Flattening a Curved Sheet 1

[Parisg]

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

 

[Toost]

There are several methods, I don't know which one is the "official flattener", Before NX7.5 there was a "Flat pattern" feature, it unfolded anything. This became in NX7.5 the "Fabric Flat Pattern", ( At least the menu is more or less the same, whilst the "sheet metal algorithms" are gone)
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

 

[Rob_N]

Not sure what end goal is, but here is what I do with my Advanced Designer bundle.
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.

 

[Parisg]

Thanks Tomas, the material I'm using is a PET film which theoretically should have no stretch. It appears that Flat Pattern in NX6 has given an accurate result, thanks!

Rob, Global shaping looks workable but like you say it's more a trial and error rather than accurate output.

 

[frankbe]

Hi all, Hi Tomas,

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

 

[Rob_N]

I may have to reinstall NX6, I couldn't remember which version flat pattern was removed. It gave me a starting point easier than the global shaping method.

 

[thomaskoer]

Hi Frank,

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