About the Flat Segment User Interface
The
Flat user interface consists of commands, tabs, and shortcut menus. To access the
Flat tab, click
Model >
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. |
• 
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 the
material thickness direction.
• 
—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 inside surface of the segment.
◦ 
—Dimensions the radius as set by the
BOARD_RADIUS_SIDE parameter.
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 Sketch > Sketch Setup 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.
◦ 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.
▪ Sketch window—Displays a window to preview and edit the sketch dimensions.
• Offset—Sets the segment section in relation to the attachment edge.
◦ Click the Offset segment with respect to attachment edge check box to activate the following options:
◦ Type—Sets the type of offset.
▪ Add to part edge—Adds the segment to the attachment edge without trimming the length of the attachment segment.
▪ Automatic—Offsets the new segment, so that it does not go above the original height of the attachment segment.
▪ By value—Offsets the segment by a specified value. Set the following options:
Measure to—Set the way the offset is measured. Use Bend surface to measure the offset from the attachment edge to the bend surface. Use Origin to measure the offset from the attachment edge to the bend origin.
Offset—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.
• 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 wall.
Thickness * 2—Use a default width that is twice the thickness of the sheet metal wall.
[<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.
Shortcut Menus
Right-click the graphics window to access the shortcut commands:
• Clear—Removes the reference from the active collector.
• Add Bend—Adds a bend at the attachment edge.
• Flip Thickness—Flips the material thickness direction.
• Flip Angle—Flips the angle direction to the other side of the attachment edge.
• Add Offset—Adds the new segment offset to the existing attachment edge according to a specified value.
Right-click the Dimension Location handle to open the shortcut menu:
• Inside Radius—Dimensions the radius according to the inside radius of the segment.
• Outside Radius—Dimensions the radius according to the outside radius of the segment.
• [<Parameter Value>]—Dimensions the bend radius according to the dimension location controlled by the
BOARD_RADIUS_SIDE parameter.
Right-click the offset handle to open the shortcut menu:
• Add to part edge—Adds the segment to the attachment edge without trimming the length of the attachment segment.
• Automatic Offset—Offsets the new segment, so that it does not go above the original height of the attachment segment.
• By Value—Offsets the segment by a specified value.
Right-click the relief handle and choose Edit Relief to open the shortcut menus:
• No Relief—Adds no relief.
• Slit—Adds a rip relief and displays handles.
• Rectangular—Adds a rectangular relief and displays dimensions and handles.
• Obround—Adds an obround relief and displays dimensions and handles.
• Define each side separately—Sets the type of segment relief for each segment end separately.
• Exit Edit Relief—Makes the change and exits the Edit Relief menu.