Advanced Sheet Metal Bracket Design Using Siemens NX CAD

ADVANCED SHEET METAL BRACKET DESIGN USING NX CAD

OBJECTIVE

The main aim of this project to design a sheet metal bracket by Siemens NX Sheet Metal Application using advanced sheet metal features.

INTRODUCTION

NX SHEET METAL Application provides fast and accurate sheet metal modeling through a set of tools dependent on their material and manufacturing process.

Advanced Features increases the feasibility of automotive sheet metal parts that are neither too complex nor are manufactured with straight brake tooling.

DESIGN METHODOLGY

DESCRIPTION
The Sheet Metal Bracket is designed as follows

1. Sheet Metal Preferences

The Primary step in creating a SM Model is to validate the sheet metal preferences and modify the global parameters as per the design requirements.

2. Contour Flange Creation

A new 2D Sketch is created in XZ Plane. Then Contour Flange is selected and width parameters are defined. The 2D sketch is shown Below,

The Next step is to create another 2D sketch in YZ Plane that is used for defining the sheet metal features.

3. Normal Cutout & Breaking Corners

• The Next step is to use the 2D sketch created in YZ plane to add Normal Cutout.
• Normal Cutout cuts material by projecting the sketch onto the sheet metal model and then cutting perpendicular to the face intersected by the projected sketch
• The Cutout parameters such as cut method, depth are defined and different cutouts are made along the model as defined.
• Finally the sharp edges are rounded using Break Corners by defining the blend type and radius parameters

4. Adding Flanges and Features

The Next phase is to add advanced flanges.

• Advanced Flange adds flange along the edge using the reference face or bend angle. The edge and reference face can be curved.
• Flange Properties namely Length, angle, length reference and inset type are defined along with bend parameters, end limits and relief.
• The Next step is adding general holes by specifying points at different positions.
• The SM model is bent using stationary face and bend faces and some hole features are added on the bend faces.
• The Model is rebend .

5. Adding Stiffness and Holes

• The next step is to add gusset which adds stiffness to the part.
• Four automatic round shaped gussets are created along the two bend surfaces.
• Holes are created in the part as per requirements

6. Drafting

The Final step is to create a Flat pattern and exported to a drawing sheet.

Various Model views and the Drawing sheet are attached below,

CONCLUSION

Thus using Advanced Sheet Metal Application in NX a sheet metal bracket is designed and features such as Advanced Flanges, gussets and cutout were made and concept of ading stiffness and advanced flanges were understood.