Unfold / Flat Pattern 1

[spadazenon]

Dear All,

I could use your help to create a flat pattern feature of sheet metal body. I can't figure out how to make it flat, hence it is a surface with thickness of 1mm.

I have tried "global shaping" and "flat pattern" without any success. I don't have a advanced sheet metal licence.

Best regards,

spada

 

[Rob_N]

if you still have NX4 installed, you could try fabric flat pattern to give you something close.

 

[JonSelby]

Sorry ... I've had a quick go but not been able to.

It strikes me however that this is probably not a 'sheet metal' part. It looks more like a 'pressing'.
If you try and flatten it you would effectively buckle somewhere in the middle or tear the corners.

Jon

 

[petulf]

Had no problem creating a flatpattern with the new flattening tool in NX11.

 

[spadazenon]

Thank you all for your answers,

Jon, yes it would probably buckle somewhere in the middle, that it is why I couldn't unwrap it. It was telling me that the shape was not developable.

Petulf, I am currently using NX10. Hope we can upgrade in the near future.

I haven't been able to unwrap it until now. From what I understand there is no way (or there is a difficult one) to unfold/unwrap a non developable face without an advanced module.

Brgds,

Spada

 

[Lockdain]

Hello!

Unfortunately I'm not able to open your model since I'm using NX 9, but is there a chance that this short tutorial would be helpful?

http://www.CADabout.ru

 

[Rob_N]

The new flatten tool in NX11 requires a studio license.

 

[spadazenon]

Robnewcomb, in NX10 it says that I need an "NX composite or Advanced Sheet Metal Licence" to use Fabric Flat Pattern.

Lockdain, this tutorial is very handy, but unfortunately it works only for "developable" surfaces.

 

[Lockdain]

@spadazenon

Try to look at the One Step Formability

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=411722

http://www.CADabout.ru

 

[spadazenon]

Lockdain, thank you for your response, but I couldn't use it because I don't obtain the needed licence.

 

[petulf]

Took another stab at it, this time using only basic modeling tools, see enclosed zip file for nx10 prt.

 

[CadGuy59]

You might try using Insert > Sheet Metal > Metaform to flatten this part. It's UI is a bit odd, be forewarned.

 

[spadazenon]

@petulf

This was a very nice approach. I will follow your steps. Thank you very much for the model.