Add wall thickness to model

[junfanbl]

Hello everyone, I have a question concerning some piping models. SO far everybody has been such a huge help in getting me answers for my previous questions, and I thank you for that. There is another thing I would like to know.

I have a piping model, a long radius 90 degree elbow. I have been using space finder to calculate internal volume (fluid volume). However, it isn't my job to actually model and design things; rather I am just to analyze models and compile data. Sometimes the models aren't up too spec and I need to add a wall thickness. Is there a function or way to automatically thicken the walls of model?

Thanks for your help!

 

[SDETERS]

For a Quick solution look at offset region in the Synchronous tools. This will allow you to offset a face to get you some thicker or thinner material.

 

[cowski]

If you have a surface model (sheet body), check out the "thicken" command. If you have a solid that you want to make thicker (or thinner), look into the "offset face", or "offset region" command as mentioned by SDETERS.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[junfanbl]

Okay, that worked great! thank you. There is one more thing though, I am trying to patch the ends of the model after capping them with bounded plane. I plan on using space finder to get an internal volume, but I get an error message saying

"Tool Sheet Edges are not close to target body or do not form a closed loop."

The other end of the piping model is not capped or closed but that end won't patch either.

 

[cowski]

I'm not clear on why you want to patch the ends to your existing pipe. If the patch were successful, I believe you would be left with one solid pipe; you would have the outside of the pipe, but no internal volume.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[Xwheelguy]

Patch with only a Bounded Plane closing openings will NOT fill a volume like Sewing will do - it's missing the internal volume (ID of the pipe). If your piping has an inner diameter (ID), try Extruding the ID edge along the pipe axis - the Extrude stop distance will be your piping's wall thickness - Unite that to your solid piping. No need to use surfaces for all of this. If you're trying to get a solid rod (no inner diameters), please post back.

Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 9.0.3.4 Win7 Pro x64 SP1
Intel Xeon 2.53 GHz 6GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB

 

[junfanbl]

Oh, maybe I am using Space Finder the wrong way? I thought Space Finder would give me the internal volume of geometry. It won't work unless the geometry is closed. If I cap and patch the ends would this render the model solid, with the inability to get an internal volume? I didn't think it mattered either way. When I close a model and use Space Finder, it still gives me a volume. So I guess I am somewhat confused.

 

[JohnRBaker]

How is this last question, about capping the ends to find the volume, all that different than what you asked last week? I would suspect that the solution offered then should work here as well:

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=400107

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Digital Factory
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[junfanbl]

Well when it comes to extruding and modeling in NX I am not totally up to speed. I was trying to find a solution that didn't involve deleting faces and extruding. I am used to using modeling applications like 3DS Max and Maya. It is taking me some time to get used to NX. That's why the Space Finder function seemed so appealing to me because it involved less handling of the model in question. I was trying to find a way to make that work for me. However, I will heed your advice and stick to the previous thread. I'll just have to learn some new things. Thanks again.