Wrap a curve to a splined surface?

[mikebuchter]

I am trying to wrap a curve onto a Spline surface. It is not allowing me to select the surface. I am able to select a true curved surface so I am not sure if a Spline surface would work. I am using NX 5.0.6.

Thanks, Mike

 

[JohnRBaker]

The 'Wrap Curve' function ONLY allows the selection of Cylindrical and Conical surfaces as the target surface.

Now as a way of getting a close approximation, if the 'free-form surface' is such that you could create either a Cylinder or Cone shape which would be close to the size and shape of the final surface, the create an appropriately sized Cylinder or Cone positioned so that it closely matches the shape of the free-form surface. Now wrap your curve(s) to the Cylinder/Cone and then using this wrapped curve(s), project them onto the final surface using the normal direction option. Granted, it's not exact, but if you create an appropriately sized and positioned cylinder/cone, this can be very close for most of the workflows which require this sort of result.

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.

 

[PSI-CAD]

Hi Mike,

Did you try using Project Curve with the Equal arc length option ?

Regards

Didier

 

[Crocostimpy]

I would agree with John. I've done that many times and it almost always works very well. The only times I've had trouble is if the surface is really funky and I can't make a good approximation.

Mike

 

[JonSelby]

Is it possible to go back the other way?
By this I mean starting with a 'free-form surface'. Sketching (projecting) some curves onto it. And then 'unwraping' these curves onto a flat surface.

I have a similar conundrum to face later this week where I need to wrap a flexible PCB around a moulding.
I'm just wondering whether I can give the PCB designers a DXF of what I want, rather than them suggesting what I can have (ie stop the tail wagging the dog )

 

[FelixMuehlhoff]

This is possible with Metaform (insert-sheet metal feature-metaform). We need this function very often in shipbuilding to unroll double curved plates.

Felix

 

[JonSelby]

Oooohhh ... a new feature to explore ... and there's the motivation I need to finish off my current task!

Cheers Felix!