Sheetmetal > Designing in Sheetmetal Design > Using Forms > Tip: Creating Punch and Die Reference Parts
  
Tip: Creating Punch and Die Reference Parts
To simulate real manufacturing needs, your form's reference part must be created in the standard application.
When creating the reference part:
Try and keep the datum planes in the center and references to a minimum. This will make dimensioning and placing the form easier.
The base of a die form must be a plane surface (boundary plane) surrounding the actual die. A punch form does not need this base plane, except, if the base plane is used for placing the form (in this instance the base plane could be a datum plane).
Concave angles and bends in the form must have either a zero radius or a radius greater than sheet metal thickness.
The reference part can contain hollows. All the form geometry must protrude from one side of the base plane. Make sure the hollow accounts for the sheet metal thickness or else the material inside the hollow will overlap and the form will fail.
The form reference part can contain geometry for multiple die or punch models:
You can create an infinite number of die models. Be sure to leave an appropriate distance between each die instance.
You can create punch models with two sides. You select the desired side when mating the surfaces.
Multi-die Reference Part
Dual Punch Reference Part