Designing a Sheet Metal Odd Enclosure using NX

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the project is to design a sheet metal odd shaped enclosure using Sheet metal application in Siemens NX and a drawing sheet needs to be drafted for the designed model using drawing application in NX.

INTRODUCTION

Sheet metal is a metal formed by an industrial process into thin, flat pieces. Sheet metal is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and it can be cut and bent into a variety of shapes. Countless everyday objects are fabricated from sheet metal.

NX, formerly known as "unigraphics", is an advanced high-end CAD/CAM/CAE, which has been owned since 2007 by Siemens PLM Software. In 2000, Unigraphics purchased SDRC I-DEAS and began an effort to integrate aspects of both software packages into a single product which became Unigraphics NX or NX.

DESIGN METHODOLOGY

DESCRIPTION

FEATURES USED FOR CREATING BOX ASSEMBLY

• EXTRUDE – Creates a feature by extruding a section along its vector.
• BEND – Modifies the model by bending material on one side of one side of a sketch line, adding a bend between the two sides.
• FLANGE – Adds a flat flange at an angle to a planar face and adds a bend between the two.
• UNBEND – Flattens a bend and the material adjacent to the bend.
• HOLE – Adds a hole to one or more solid bodies in a part or assembly with options for counterbored, countersunk and threaded.
• BEAD – Lifts a material along the contour of a sketch that simulates a stamping tool.
• REBEND – Restores an unbend feature to its previous bent state, along with any features added after the unbend feature.
• FLAT PATTERN – Creates a flat pattern from the formed sheet metal part.

PROCEDURE FOR DESIGNING THE BOX ASSEMBLY

• First a solid body was created by drawing the required sketch and using the extrude command.
• The extruded solid body was wrapped with the sheet metal using sheet metal from solid option.
• Then the solid body must be hidden and then the required flange was created on the left side of the enclosure.
• Then for the right edge a line was drawn and by using it a Jog feature was applied.
• Then for creating some other features like Bead, hole the unbent operations was carried out.
• After unbending the required beads were created along with the necessary holes on the sheet metal surface.
• Then the re-bent operation was carried out.
• Finally the flat pattern view was generated and the drafting (drawing sheet) for the flat pattern view was created and saved successfully.

The uses of sheet metal enclosures :

Sheet metal enclosures is use to resist corrosion and provide electrical conductivity. The product is widely used for various industrial purposes.

Features of a sheet metal enclosure:

• Sturdy construction
• Corrosion resistance
• Precision made
• High strength and longer shelf life

Applications :

• Construction and engineering industry
• Automobile industry
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Food & beverages industry

Advantages :

• Can form complex shapes
• Many material options
• High production rate
• Low labor cost
• Short lead time possible

STANDARD VIEWS OF THE ENCLOSURE

1. FRONT VIEW

TOP VIEW

4. SIDE VIEW

6. FLAT PATTERN

CONCLUSION

Thus the project has been completed by designing a sheet metal Enclosure with odd shape using the sheet metal application in Siemens NX and then the required drawing sheet were created using the drawing application in NX.