Flattening compound surfaces without S-metal module.

[TakTak]

Guys, below in reference to archived thread561-103039 ,

I am attempting to flatten compound surfaces in NX3 without the sheet-metal module(thus without metaform + flatten tools). Currently it looks like I will have to 'estimate' by measuring the arc length of projected lines or section curves on my compound surface, transferring these to a 2D surface/sketch, then joining up the 'ends' to create my flattened surf.

This is clearly a somewhat laborious and inaccurate process - I require something much slicker. Do you have any suggestions? Perhaps a technique using a polygon mesh?

Obviously no solution will be completely accurate unless I permit the outer shape to change (think world map!)... however, something better than current technique would be HUGELY appreciated as this is one of my daily tasks....

Regards...Andy

 

[ewh]

It may not be an option due to the expense, but we use FiberSim for this.

 

[cowski]

If this is somthing you do on a daily basis, I would push for the sheet metal module or the FiberSim.

 

[TakTak]

So there really is no other way? Long-term I am sure we will be able to purchase the sheet-metal module, but for the time being I guess I am stuck with with the tedium. Perhaps I will think about automating the process in KF.

Regards-Andy

 

[cowski]

Have a look at this web page, they discuss some of the pitfalls and workarounds to flattening shapes.

http://www.pilot3d.com/Plate Development.htm