Sheet Metal Contour Flange

Status: Implemented (Rust-kernel-backed)

Contour Flange starts a sheet-metal body from an open path (a sketch or an edge chain): the sheet is swept along the path, with a bend at every corner and arc.

Inputs

• id (string, default null) – identifier for the contour-flange feature and body.
• path (reference_selection, SKETCH / EDGE / FACE, default null, multiple: true) – connected path from a whole sketch, individual edges, or face boundaries. Selecting a sketch uses its published non-construction path.
• distance (number, default 20) – strip width extending from the path.
• thickness (number, default 2) – global model thickness, centred on the path.
• reverseSheetSide (boolean, default false) – extend along the sketch plane's −Z direction instead of +Z.
• bendRadius (number, default 2) – default inside radius for line-line corner bends.
• neutralFactor (number, default 0.5) – k-factor, clamped to [0, 1], stored for downstream flat-pattern evaluation.

There is no consumePathSketch switch: the path sketch is always consumed on success. An old saved file that still carries consumePathSketch: false consumes it anyway.

Behavior

• Straight runs become flat walls. Line-line corners bend at bendRadius; tangent circular-arc segments become exact rolled bends whose mid-surface follows the arc.
• The result is an ordinary sheet-metal body: Flange, Cutout and Unfold work on it.

Limitations

• The path must be connected head-to-tail, planar, and open. A path made from non-sketch edges must contain a turn from which a plane normal can be derived; a straight sketch path is supported because the sketch publishes its frame.
• Segments must be straight lines or circular arcs. The path must start and end with a straight segment; consecutive arcs are not supported, and arcs must meet neighbours tangentially.
• An arc radius must exceed half the sheet thickness. A line-line reversal, a zero-length segment, or a wall left too short after corner setbacks is refused.
• distance and thickness must be greater than zero.

Walkthrough

Recorded from the running app by BREP_mcp/tests/videos/sheet-metal-contour-flange.json; regenerate every walkthrough with ./build.sh docs-videos.

The only thing the fixture stages is the path sketch. Like SM Tab this feature starts a tree rather than extending one, so unlike the flange and hem walkthroughs there is no sheet built off camera before it.

Its profile is an open path — 25 up, 50 across, 25 up — so one pick builds three flats and two bends, and distance is the strip width rather than a length along the path.