Sheet Metal Cylindrical Rips in SOLIDWORKS

The Rip command in SOLIDWORKS sheet metal has always helped users create rips along edges with linear entities. This feature ensures parts unfold correctly so that they can be manufactured without issues, but the rip tool was limited to linear rips until 2024. Cylindrical rips on your SOLIDWORKS parts were one of the more challenging modeling tasks until this time-saving enhancement was added.

One of the most impactful enhancements to sheet metal in SOLIDWORKS 2024 is the ability to create rips on hollow or thin-walled cylindrical and conical bodies. While earlier versions of SOLIDWORKS required a more manual process to form a rip, this new tool brings an easy, fast, and precise way to apply rips to sheet metal parts. With just a few clicks, the Rip command simplifies your workflow and ensures accurate flat patterns ready for manufacturing. Let’s take a deeper look at the reliable, easy-to-use rip tool on cylindrical surfaces.

Using the Rip Command on a Cylindrical Body

Before the SOLIDWORKS 2024 release, users were left with time-consuming methods to create rips along cylindrical or conical sheet metal bodies. The updated Rip command not only makes the ripping process faster by eliminating manual steps, but also gives users more flexibility on how a rip will be applied.

The Rip command can be found in the Sheet Metal tab of the Command Manager. However, before enabling the command, it is important to ensure that a cylindrical or conical body has already been created. Once there is a body to rip, select the Rip command.

All that is needed to rip a thin-walled cylindrical body, like the one in the following example, is a reference point and an edge to select. Using the reference point and the edge, users can choose where the rip will be located and how large the slit will be. Modifying the rip parameters afterward, if needed, is easier than ever before.

The steps to use the Rip command are as follows:

1. Create a cylindrical body to rip.
2. Add a sketch with a reference point.
3. Enable the Rip command.
4. Choose an edge from the cylindrical body.
5. Select the reference point created previously.
6. Enter the rip parameters for the gap.
   

   Rip command Property Manager options

Benefits of Cylindrical Rips

1. Expanded Design Capabilities – Users can now apply rips to rolled geometry that was previously off-limits in the rip feature.
2. No More Manual Edits – Users no longer need to fake a rip using additional sketch entities or features. Cylindrical rips are fully integrated into the Sheet Metal environment and behave just like linear rips.
3. Parametric Control – The rip location and gap size can all be adjusted after creation, allowing for rapid design changes.
4. Time Savings – The rip tool streamlines what used to be a multi-step manual process into just a few clicks.

Taking Control of Your Sheet Metal Design

With the addition of cylindrical and conical ripping in SOLIDWORKS 2024, sheet metal designing takes a significant leap forward. What once required manual methods and time-consuming edits can now be accomplished in just a few clicks. This enhancement builds on the foundation of the original rip tool, extending its capabilities to meet the needs of modern, complex geometries.

By making it easier to create accurate, manufacturable rips on curved surfaces, SOLIDWORKS continues to streamline workflows and deliver tools that align with real-world fabrication challenges. If you are working with hollow or thin-walled cylindrical and conical bodies, this feature is one upgrade that delivers immediate and lasting value.

To learn other time-saving sheet metal tips, register for an upcoming Sheet Metal Training Course here.