Flattening a Curved Sheet
Flattening a Curved Sheet
(OP)
Hi All,
I need some help flattening a curved sheet using NX 9.
I'm essentially trying to flatten the shape so I can view the outline and cutouts in 2D and then export as a DXF/DWG.
Command finder suggests Shell Expansion in the Ship Design application, but we don't have a license for this.
Is there anyway to do this in NX or with another program?
Thanks,
Paris
I need some help flattening a curved sheet using NX 9.
I'm essentially trying to flatten the shape so I can view the outline and cutouts in 2D and then export as a DXF/DWG.
Command finder suggests Shell Expansion in the Ship Design application, but we don't have a license for this.
Is there anyway to do this in NX or with another program?
Thanks,
Paris





RE: Flattening a Curved Sheet
In parallel to that, the Sheet Metal application has a "flat pattern" feature, it only flattens solid bodies with a consistent thickness. if you add a thickness to your piece you can use that.
In parallel to that there is a Meta Form Feature, it flattens anything,- IF one knows how to use it....
and
what i guess is the "official flattener",the "Analyse Formability - One Step". ( simpler to use)
Attached is a zipfile containing two versions, a NX6 Flatpattern and a NX9 One step analyse formability.
since i don't know anything about any materials etc, these two have been processed with the default values, which can explain the difference.
Regards,
Tomas
RE: Flattening a Curved Sheet
I experiment with global shaping, since Metaform was taken away some versions back.
It's trial and error, I'll get it somewhat flattened using by curve method.
From there I would project the edges to a flat plane. export that. cut it on the laser. form the part. inspect part. make edits to blank at laser.if quantities justify it I then backplot edited laser program back into geometry and make a blanking die.
RE: Flattening a Curved Sheet
Rob, Global shaping looks workable but like you say it's more a trial and error rather than accurate output.
RE: Flattening a Curved Sheet
I have a question about the NX6 flat pattern;
If I open that part in NX6 I don't see any Flat Pattern Feature. But I can see the resulting curves.
Can you please explain, maybe with some screen shots, how you came to that result?
I've been trying to look for the "old" sheet metal functionalities in NX6 but I can't seem to find them.
And I've activated the UGII_SMD_SHOW_RETIRED_FEATURES=1 environment variable.
Or I don't have the correct license (Mach Designer NX10101) Or I'm doing something wrong here.
Im very curious...
2x NX9.0.3.4 and NX10.0.24 Mach Design
on win7 64bit
NX Beta Tester
1x Solid Edge ST2
RE: Flattening a Curved Sheet
RE: Flattening a Curved Sheet
sorry I did a long time not look into the forum.
Old Sheet Metal Design + old FP (I think) disappeared in NX8.5 but can be reanimated with the setting you wrote.
Then e.g. in NX10: select the application: File -> All Applications -> Sheet Metal -> Forming/Flattening
To flatten the thing: Menu -> Tools -> Flat Pattern
Just select a face and click. Result are "stupid" non associative lines. (no features, views etc.pp.)
But the tool itself was easy to use and in most cases the results are good enough.
Best Regards,
Thomas