About the Flat Segment User Interface
The Flat user interface consists of commands, tabs, and shortcut menus. To access the Flat tab, click > 
Flat.
Flat.Use the following configuration options to control the default values and behavior of selected tool settings:
• board_drive_tools_by_parameters—Uses parameter values as the default values of selected tool settings and to automatically update features when parameter values change.
• board_drive_bend_by_parameters—Uses parameter values to control the default value of bend angle and bend dimension location settings and to automatically update features when parameter values change.
 | If you want to enable board_drive_bend_by_parameters, you must also set board_drive_tools_by_parameters to yes. |
In the following descriptions, [<Parameter Value>] indicates that tool settings are controlled by parameters.
Commands
• Shape list—Lists segment shapes:
◦ Standard shapes:
▪ Rectangle—Rectangular segment
▪ Trapezoid—Trapezoidal segment
▪ L—L-shaped segment
▪ T—T-shaped segment
◦ User Defined—Select to create a new shape using the Shape tab.
◦ Predefined shapes—Saved sketches appear on the list when they have been accessed during the current session.
| | You can use the flat_shape_sketches_directory configuration option to specify the directory path to your library of predefined flat segment shapes to appear on the list. |
• Settings
◦ 
Thickness Side—Flips the thickness to the other side of the sketch plane.
Thickness Side—Flips the thickness to the other side of the sketch plane.• Bend Dimensions
◦ 
—Adds a bend to the attachment edge according to a specified value. Default values are as follows:
—Adds a bend to the attachment edge according to a specified value. Default values are as follows:▪ Thickness—Uses a radius equal to the thickness of the segment.
▪ 2.0 * Thickness—Uses a radius equal to twice the thickness of the segment.
▪ [<Parameter Value>]—Uses a radius as set by the BOARD_BEND_RADIUS parameter.
◦ Dimension Location buttons:
▪ 
—Dimensions the radius according to the outside surface of the segment.
—Dimensions the radius according to the outside surface of the segment.▪ 
—Dimensions the radius according to the inside surface of the segment.
—Dimensions the radius according to the inside surface of the segment.▪ 
—Dimensions the radius as set by the BOARD_RADIUS_SIDE parameter.
—Dimensions the radius as set by the BOARD_RADIUS_SIDE parameter.◦ 
Angle list—Lists predefined values, user-defined values, a flat segment option, and [<Parameter Value>] for the segment attachment angle. 
—Flips the angle direction to the other side of the attachment segment.
Angle list—Lists predefined values, user-defined values, a flat segment option, and [<Parameter Value>] for the segment attachment angle. —Flips the angle direction to the other side of the attachment segment.| | • [<Parameter Value>] uses an angle set by the BOARD_BEND_ANGLE parameter. • The angle between the attachment edge and surface cannot exceed 180 degrees. When you need a larger angle, use the opposite side as the attachment edge. |
◦ —Flips segment orientation along the attachment edge. When you flip the angle of a sketch, the segment is mirrored about a plane to keep the symmetry.
—Flips segment orientation along the attachment edge. When you flip the angle of a sketch, the segment is mirrored about a plane to keep the symmetry.| | To make the command available on the Flat tab and shortcut menu, set the smt_allow_flip_sketch configuration option to yes. |
Tabs
• Placement—Displays the selected edge type in the collector.
• Shape—Displays the following options:
◦ Sketch—Opens the sketch in Sketcher for editing.
| | To change sketch references or orientation or both, click > in Sketcher. |
◦ Open—Opens the Open dialog box to select a saved .sec file.
◦ Save As—Opens the Save a Copy dialog box, to save the segment sketch as an .sec file in the specified directory.
◦ Convert—Converts a 3D parametric sketch to a 2D sketch.
◦ Shape attachment—Determines how the segment is dimensioned:
▪ Height dimension includes thickness—Includes the thickness when calculating segment height.
▪ Height dimension does not include thickness—Does not include the thickness when calculating segment height.
▪ Section Preview—Click to open the Sketch window to preview and edit the sketch dimensions.
• Bend Position—Opens a list of offset types.
◦ Type—Sets the type of offset.
▪ 
Profile on Edge—Adds bend geometry while keeping the segment profile on the original attachment edge.
Profile on Edge—Adds bend geometry while keeping the segment profile on the original attachment edge.▪ 
Bend Outside—Adds bend geometry with the bend line tangent to the attachment edge.
Bend Outside—Adds bend geometry with the bend line tangent to the attachment edge.▪ 
Offset from Bend Start—Measures the offset from the attachment edge to the Bend Start:
Offset from Bend Start—Measures the offset from the attachment edge to the Bend Start:Value—Type an offset value in the box or choose from a list of previously used values. Use a positive value to add to the attachment segment by the specified value. Use a negative value to trim the attachment segment by the specified value.
▪ 
Offset from Bend Apex—Measures the offset from the attachment edge to the Bend Apex:
Offset from Bend Apex—Measures the offset from the attachment edge to the Bend Apex:Value—Type an offset value in the box or choose from a list of previously used values. Use a positive value to add to the attachment segment by the specified value. Use a negative value to trim the attachment segment by the specified value.
▪ 
Constrained—Keeps the attached segment geometry within the boundary of the attached edge.
Constrained—Keeps the attached segment geometry within the boundary of the attached edge.• Relief—Sets the type of segment relief.
◦ Click the Define each side separately check box to set separately the relief for each segment end.
▪ Side 1—Sets the relief for the start point of the attachment edge.
▪ Side 2—Sets the relief for the endpoint of the attachment edge.
◦ Type—Lists the types of relief available. Depending on the type of relief, other selections become available:
▪ No Relief—Adds no relief.
▪ Slit
—Adds a slit relief.
▪ Rectangular—Adds a rectangular relief.
▪ Obround—Adds an obround relief.
▪ [<Parameter Value>]—Adds a relief whose type is controlled by the BOARD_BEND_REL_TYPE parameter
◦ When the Bend Relief type is set to Rectangular or Obround, you can set values for the following options:
▪ Relief depth:
Blind—Creates a the bend reliefs with a depth set in the box below.
Up to Bend—Creates the bend reliefs up to the bend line.
[<Parameter Value>]—Uses the BOARD_BEND_REL_DEPTH_TYPE parameter value.
▪ Relief length:
Blind—Creates the bend reliefs with a length of the specified value.
To Next—Creates the bend reliefs with a length to the next surface.
Through All—Creates the bend reliefs through all surfaces.
[<Parameter Value>]—Uses the BOARD_BEND_REL_LENGTH_TYPE parameter value.
▪ Relief width:
Thickness—Use a default width that is equal to the thickness of the sheet metal segment.
Thickness * 2—Use a default width that is twice the thickness of the sheet metal segment.
[<Parameter Value>]—Uses the BOARD_BEND_REL_WIDTH parameter value.
Type a value—Use the absolute value that you type in the box.
• Bend Allowance—Uses a feature-specific bend allowance for determining the developed length of the board segment. Click the A feature specific set up check box to activate the following options:
◦ By K factor—Calculates the developed length according to the K factor.
◦ By Y factor—Calculates the developed length according to the Y factor.
◦ By bend table—Calculates the bend allowance using a bend table.
• Properties—Displays the feature information:
◦ Name—Shows a default name for the segment.
◦ 
—Shows feature information in a browser.
—Shows feature information in a browser.Shortcut Menus
Right-click in the graphics window to open the mini toolbar and shortcut menu:
• Profile on Edge—Adds bend geometry while keeping the segment profile on the original attachment edge.
Profile on Edge—Adds bend geometry while keeping the segment profile on the original attachment edge.• Bend Outside—Adds bend geometry with the bend line tangent to the attachment edge.
Bend Outside—Adds bend geometry with the bend line tangent to the attachment edge.• Offset from Bend Start—Measures the offset from the attachment edge to the Bend Start:
Offset from Bend Start—Measures the offset from the attachment edge to the Bend Start:Value—Type an offset value in the box or choose from a list of previously used values. Use a positive value to add to the attachment segment by the specified value. Use a negative value to trim the attachment segment by the specified value.
• Offset from Bend Apex—Measures the offset from the attachment edge to the Bend Apex:
Offset from Bend Apex—Measures the offset from the attachment edge to the Bend Apex:Value—Type an offset value in the box or choose from a list of previously used values. Use a positive value to add to the attachment segment by the specified value. Use a negative value to trim the attachment segment by the specified value.
• Constrained—Keeps the attached segment geometry within the boundary of the attached edge.
Constrained—Keeps the attached segment geometry within the boundary of the attached edge.• 
Edit Bend Relief—Click and then click again to display bend relief edit options. Click the arrow and choose an different option from the list. Click 
to edit each side separately. Click to exit corner relief edit mode.
Edit Bend Relief—Click and then click again to display bend relief edit options. Click the arrow and choose an different option from the list. Click to edit each side separately. Click to exit corner relief edit mode.• Clear—Clears the selected references.
• Add Bend check box—Clear the check box to remove the bend.
• Flip Thickness—Flips the thickness to the other side of the sketch plane.