Sheet Metal question 1

[Hockeyguy]

Hi,

Playing around with sheet metal part of NX7.5 and 8.0. Once I create a tab (flat sheet of metal) it will not let me input a thickness or bend radius. The thickness stays at 0.100.

I am trying to create a jacketed box (a box with insulation around it and another box to cover the insulation).

Thanks in advance!

 

[jerry1423]

I am not sure why it won't let you change it, but you can go into your expressions and change it there.

 

[JohnRBaker]

When you edit the Tab feature, you will see a parameter in the dialog for the 'Thickness' (or with a Flange, the 'Bend Radius') while will appear to not be editable. That's because it's linked to the Sheet Metal defaults. Now if your desire is to use something other than the out-of-the-box defaults, they can be changed in Customer Defaults. Or if you wish to change the new part you're working on, before starting to create your model you could go to...

Preferences -> NX SHeet Metal -> Part Properties

...and set it there.

However, if as it appears that you've already created something an NOW wish to make a change, just donble-click the feature of interest and when you see the 'Thickness' or 'Bend Radius' dialog and its non-editable parameter just select the little f(x) to the Right of the value and choose the 'Use Local Value' option and now you can enter any value you wish for the that feature (note that while the 'Bend Radius' can be edited on a feature by feature basis, in the case of 'Thickness' editing the 'Tab' will effect the thickness of the entire sheet metal model, as one would expect).

Anyway, I hope this helps.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
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.

 

[frankbe]

The best way is to change the thickness and bend radius (global settings) in the menu the way John described. It should always be the first place to make global changes. Especially thickness should be defined in that menu.

Individual bend property changes can be done for any bend in your part with "resize bend angle", "resize neutral factor" and "resize bend radius" That way you have full control of the flat pattern that you're after in the end.

We continuously do that now but we use a custom Knowledge Fusion program to do it automatically for us using our bend knowledge (xls tables)

2x NX 7.5.4.4 mp2 and NX8.0.0.25 Mach Design
1x Solid Edge ST2

 

[Walterke]

On the topic:

when I create a new sheet metal part and create a tab. It's thickness is indeed the same as described in

Preferences -> NX SHeet Metal -> Part Properties

however, when I go to tools -> expressions and change the thickness there, it does not alter the thickness of the tab. Is there a way to make this work?

(I have to go to the tab's properties, and choose "formula" for it's thickness, where I can select the "Sheet_Metal_Material_Thickness" parameter)

NX 7.5
Teamcenter 8

 

[frankbe]

Changing material thickness of a sheet metal part is best done with the global settings you find in the sheet metal preferences.

The value of "Sheet_Metal_Material_Thickness" expression always comes from the value you type in under the sheet metal preference menu. You can delete the formula and replace it with a value however. But I believe for keepings things clean and organized it is better to change material thicknesses in the global settings.

2x NX 7.5.4.4 mp2 and NX8.0.0.25 Mach Design
1x Solid Edge ST2

 

[frankbe]

Forgot to mention; Knowledge Fusion can change the value of "Sheet_Metal_Material_Thickness" for you in the background. That's what we do now.

2x NX 7.5.4.4 mp2 and NX8.0.0.25 Mach Design
1x Solid Edge ST2

 

[Walterke]

that's how I would want it to work. However, when I make a tab, and then change the expressions "sheet_metal_material_Thickness" to another number, it does NOT change the thickness of the tab.

NX 7.5
Teamcenter 8