Sheet Lightning Screen Shots

Screenshots On This Page

Parametric Design and  3D CAD Design Combined
Create Standard Parametric Or Unique Designs
Unfold a Pattern From 3D CAD
Create a Partitioned Sheet Layout Of Unfolded Patterns and/or Design Images
Using The Parametric Design System
Unfolding Parametric Designs
Create Square-to-Round Adapters Either By Simple Typed Parameters Of in Full 3D CAD
Browse And Locate Your Own Libraries
 

Parametric Design and  3D CAD Design Combined

Sheet Lightning has a powerful dual environment of a parametric system (simple typed dimensions) and a full blown 3D CAD system for creating the real one-off designs or creating new parametric templates. The parametric system can be used on its own without any reference to the 3D system using the libraries we supply with the product, but the real power of the program lies in using the two together to create and extend user customised libraries.
 
 
 
 

Create Standard Parametric Or Unique Designs

If you are a company involved in anything from standard sheet metal pattern work to complex one-off designs for fabrication, Sheet Lightning really should be a fundamental part of your tool kit. The following screen shots show the product in action, both in full 3D CAD and as a simple but powerful parametric tool.
 

 
 
 

Unfold a Pattern From 3D CAD

Unfolding the patterns is as easy as hitting a button.

 
 
 

Create a Partitioned Sheet Layout Of Unfolded Patterns and/or Design Images

 Having create a design it can be manually nested on a partitioned sheet layout and despatched to either a file or device for manufacture. The 3D images can also be printed or transferred to another CAD system for presentation.

 
 
 

 

Using The Parametric Design System

This is where the real power of Sheet Lightning as a product begins to show over anything else in the market. The following screen shot show the parametric system in action. The design in the shot was originally created in the 3D CAD environment. It was then transferred from there to the parametric system as seen below. In the process of transferring it the design was automatically analysed and dimensions attached to fully define it. At this point the user deleted out the dimensions not required and saved the parameteric design complete with dimensions. From there on this design becomes a new library template that can be reloaded and resized just by typing in new dimensions. Sheet Lightning comes with a fairly comprehensive library of these templates, but the power of the system is fully realised in that using the 3D CAD system you can create a uniquely customised library of the parametric templates.

Unfolding Parametric Designs

To unfold a pattern in the parametric system, just hit the unfold button.

 
 
 

Create Square-to-Round Adapters Either By Simple Typed Parameters Of in Full 3D CAD

Sheet Lightning can develop the unfolded pattern of any form of transition from one shape to another including cylinders, cones, rectangular section, oval, intersections and complex geometry with multi-interections. Below is an example of a square to round adaptor with oblique offset. Parametric designs are provided with the system for this kind of standard work.

 

Browse And Locate Your Own Libraries

The design browser allows the libraries of 3D CAD or parameteric design to be located quickly and easily.