Challenge

Advanced Sheet Metal Design Using NX Cad Challenge_7_ Metal bracket-II

SSourav Maji26 Nov 2022

DESIGN A SHEET METAL BRACKET USING GIVEN 2D DESIGN IN NX CAD

Objective -

Create a sheet metal bracket with gusset for more strength using given 2d drawing sheet in NX CAD sheet metal application.

Introduction -

A bracket is an intermediate component for fixing one part to another. It is used to support the weight. Brackets vary widely in shape, here we are designing an L- shaped bracket.

The shape and dimension of your bracket will be determined by the shape of the item it is holding up but will also be affected by the load capabilities and the ease in manufacturing. Keep in mind that strength considerations of metal bracket design are not just functions of the material thickness but of the bracket shape. As a metal part, adding specific features to the bracket can improve strength dramatically. Below are shown 2 metal part designs, both are of the same thickness but the first part will be significantly stronger due to the gusset (small triangular piece) welded on the bracket. This is a nice feature for keeping the profile of the bracket small yet creating a strong bracket.

Design methodology -

Description -

Contour Flange: Creates a base feature by extruding the sketch along a vector or add material by sweeping the sketch along an edge.
Break Corners: This feature makes sharp edges to smooth round shape or to chamfer shape.
Normal Cut-Out: It helps to cut material by projecting a sketch onto the model, cutting perpendicular to the face.
Unbend: This feature helps to unbend the bent shapes to a flat pattern. In sheet metal the other features like cut-outs and holes needed to be created over the flat configuration. So that feature applied will be normal to a flat surface.
Hole: Cut or remove the material with thread pattern on it. For applying the hole feature there should be a specific point, which will be the center of the hole.
Rebend: This command helps to rebend the previously unbent sheet and have a component in its original form.
Advanced Flange: Add a flange along an edge using a bend angle or a reference face. The edge and reference face can be curved.
Gusset: Creates a stiffening gusset on the part.
Flat Pattern: It is used to represent the whole component in 2D form. This flat pattern also shows entire features with dimensions.
Drafting: Drafting is creating a technical drawing into a sheet, communicating about the dimensions and view of components. The draft helps the manufacturing and production department to know about the product design in a 2D format.