NX7.5 - Flatting curves 1

[CAD2015]

Hi,

How could I project curves (arcs, ellipses, splines, etc) on a plane, keeping the original length?

Thanks

 

[MickyV007]

You need to create a sketch in Task Enviroment.

Then Insert - Recipe Curve - Project Curve...

This function is not present in the Direct Sketch enviroment.

Best regards,

Michaël.

NX7.5.4.4 + TC Unified 8.3
Win 7 64 bit

 

[CAD2015]

Thanks MickyV007, I meant something different.
I need to project on XY plane the 4 curves (2 lines and 2 arcs), but I need them to have the same length they had before.
I remember that long time ago I did do this operation, but since I used only once, I forgot!
I am attaching a file as an example, maybe it would help.
Thanks a lot!

P.S. I use NX7.5

 

[JohnRBaker]

Note that using the Project Curve function, in or outside the Sketcher task, will only give you what you're asking for ("keeping the original length") IF the original curves are already on a 'plane' which is PARALLEL to the Plane you wish to project the curves onto.

And for the record, starting with NX 8.0, you now have virtually the same 'intersection/projection' options when creating a Direct Sketch as you do in the Sketch 'Task' environment. This includes 'Intersection Point', 'Intersection Curve' and 'Project Curve'.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

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

 

[CAD2015]

Thanks John, but I can't find the "keeping the original length" option, using Project Curve function!....
Can you send the step-by-step comands, please?

 

[JohnRBaker]

Those curves ALREADY lie on the X-Y plane. What do you expect us to do with them?

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

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

 

[CAD2015]

I got it; It is under Projection Direction/Along vector.
Thanks a lot!

 

[cowski]

I can't find the "keeping the original length" option

There simply isn't one.

Perhaps wrap/unwrap curve is what you used previously?
If your geometry is simple (as the example shown) you might be able to model a thin solid sheet and 'flatten' it with the sheet metal tools.

or

If you want to 'project' your example up to the XZ plane and keep the length, you can create an associative length measurement of your existing curves then create an associative line starting at the datum point and for the length of the line, reference the expression for the length measurement.

http://www.nxjournaling.com

 

[CAD2015]

John,
That's true: Those curves ALREADY lie on the X-Y plane!
I expressed myself wrong; I need to have those 2 curves (arcs) converted to lines, keeping their original length!
I need to do that in order to convert to Sheet Metal some brackets that have been created using Extrudes, Cylinders (!), Face Blend, Pockets, etc!
There are some areas of these brackets that have different thickness, so I can't convert these solids to Sheet metal.
I use these converted curves for creating Tabs and Contour Flanges.

Thanks!

 

[JohnRBaker]

Are you talking about converting each arc into a single line which is the same length (BTW, do you mean 'chordal length' or 'arc length') as the arc was or are you talking about about replacing the arc with what some systems call a 'polyline' (a series of short lines simulating an arc)?

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

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

 

[CAD2015]

Yes!..................

 

[JohnRBaker]

Yes! - WHAT? After all, that wasn't a YES/NO questions...

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

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

 

[CAD2015]

Yes John, I am talking about converting each arc into a single line which is the same length( I mean 'arc length').
This woulkd be part of the new Sheet metal skecth profile(Tab, etc)............

 

[cowski]

Would the associative length measurment/associative line approach from my previous post be feasible?

http://www.nxjournaling.com

 

[JohnRBaker]

See the attached file. I've created a sketch parallel to your existing curves (it could have just as easily been created on the X-Y plane, in fact, if you edit 'Datum Plane (10)' changing it's offset value to '0.00' it will be on the X-Y plane). This sketch consists of four lines, the length of each is defined by 'Measurement (Length)' features taken of the four curves in your original model and then these expression values were used to define the sketch dimensions.

To see exactly what the results are, while in the sketch, go to...

Edit -> Style...

...and select the sketch, hit OK, change the 'Dimension Label' from 'Expression' to 'Value' and hit OK again.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

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

 

[CAD2015]

Thanks a lot, John!