[SOLVED] Sheet Metal Newbie: Trouble getting started with first bend

[kevinz]

Hello, all. I'm trying to make my first part using the Sheet Metal (v 0.2.49) workbench, and can't get it to work. Here's what I've done so far:

• Created a rectangle in Parts Design

• Padded it to a typical sheet metal thickness (26 AWG)

• Created a new sketch, attached to the face of the rectangle, with a new line, the bend line, extending off the face

I then switch to the Sheet Metal workbench and try to select both the face and the line, but can only select one or the other. Selecting either one doesn't allow the "Fold a wall of sheetmetal" tool to illuminate and work.

I'm sure this is a simple fix; there's just something that I'm not understanding. I've watched a couple of YouTube tutorials, but don't see any that use the 'fold a wall' tool.

Can anyone help me with this problem? Or, suggest which tutorial to read or watch? Drawing attached.

Thanks so much!

-Kevin

OS: Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (ubuntu:GNOME/ubuntu)
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.19.
Build type: Release
Branch: unknown
Hash: 7a9aa7edf2f44e3eb6a8e3e61c753368496b1399
Python version: 3.6.9
Qt version: 5.9.5
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.5.2
Locale: English/UnitedStates (en_US)

[Willem]

Select the face of the rectangle
With the ALT button pushed down select the bend line
Now the bend icon gets it color and select it.
A 90 degree bend is now made
Select in the tree view the bend to modify it

[chrisb]

With the ALT button pushed down select the bend line

It may depend on the Mouse Model used, but often it's the Ctrl key which is used for multi selection.

[kevinz]

Well, I could have sworn that I tried the Control key (which is used in my mouse model, not the Alt key) and it didn't work, but now it absolutely does. I'm not sure that I had the order right at first (Face, then bend line). I guess one thing that confused me is that so many of the other workbenches (Sketcher and Parts Design, for instance) allow you to select multiple objects with sequential mouse clicks without a Control or Alt key.

@chrisb and @Willem, thank you both so much for getting me unstuck. I am really grateful for your efforts for me.

-Kevin