Modifying / Controlling Wall Thickness

[REDesigner09]

Hi,

I have a (NX 6) CAD model that someone else created, but I need to modify the wall thickness of a selected area.

The original CAD model used a handful of spline sections to create the solid.

I'm seeking a way to modify the wall thickness with minimal re-work. I attahced a picture for reference.

Thanks for the assistance.

 

[JohnRBaker]

It's going to be tricky changing the 'wall thickness' of a section like that WITHOUT creating new profiles. Now, you could try using X-Form which will allow you to move the poles of a b-surface which might allow you to accomplish what you're trying to do. You can access this function at...

Edit -> Surface -> X-Form...

Note that NX 7.5 has a new face editing function called I-Form which actually might make this easier, but of course, that's NX 7.5 and...

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.

 

[REDesigner09]

Hi John,

I'm not familiar with X-Form or I-Form. How do these work? If need be, we can use 7.5, which it appears to have better functionality.

If moving the sectional wall thickness, will move the wall proportionally or in direct direction?

Thanks

 

[JohnRBaker]

In the case of X-Form, think of the surface of your model having a mesh of points on them and you're allowed to select one or more of these points, and based on various rules, you can 'pull/push' these points either along a fixed vector or in your case perhaps it would be better to move normal the surface. Anyway, as the points are moved the surface face moves as well, thus allowing you to change the 'thickness'.

In the case of I-Form, it works in a similar manner, except instead of moving individual points, you are moving what's known as 'Isoparametric Curves' which also allows you to change the shape of a surface.

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.

 

[REDesigner09]

Hi John,

It appears that we do not have a license to use X or I-Form. Is there another work-around?

The only work-around I see is taking a lot of time to recreate the profiles into full sketches, like they should've been done in the first place. Unfortunately, we don't have the time to do all this re-work.

Thanks

 

[JohnRBaker]

Without these tools, you will need to recreate/edit the old profiles which the surfaces/faces were created from.

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.

 

[REDesigner09]

Hi John,

This is what I figured. What NX licenses, bundles or module is needed to run these features?

 

[JohnRBaker]

Unless you're running a Bundled licence, you'll need to purchase a Studio license.

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.

 

[REDesigner09]

Hi John,

We have the Advanced Bundle license. Should Studio already be included or is this a separate license?

Thanks

 

[wacio]

Might be not the most elegant way to do it, but how about creating something you could subtract or unite to your piece.

NX3 + TC9

 

[REDesigner09]

Hi Waicio,

Since the the options aren't available & we don't have time to re-define these cross-sections to sketch profiles, that looks like it will have to be our next options.


Thanks