape together. I first did that to make a pattern for cutting flooring
to go in a small bathroom.

I know there are more elegant methods.

Don Young