New Corner Closure command in Fusion Sheet Metal
- Brad Tallis
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Autodesk just added a powerful new tool to Fusion called Corner Closure. This feature lives inside the sheet metal functionality. It helps designers fix gaps between flanges that do not meet perfectly. In the past, closing these gaps required complex sketches or moving faces manually. Now, you can pick two edges and let the software do the work. This tool makes your sheet metal parts look better and stay ready for manufacturing.
What is the Corner Closure Command?
The Corner Closure is a command that joins two sheet metal edges. It works even when the flanges are at odd angles. When you select two edges, Fusion extends the material to fill the space. It also adds a relief shape at the corner. This ensures the part can be bent in a real shop without tearing or breaking.
Before this update, users often had to draw extra shapes to fill gaps. That took a lot of time. The new tool automates this process. It creates clean geometry that follows sheet metal rules.
Setting Up Your First Corner
To see how this works, you can start with a simple rectangle. Turn that rectangle into a sheet metal flange. When you add more flanges to the sides, you might give them an angle, like 60 degrees.
If you add flanges to edges that meet at a corner, they usually leave a big open gap. This is where you use the tool.
Open the Sheet Metal tab.
Select the Corner Closure command.
Click on the two edges you want to join.
Fusion will show a preview of the new corner.
Choosing the Right Relief Shape
When you close a corner, the metal needs a place to go during the bend. This is called a relief. The Corner Closure tool offers many types of relief shapes. You can choose the one that fits your project best.
Extending Your Flanges
Sometimes your flanges do not line up perfectly. One might be shorter than the other. The Corner Closure tool has settings to fix this. You can find these under the Extension options in the menu.
Aligned vs. Perpendicular Extensions
There are two main ways to grow the metal:
Aligned: This option takes the edge and grows it straight out in its current direction. It follows the path of the existing flange.
Perpendicular: This option grows the edge at a 90-degree angle from its origin. This is useful if you need the corner to square up differently.
By switching between these, you can control exactly how the metal fills the gap.
Managing the Miter Gap
The Miter Gap is the space between the two pieces of metal once they are closed. By default, Fusion often sets this to match the thickness of your metal. However, you can change this to make the fit tighter.
If you want a smaller gap, you can type in a math formula. For example, typing thickness / 4 will make the gap four times smaller than the metal thickness. This is very helpful if you plan to weld the pieces together and need a tight seam.
Using the "To Object" Feature
Fusion also has an "Extent Type" called To Object. This is useful when you want a flange to end exactly at another face.
When using this, keep these tips in mind:
Select the face you want the flange to reach.
If the flange touches the other face, the part will not unfold correctly.
Add a small negative offset, like -0.01 inches.
This tiny gap keeps the parts separate so they can still be manufactured.
Once you have your flanges near each other using the To Object setting, use the Corner Closure to finish the job. It will bridge the remaining gap perfectly.
Checking Your Work with Unfold
One of the most important steps in sheet metal design is checking for manufacturability. If a part looks good but cannot be flattened, you cannot build it.
After using the Corner Closure, always use the Unfold command. Select a flat face as your stationary entity. If the part flattens out without errors, you know your design is solid. The Corner Closure tool is designed to create shapes that follow these rules, so your parts should stay manufacture-ready.
Why This Tool Matters
In the past, fixing corners was a manual chore. You had to use the Move Face command or create custom sketches. Moving faces could often mess up the geometry of other parts of the flange. It was hard to get a clean result.
The Corner Closure tool handles the math for you. It knows how the metal should stretch and bend. This saves time and prevents mistakes that could lead to broken parts in the shop.
Summary of the Corner Closure
The Corner Closure tool in Autodesk Fusion is a huge help for anyone working with sheet metal. It allows you to join flanges at complex angles with just a few clicks. You can choose from various relief shapes like arc welds or square cuts to match your manufacturing process.
By using options like Aligned extensions and custom Miter Gaps, you have total control over the corner. Always remember to use the Unfold tool to verify that your part can be made in the real world. This new feature removes the need for messy workarounds and keeps your designs clean.
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