Compound-curved plate expansion and true developable plate expansion

• Interactive interface
• Runs as a MultiSurf macro
• Expands plates individually or in groups

Forming processes supported (partial list)

• Matched die pressing
• Spherical die pressing
• Explosive forming
• Peening
• Roller planishing
• Kraftformer
• Assembly under stress
• Line heating

Individual plate settings

• Thickness
• Strain angle

Global options

• Forming process constraint: expansion only, contraction only, or both
• Strain parameter: ratio of least to greatest strain produced by the forming process
• Triangle mesh style used for creating input data: forward, reversed, or alternating diagonals

Documentation and on-line help

• Comprehensive, illustrated manual
• Discussion and examples covering the process from making files in MultiSurf through plate expansion in Flattener
• On-line help duplicates all the textual information and examples in the manuals

Output

• DXF files
• Each output is on a separate layer
• Expanded outline of each plate
• Specified point, curve, and contour markings
• Contour map of strain distribution
• Triangular mesh utilized for the solution

System requirements

Since Flattener is a MultiSurf utility, the system requirements are those for MultiSurf:

• PC 64 bit system
• Windows 7, 8, 10