Sheet metal and sketcher
Sheet metal and sketcher
(OP)
I've just started working on sheet metal parts in NX5, and I've run into something that's bugging me. Why do we have to use sketcher to start a sheet metal part? Why can't we use a block as a starting point? I don't mind using sketcher, but I like having options on how to create my parts.





RE: Sheet metal and sketcher
Now back to starting with a 'thin' solid block instead of a 'Tab', just create your solid 'block' however you wish and then enter the NX Sheet Metal module and go to...
Insert -> Convert -> Convert to Sheet Metal...
...and select your 'thin' solid and immediately hit OK. Now you can select it and add flanges and other sheet metal features as if that initial solid had been created as a 'Tab'.
BTW, that 'Convert to Sheet Metal' function will even turn a 'thick' solid block into a sheet metal part by selecting, after selecting a base face, the edges of the block which will automatically hollow out the solid block and then 'rip' the edges so that it has all the characteristics of a folded-up sheet metal part.
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Sheet metal and sketcher
Can we use the chamfer feature to add a chamfer to the flanges or do those have to be sketched as well? It seems clumsy to have to sketch everything as opposed to using holes, slots and such.
RE: Sheet metal and sketcher
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Sheet metal and sketcher
If you have an odd chamfer (like an asymmetric one) either sketch it on directly or you can add that in by switching to the modeler chamfer command with asymmetric selected.
I do prefer to try and keep all commands in the sheet metal environment. Avoids unexpected issues further down the road.
RE: Sheet metal and sketcher
Al
RE: Sheet metal and sketcher
I like how in sheet metall the features work on sb-flange feature for example there is a way to edit the sketch geometrie. This would be nice to have in the old modelling features like pad,pocket. etc
RE: Sheet metal and sketcher
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.