Sheet Metal Design PDF

NX Sheet Metal Design
Student Guide
August 20, 2008
MT16020_s — NX 6
Publication Number
mt16020_s NX 6
Proprietary and restricted rights notice
This software and related documentation are proprietary to Siemens Product

Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
© 2008 Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All Rights
Reserved.
All trademarks belong to their respective holders.
2 NX Sheet Metal Design mt16020_s NX 6

Contents
Course overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Course description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Intended audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Course objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How to use this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Lesson format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Activity format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Learning tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Common symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
NX 6 Help Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The Learning Advantage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Classroom system information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Student responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Typical NX Sheet Metal workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Preferences and defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Preferences and customer defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Global parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
NX Sheet Metal preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Part properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Flat Pattern Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Flat Pattern Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Bend parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Bend relief options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
NX Sheet Metal toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Summary: preferences and defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
NX Sheet Metal base features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Base features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Using sketches in NX Sheet Metal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Summary: base features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Tab dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Procedure: Tab creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
NX Sheet Metal Design 3

Contents
Activity: Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7

Summary: Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Create and Edit Contour Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Contour Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Contour Flange dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Procedure: Contour Flange creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Activity: Contour Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Project: Secondary Contour Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Summary: Contour Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Lofted Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Lofted Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Lofted Flange parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Procedure: Lofted Flange creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Activity: Lofted Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Summary: Lofted Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
The Flange dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Procedure: Flange creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
Bend relief options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
Edit Flange features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
Activity: Create a Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
Activity: Edit a Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
Project: Contour Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
Summary: Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16
Bend Taper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Bend Taper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Bend Taper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Bend Taper Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Bend Taper options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
Procedure: Create a taper on a bend and web area . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Project: Bend Taper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Summary: Bend Taper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Hem Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1

Hem Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
The Hem Flange dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Hem Flange options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Procedure: Hem Flange creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Activity: Create and edit Hem Flanges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Summary: Hem Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8

Contents
Convert to Sheetmetal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1

Convert to Sheetmetal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Convert a solid model to a sheet metal part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Summary: Convert to Sheetmetal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Sheet Metal from Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1

Sheet Metal from Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Sheet Metal from Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
Sheet Metal from Solid dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-3
Sheet Metal from Solid options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-4
Procedure: Create a sheet metal part from a solid part . . . . . . . . 11-5
Activity: Sheet Metal from Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
Summary: Sheet Metal from Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Bend Region Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1

Resize Bend Radius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Procedure: Resize Bend Radius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-3
Resize Bend Angle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-4
Procedure: Resize Bend Angle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-5
Resize Neutral Factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-6
Activity: Resize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-7
Summary: Resize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-8
Flat Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-1

Flat Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-2
Associativity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-3
Modeling tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-3
Lofted Flange and Flat Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-3
Procedure: Flat Solid creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-4
Summary: Flat Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-5
Flat Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1

Flat pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
Flat Pattern preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-4
Procedure: Flat Pattern creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Activity: Flat Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-6
Project: Flat Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-6
Summary: Flat Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-7
Bending sheet metal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-1

Bend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-2
Bend dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-4
Create a Bend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-8
Activity: Bend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-10

Contents
Unbend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-11
Procedure: Unbend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-13
Rebend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-14
Procedure: Rebend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-15
Activity: Unbend and Rebend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-16
Summary: Bending sheet metal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-17
Sheet Metal Corners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-1
Closed Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-2

Closed Corner dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-3
Procedure: Closed Corner creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-6
Activity: Closed Corners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-7
Three Bend Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-8
Three Bend Corner dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-9
Create a Three Bend Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-10
Activity: Three Bend Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-11
Break Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-12
Break Corner dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-13
Procedure: Break Corner creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-14
Activity: Break Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-15
Summary: Break Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-16
Edge Rip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-1
Edge Rip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-2

Edge Rip dialog box . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-3
Procedure: Edge Rip creation .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-4
Activity: Edge Rip . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-5
Summary: Edge Rip . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-6
Jog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-1
Jog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-2
Jog dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-3
Procedure: Jog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-6
Activity: Jog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-8
Summary: Jog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-9
Sheet Metal cutouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-1
Sheet Metal cutouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-2

Normal Cutout dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-5
Create a Normal Cutout using a sketch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-8
Activity: Cutouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-10
Project: Unbend, Cutout, and Rebend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-10
Summary: Cutouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-11

Contents
Dimple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-1
Dimple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-2
Dimple dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-3
Procedure: Dimple creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-7
Activity: Dimple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-8
Summary: Dimple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-9
Drawn Cutout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-1

Drawn Cutout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-2
Drawn Cutout dialog box . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-3
Procedure: Drawn Cutout creation .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-5
Activity: Drawn Cutout . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-6
Summary: Drawn Cutout . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-7
Louver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-1
Louver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-2
Louver dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-3
Procedure: Louver creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-5
Activity: Louvre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-6
Project: Louver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-6
Summary: Louver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-7
Solid Punch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-1

Solid Punch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-2
Solid Punch dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-4
Procedure: Solid Punch creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-7
Activity: Solid Punch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-8
Summary: Solid Punch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-9
Bead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-1
Bead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-2
Bead dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-3
Create a bead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-6
Activity: Bead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-8
Summary: Bead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-9
Starting NX with Teamcenter Integration for NX . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Introduction to Teamcenter Integration for NX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
Starting Teamcenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
Locating parts in Teamcenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
Activity: Log on to Teamcenter and find the parts . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Starting NX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Working with the Teamcenter Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7
Teamcenter Navigator options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8

Contents
Search for items in the Teamcenter Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9

Summary: Starting NX with Teamcenter Integration for NX . . . . . . . . A-10
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index-1

Course overview
Course description
In NX 4 we introduced the entire suite of Solid Edge straight brake sheet
metal functionality. This updated course teaches the all the prior NX
functionality and includes the new features and enhancements brought in
for NX 6. This course will incorporate the new NX Sheet Metal features
Sheet Metal from Solid and Bend Taper. And for NX 6 there was additional
functionality added to Contour Flange, Closed Corner, Flat Pattern, and
Multi-segmented Lofted Flange. Additional activities and projects were
added to cover this functionality. This course allows for actual hands-on lab
time for a real learning experience.
Intended audience
This course is suited for Engineers, Designers and CAD/CAM Managers who
will utilize the NX Sheet Metal functionality.
Course objectives
After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:
• Utilize Design Intent to plan and create NX Sheet Metal features.
• Set up default standards and creation preferences.
• Use NX Sheet Metal tools to create base features to support additional

sheet metal features.
• Work within the Sketch Task Environment.
• Edit parametric features created during this course.

Course overview
Prerequisites
• Essentials for NX Designers
• 200 hours of experience with NX Modeling after course prerequisites.
• Working knowledge of:

– Sketcher Fundamentals
– Assembly Design in Context
How to use this manual

The following guidelines describe how you can get the most benefit from your
use of the course guide and the accompanying HTML activities.
Lesson format
The general format for lesson content is:

• Instructor presentation
• One or more activities
• Project
Projects allow you to test your new skills without detailed instruction.
Consult your instructor for additional information.
• Summary
Activity format
Activities have the following format:

1. This is an example of a step. Numbered steps specify the actions you
will perform.
Action bullets detail how to complete the step.
Always read the Cue and Status information while working through
activities and as you perform your regular duties.
As you gain skills you may need only to read the step text to complete
the step.

Course overview
Learning tips
• Ask questions.
• Confirm important facts by restating them in your own words.
It is important to use your Student Guide in the sequence it is written.
Common symbols
The student manual uses special symbols as shown below.

Design Intent – Information about the task and what must be
accomplished.
Tip — Useful information or advice.
Note — Contains useful information that supplements or emphasizes

the main points.
Example — Shows a possible way that the current topic of discussion

could be used.
Caution — Contains important reminders or information about a task.
Warning — Contains information essential to your success.

Course overview
NX 6 Help Library
The NX 6 Help Library is available online any time you need more
information about a function. To access the NX 6 Help Library; from the NX
menu choose Help→Documentation.
Throughout this course, specific online help paths may be displayed to help
you locate additional information.
The path names will be displayed in the following manner.
See Also:
NX Essentials→Introduction to NX→Using NX
The Learning Advantage

Siemens PLM Software Education Services offers a blend of training solutions
for all of our product lifecycle management products. Our online store,
Learning Advantage, was developed to provide our customers with just in
time training for the latest in application developments.
Here are some of the Learning Advantages:
• Direct access to the training material
• Presented in a self-paced learning environment
• Online assessments to measure your success
• Just in time training for the latest software releases
For more information about the Learning Advantage visit our web site
http://training.ugs.com or E-mail us at training@ugs.com.

Course overview
Classroom system information

Your instructor will provide the following items for working in the
classroom:
Student login:
User name:
Password:
Work directory:
Parts directory:
Instructor:
Student responsibilities
• Be on time.
• Participate in class.
• Stick with the subject matter.
• Listen attentively and take notes.
• Practice on the job what you have learned.
• Have fun.

1
Lesson
1 Typical NX Sheet Metal workflow
In a typical NX Sheet Metal workflow, you:

1. Set the default values for sheet metal properties.
2. Sketch the shape of the base feature, or use an existing sketch/section.
3. Construct the base feature that defines the part’s shape. This base feature
is normally a tab, but it can also be a contour flange or a lofted flange.
4. Add features, such as flanges, jogs, and bends to further define the basic
shape of the formed sheet metal part.
5. Apply unbends to flatten the bend areas where needed, and place holes,
cutouts, embosses, or louver-type features on the part.
6. Rebend flattened bend areas to complete the part.
7. Create a flat pattern of the part for drafting and later manufacturing.
Constructing a base feature
The typical workflow for construction of a sheet metal part begins with a base
feature. A base feature is the first feature you construct and typically defines
the part’s shape. In NX Sheet Metal, you normally use a tab, but you can also
use a contour flange or a lofted flange as your base feature. The Tab command
allows you to construct a flat feature of any shape using a closed profile.
NX Sheet Metal Design 1-1

Typical NX Sheet Metal workflow
1
Adding features
After you have constructed the base feature, you can use the commands on
the NX Sheet Metal and Form Features toolbars to complete the part by
adding flanges, jogs, bends, cutouts, holes, and so on.
Creating a flat pattern
You use Flat Solid to create a new solid body in the part file while
keeping the original (parent).
The flattened body (and flat pattern) are always at the end of at the
timestamp order. Every time a new feature is added onto the parent body, the
flattened body is placed at the end. It updates to reflect changes in the parent.
You then use Flat Pattern to create a sheet metal flat pattern for export
to a machine tool for manufacturing. This step supplements Flat Solid by
including extra entities such as bend centerlines, tangent lines, and other
1-2 NX Sheet Metal Design mt16020_s NX 6

Typical NX Sheet Metal workflow
1
attributes that provide special machine instructions. You use Customer
Defaults to specify which entities you want represented, and how you want
them annotated.
See Also: Sheet Metal®NX Sheet Metal®Working in NX Sheet
Metal®Sample sheet metal workflows.

1
Lesson
2 Preferences and defaults

2
Purpose
NX Sheet Metal has its own set of preferences and defaults separate from
other NX applications. These preferences can be used with individual feature
creation to streamline the creation process and manage math data default
parameters.
Objectives
Upon the completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Set global parameters
• Set NX Sheet Metal preferences
• Understand the benefits of using preferences settings
• Understand how bend parameters work.
• Identify the NX Sheet Metal toolbar

Preferences and defaults
Preferences and customer defaults

While in the NX Sheet Metal application, sheet metal part and feature default
parameters can be controlled through Global Parameters and Preferences.
2 Before you begin your part development, it’s a good practice to set up and
verify your default preferences. Attempting to change these preferences in
the middle, or after completion of your design may result in non-manifold
parts or inaccurate flat solid pattern definitions.
With the implementation of NX Sheet Metal features, provisions are available
to allow for the establishment of standard values applied at the time of the
feature creation.
These default parameters are attributes or expressions and can be used
throughout the design process. They include characteristics like material
thickness and bend radius.
Once a feature has been created you can view the created expressions by
accessing the expressions dialog box, Tools→Expressions.

Global parameters
Global parameters are session defaults you can use to manage part
preferences. Although you can override the values in the preferences dialog
box, use the global defaults to establish parameters that are consistently
used in sheet metal design.
2
Global parameters will directly affect the part properties and flat pattern
treatment values in the Preferences dialog box.
• If you change any value in the Global Parameters dialog box you will
need to restart your session.
• Any new value will then be the default.
• You can change the default values for each sheet metal feature within
the Customer Defaults dialog box.
To access the global parameters for Part Properties choose

File→Utilities→Customer Defaults→Sheet Metal→General.
To access global parameters for Flat Pattern Treatments choose
File→Utilities→Customer Defaults→Sheet Metal→Flat Pattern.

NX Sheet Metal preferences
You can manage Part Properties and Flat Pattern parameters without having
to restart your NX session.
2 To access the NX Sheet Metal preferences choose Preference→NX Sheet
Metal.
The image below is a partial display of the preference dialog box.
Bend Definition Method

Neutral Factor Value
Bend Table
Bend Allowance Formula

Part properties
Use the Part Properties to reduce the number of parameters you need to
enter during the design process. When you set these parameters the values
will become the default for that part. 2
After part creation, if a value is edited in the preferences dialog box each
feature using that value will be updated with the new value.
The Parameter Entry section will determine if you will enter values for the
Bend Definition Method or use the Material Selection option.
Parameter Entry
Value Entry
Material Selection
The Value Entry option lets you select from three methods for defining bend
regions.
• Neutral Factor Value (the default) refers to the neutral axis—the point in
a bend where the tension of the outside of the bend and the compression
of the inside become neutral. This neutral axis is used when figuring the
bend allowance for flat patterns. It depends on the mechanical properties
of the material being bent, and is represented by a percentage of the stock
thickness, measured from the inside bend radius. The default value for
this option is 0.33. You can supply a value between 0 and 1
• Bend Table points to a table that specifies a neutral factor based on

values from the bend region for angle, radius, and material thickness. You
create this table in a specified format and place it in a default location.
• Bend Allowance Formula lets you supply values for the standard
variables. The default formula is (Radius+(Thickness*0.44))*rad(Angle).
If you use the Material Selection option, you will have previously supplied
a material table that would determine the bend parameters based on the
material selected.

The Global Parameters section will be available in many feature dialog boxes
as a quick parameter entry option.
If you accept these parameters during feature creation a named expression
will be created that you can access later to create parametric relationships
2 between features.
Global Parameters
Material Thickness 3.0 mm Relief Depth 3.0 mm
Bend Radius 3.0 mm Relief Width 3.0 mm
Material Thickness applies to only to the base features Tab, Contour Flange
and Lofted Flange. However, setting the defaults for the base features will
also establish the thickness for additional features.
Bend Radius, Relief Depth and Relief Width will set the defaults for Bend
Parameters which are commonly used when creating sheet metal features.
Metal®Changing the defaults.

Metal®Creating sheet metal parts and features®Controlling bend
deformation.

Flat Pattern Treatment
Flat Pattern Treatment options let you manage the parameters for Corner
treatment options and Flat pattern simplify parameters when creating a
flat solid. 2
• Corner treatment options: These options allow the system to
automatically create a chamfer or radius on inside or outside sharp
corners.
• Flat pattern simplify: Flat patterns created from a cylindrical face or

a cutout placed across bend lines create a B-spline curve. This option
converts B-spline curves to simple lines and arcs. You can specify the
minimum arc and deviational tolerance for the simplified curve
• Remove system-generated bend reliefs: When you create a closed corner

with no relief or when you have a bend section that is inset into the base
planar region without a relief, the software creates a very small bend
relief or rip in the 3-D model to separate the sides of the bend section from
the inset area. This option specifies that you want to remove those small
bend reliefs or rips when the flat pattern is created.

Flat Pattern Display
You can specify which entities you want displayed on your flat pattern, on
which layer, and how you want those entities represented: color, line type,
2 and line width.

Metal®Changing the defaults.

Bend parameters
Although you can set bend parameters on the Part Properties page of the
preferences dialog box. You can also override those values in many feature
dialog boxes 2
The Bend Parameters section of the dialog box will require Bend Radius
and Neutral Factor values.
Bend Relief 3.0 mm
Use Global Value
Neutral Factor 0.3300
Use Global Value
Clear the Use Global Value check box to change the default values.

Bend relief options
The Relief dialog box specifies whether to apply bend relief to the source face
from which the feature is constructed. You can use round or square reliefs that
2 define the shape of the relief’s interior corners. You can also specify no relief.
You will need to determine the depth and length of the relief and if you want
the feature to extend to the edge of the part.
The Corner Relief option specifies that you want to apply corner relief to
features that are adjacent to and including the feature you’re constructing.
There are four corner relief options available:
• Bend Only will apply relief only to the bend portion of any adjacent
features.
• Bend / Face applies relief to both the bend and face portions of the
adjacent features.
• Bend / Face Chain applies relief to the entire chain of bends and
faces of the adjacent features.
• None will not attempt to apply any corner relief. This option will
create a small gap that is removed when a flat solid is created.

Metal®Creating sheet metal parts and features®Bend Parameters for
sheet metal features

The image below shows the bend parameters used in a flange feature.
1. Bend Radius refers to all inside bend radii applied to the feature, in the
example below the base feature and the flange feature used the default
value.
2
2. Relief Depth refers to the distance the relief will move inboard to
accommodate the feature. This measurement is taken from the edge of
the part to the center of the circular area.
3. Relief Width refers to the width of the relief, which will determine the
radii used for the relief. In the example below the relief diameter will
be three mm.

NX Sheet Metal toolbar

There are three ways to start the NX Sheet Metal application. Choose
Start→NX Sheet Metal, click the NX Sheet Metal button from the Application
toolbar or open a new part using the NX Sheet Metal template.
2
Once the application starts the NX Sheet Metal toolbar will be available.
The table below lists the standard buttons available, if you do not immediately
see the button on the toolbar use the small down arrow next to the existing
button to view the hidden options.
Button Description Button Description Button Description

Application NSM Sketch (S) Datum Features
Tab Flange Contour Flange
Lofted Flange Bend Jog

Three Bend
Hem Flange Closed Corner
Corner
Break Corner Normal Cutout Extrude
Hole Dimple Louver
Drawn Cutout Bead Solid Punch

Resize Bend
Unbend Rebend
Radius
Resize Bend Resize Neutral
Edge Rip
Angle Factor
Convert to
Flat Solid Flat Pattern
Sheetmetal
Sheetmetal from
Bend Taper
Solid

Summary: preferences and defaults

The NX Sheet Metal application can be configured to meet your needs by
establishing default preferences for sheet metal features.
The connection between the NX Sheet Metal preferences dialog box and the 2
customer defaults dialog box ensures that you will be able to easily identify
default parameters by creating distinguishable expressions and formulas
within the feature and part file.
In this lesson you:
• Reviewed global parameters
• Reviewed NX Sheet Metal preferences
• Reviewed bend parameters
• Reviewed the NX Sheet Metal Toolbar

2
Lesson
3 NX Sheet Metal base features
Purpose 3
NX Sheet Metal base features are essential for creating additional sheet
metal features and maintaining design intent. The common creation and
editing methods, along with an overview of the sketcher tool, is the topic of
this lesson.
Objectives
Upon completion of the lesson, you will be able to:
• Define the three types of base features.
• Recognize the common elements of base features.
• Review using sketches with NX Sheet Metal.

NX Sheet Metal base features
Base features
The NX Sheet Metal environment relies on a set of base features as the
starting point for all sheet metal designs. Each of the base features covered in
this section can also be used as secondary features. If a base feature already
exists within your part the secondary feature creation option will be available.
There are three types of base features:
• Tab
3
• Contour Flange
• Lofted Flange
The two most commonly used base features are the Tab and the Contour
Flange. The Lofted Flange is recommended for use in HVAC as this feature
allows for non standard shape transitions.
Base Feature common elements:
• Each feature starts with a planar section string or sketch. The sketch
option will allow you to create the sketch within the feature creation dialog
box. You can use these sketches to create and maintain design intent.
• Each feature creates a defined top and bottom face, you need to keep this
in mind when determining the complete design of your part. There are
additional features on the NX Sheet Metal toolbar that will not allow
features to be created anywhere but on the top or bottom face of the base
feature.
• Global parameters will define the material thickness and bend allowance
formula, unless you override the values in the preferences dialog box.
• Once the first feature is created in the NX Sheet Metal application, the
system will generate named expressions based on the part properties.

The following image shows the original base feature that is used to create
the remaining features for the part.
The following image shows the original base feature with added features
3
to complete the part.

Using sketches in NX Sheet Metal

Many features in NX Sheet Metal are sketch-based, that is, they use sketches
as part of their construction geometry. In most cases, you can either use a
preexisting sketch or create the sketch within the feature itself. It’s important
to understand the differences between these two methods.
Sketch buttons in the dialog boxes
In the dialog box for each sketch-based feature there are two options for
3 sketch selection.
• The Sketch Section button lets you create a new sketch as part of
the feature.
• The Curve button lets you select a previously-created sketch from

the graphics window to use as the feature contour.
Internal vs. external sketches
Choosing between an internal and external sketch for a feature depends

mainly on whether you plan to reuse the sketch for other features. A sketch
created from within a feature becomes part of it and isn’t available for use by
other features. The feature that contains the sketch is the only one shown in
the feature tree, and you must edit that feature to have access to the sketch.
In the following figure, the Tab feature is based on an internal sketch, which
is not visible in the feature tree.
Model History
Datum Coordinate System
Tab
If you need to use the same sketch to construct multiple features, create the
sketch using the Sketcher alone, and then select the pre-existing sketch when
you create your feature. This keeps the original sketch in the feature tree,
and it can be referenced by other features, as shown in the following figure.
Model History
Datum Coordinate System
Sketch
Tab
to turn an internal sketch into an external sketch, right-click the parent

feature in the Part Navigator and choose Make Sketch External.


Metal®Creating sheet metal parts and features®Using sketches in
NX Sheet Metal

Summary: base features

The three types of base features introduced in this lesson are necessary for
sheet metal feature creation. The common creation elements are beneficial
during the design process and can help you to maintain design intent.
In this lesson you:
• Were introduced to the three types of NX Sheet Metal base features.
• Learned about the common creation features used to maintain design

3 intent.
• Reviewed sketch topics related to NX Sheet Metal functionality.

Lesson
4 Tab
Purpose
The Tab feature is recognized as one of the most commonly used of the base
features for a sheet metal part. Creating a Tab feature is the topic of this
Lesson.
Objective
4
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Become familiar with the Tab dialog box.
• Identify key geometric elements necessary to create a Tab.
• Examine the procedures of creating the NX Sheet Metal Tab.
• Create a Tab feature.

Tab
Tab
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Tab .

You can also choose Insert→Tab.
The Tab feature is one of the two most commonly used of the base features.
You can use this command to construct a base feature or to add material to
existing faces of a sheet metal part.
The image below shows the key components needed to create a Base Tab
feature.
1. A planar sketch or section string used for the profile.
4 2. System generated vector to determine material thickness and direction.
Secondary tabs will display a two vectors, one for material thickness
the other for offset direction.
You can flip the vector direction 180 degrees by double-clicking directly
on the vector.

Tab
Listed below are some tips for creating a Tab:

• The Base Tab feature must be a closed profile.
• You can use an open profile for Secondary Tabs. Any open profile sketches
must intersect with the base feature at some point.
• It is recommended that you create your section or sketch curves to include

all required radii for your part.
• Section curves can be either associative or non-associative to existing

geometry, however, they must lie on either the top or bottom face of the
base feature when creating a secondary tab.
• You can use the add existing curves sketch option, but these curves can
not be originally created using the associative curve option. 4

Tab
Tab dialog box
There are two types of Tab features:

• The Base Tab will be available if there are no existing NX Sheet Metal
features.
• The Secondary Tab option is only available when any base feature exists
in the part.
You can create the profile using either the Sketch Section or Curve Section
options.
The Thickness section of the dialog box lets you input a thickness value or
use the global parameters.
4 Use Global Value
You can also use the Parameter Entry Options and create relationships
with other features.
See Also: Design®Modeling®Methods in Feature Modeling®Design

Logic Parameter Entry Options.
The Reverse Direction button lets you flip the vector direction.
Once the parameters for the Base Tab have been determined any Secondary
Tabs created will use the same thickness.

Tab
The image below shows the components of two different construction options
for Secondary Tab features.
1. The phantom curves indicate the original intersection edges for the part,
the single profile sketch curve was used to add material to the corner.
2. The open sketch profile was used to extend the original Base Tab feature.
Notice that the shortened curve extends towards the base feature.

Tab
Procedure: Tab creation
1. Start the NX Sheet Metal application.
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Tab .
3. From the Type list, click either Base or Secondary.
4. Select either an existing set of curves or click Sketch Section to create

the part profile.
5. Enter a Thickness parameter or accept the global value.

Secondary features will take on the material thickness of the base
4 feature.
6. Confirm any direction vectors.
7. Click OK.

Tab
Activity: Tab
In the Tab section, do the activity:

• Global Parameters and Tab Feature Creation

Tab
Summary: Tab
The completed base Tab feature is defined by the top and bottom primary
faces. This geometric structure is essential when creating additional
geometry.
In this lesson you:
• Became familiar with the Tab dialog box.
• Identified the key geometric elements necessary to create a Tab features.
• Created a Base Tab feature.

Metal®Creating sheet metal parts and features.
4

Lesson
5 Create and Edit Contour Flange
Purpose
The Contour Flange is a commonly used base feature. You can create a
series of planar and bend regions using a single sketch to create the profile.
Creating a base and secondary Contour Flange is the topic of this lesson.
Objectives
• Identify key geometric elements necessary to create a Contour Flange.
• Become familiar with the Contour Flange dialog box.

5
• Examine the procedures to create a Contour Flange.
• Create and edit a base Contour Flange feature.
• Create a secondary Contour Flange on a Tab.

Create and Edit Contour Flange
Contour Flange
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Contour Flange .

You can also choose Insert→Bend→Contour Flange.
The Contour Flange follows many of the same principals covered in the Tab
feature section of this course.
The image below shows the key components needed to create a Contour
Flange feature.
1. A planar sketch or section string used for the profile.
2. This vector shows the direction for the thickness of the part.
3. This vector shows the distance direction, based on the ZC sketch axis.
on the vector.

Listed below are some tips for creating a Contour Flange:

• The section string must be an open profile.
• You can create the profile with sharp corners and use the Bend
Parameters from the NX Sheet Metal Preferences or Contour Flange
dialog box to create any radii.
• For Secondary Contour Flanges the section string must be coincident

with the adjoining feature edge.
• For Secondary Contour Flanges arcs must be tangent with either the
intersecting base edge or linear curves used to create the string. Any arcs
that define the outer face of a bend region must have a radius greater
than the part thickness.

Contour Flange dialog box
The first three sections of the Contour Flange dialog box are similar to the
Tab dialog box.
There are two types of Contour Flange features:
• If there are no existing base features in the part the Base Contour Flange
will be the only option available.
• The Secondary Contour Flange option is only available when any base
feature exists in the part.
You can create the profile using either the Sketch Section or Curve Section
options.
Sketch on Path is the only sketch option available when creating

a Secondary Contour Flange.
The image below shows the sketch on path orientation, the sketch plane
5 will be perpendicular to the selected edge at that point.
See Also: Design®Sketcher®Create a sketch®Create a sketch on path

use the global parameters. Secondary features will maintain the thickness of
the base feature.
The Width section lets you set the extension type for width limits and enter
the width parameter for the distance the flange will extent from the section
string.
There are four types of Width extension options:
• Finite will extend a Contour Flange from the section string in the defined
direction the total distance entered into the Width box.
• Symmetric will extend a Contour Flange on either side of the section

string in equal amounts based on the distance entered.
The image below shows the contour flange extended equal amounts
on each side of the section string.
• To End will extend a Secondary Contour Flange from the section string
to the end of a single edge.
• Chain will extend a Secondary Contour Flange from the section string
along a defined edge path.
The Bend Parameters and Relief sections were covered in the preferences
and defaults lesson of this course.

The Miter section lets you miter the Start End and Finish End of the Contour
Flange.
There are three miter options available:
• The Miter Corners option will let you miter the Start End and Finish
End separately or together. You can also input the degree of angle for
this type of miter.
There are two Cutout options available for this type of miter:
– Normal to Thickness Face will miter the end of the contour flange
perpendicular to the thickness face. Usually used with Chained
Secondary Contour Flange around a Base Contour Flange.
The image below shows the Normal to Thickness Face miter
with a 60 degree angle.
– Normal to Source Face will miter the end of the contour flange
perpendicular to the source face. Usually used with Chained
Secondary Contour Flange around a Base Tab.
The Miter Using Normal Cutout Method and Miter Interior Corners When
Necessary will miter both ends of the secondary contour flange and the miter
angle will be 45 degrees.
• Miter Using Normal Cutout Method will create miters perpendicular to
the thickness face at corners and ensures that you can unbend and rebend
the contour flanges in your part. Note that this method removes more
material at the corners, so if you want water-tight flanges at the corners
and are not concerned about creating a flat pattern of this part, you may
prefer not to use this option
• Miter Interior Corners When Necessary will determine whether a miter

should be applied, and only comes into effect when the chain edges of a
contour flange span a bend region.

The Corner section of the dialog box lets you specify if you want to close
interior corners and the type of corner you want to use.
If you select the Close Corner check box, three options will become available:
Open applies no treatment
Closed closes the bent

faces of the flange until
the edges intersect. A
45 degree miter will be
applied to a portion of the
corner with a small gap
Circular Cutout creates
a hole in the bend area 5
of the corner. You must
specify a diameter for the
circle.

Procedure: Contour Flange creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Contour Flange .
4. Select either an existing set of Curves or click Sketch Section to create

the part profile.
5. Enter a Thickness parameter or accept the global value. Confirm the

features direction for both the direction and thickness values.
feature.
6. From the Width Option list, select the appropriate extent option.
5 7. Choose any additional options needed to create the feature.
8. Click OK.

Activity: Contour Flange
In the Contour Flange section, do the activity:

• Creating and Edit a Contour Flange
• Create a Secondary Contour Flange

Project: Secondary Contour Flange

In the Projects section, complete the Secondary Contour Flange exercise.

Summary: Contour Flange

The Contour Flange feature is one of the more flexible of the base feature
types. You can create unique parametric shapes not found in the other NX
Sheet Metal options.
In this lesson you:
• Learned the unique geometric qualities that define the base and secondary
Contour Flange.
• Were introduced to the creation dialog box and the components needed to
create a Contour Flange.
• Reviewed the procedures to create both a base and secondary Contour

Flange feature.
• Created a base Contour Flange.
• Created a secondary Contour Flange on a Tab.
See Also: Sheet Metal®NX Sheet Metal®Working in NX Sheet 5

Metal®Creating sheet metal parts and features

5
Lesson
6 Lofted Flange
Purpose
The Lofted Flange is also considered a base feature and serves as a parent for
additional NX Sheet Metal features. Creating a base and secondary Lofted
Flange are the topic of this lesson.
Objectives
• Identify the geometric elements necessary to create a Lofted Flange.
• Become familiar with the Lofted Flange dialog box.
• Examine the procedures to create a Lofted Flange.
• Create and edit a Lofted Flange. 6

Lofted Flange
Lofted Flange
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Lofted Flange .

You can also choose Insert→Bend→Lofted Flange.
The Lofted Flange feature is the only NX Sheet Metal base feature that
requires two open profile section strings.
An advantage of the Lofted Flange is that you can transition the feature
between dissimilar shapes and types of curves. However, there are some
restrictions during the mapping process, these will be covered later in the
lesson.
The image below shows the key components needed to create a Lofted Flange.
1. Two open profile planer sketches or section strings on parallel planes.
2. A defined start and end Section String Vertex for each section string.
3. A single direction vector to indicate the side of material.
on the vector.

Lofted Flange
Listed below are some tips for creating a Lofted Flange:

• Section strings must be on parallel planes and open profiles.
• Extremely dissimilar section strings may not line up causing the

operation to fail.
• It is recommended that you create any fillet curve geometry needed. The
inside bend radii must be greater than the material thickness for the
Lofted Flange to be created.
• Once you create an Internal Sketch for a Lofted Flange you can not
reverse the creation method and make the Sketch External to the feature.
• For a Secondary Lofted Flange the section string must intersect with
the adjoining feature edge.

Lofted Flange
Lofted Flange parameters
There are two types of Lofted Flange features:

• If there are no existing base features in the part the Base Lofted Flange
will be the only option available.
• The Secondary Lofted Flange option is only available when any base
feature exist in the part.
At this time, it is not recommended to use the Secondary Contour

Flange.
You will need to create a Start Section and an End Section for a single Lofted
Flange feature.
Once your sections are defined you can specify a point on each profile to line
up the profiles. Where you select during the string selection step will create
an implied point for mapping the two profiles. You can leave the point as is or
change it by selecting another point.
use the global parameters. Secondary features will maintain the thickness of
the base feature.

Lofted Flange
The Use Multi-segment bends allows you to divide the bend into segments.
Use the slider to specify the Number of Bend Segments. You can divide a
bend region into a maximum of 24 equal segments.

Lofted Flange
Procedure: Lofted Flange creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Lofted Flange .
4. For the Start Section select either an existing set of Curves or click
Sketch Section.
5. Accept the Start Point or select a new location.
6. Repeat steps five and six to define the End Section.
7. Enter a Thickness parameter or accept the global value.

feature.
8. Confirm any direction vectors.
9. Verify the Bend Parameters and Relief settings, you can either accept the
Global Parameters or override the values after you unchecked the global
6 option.
10. Click OK.

Lofted Flange
Activity: Lofted Flange
In the Lofted Flange section, do the activity:

• Create a Lofted Flange
• Edit the Lofted Flange
• Create a Multi-segment Lofted Flange

Lofted Flange
Summary: Lofted Flange

The Lofted Flange feature provides you with the ability to transition between
dissimilar parametric shapes.
In this lesson you:
• Learned the unique geometric qualities that define the Base and
Secondary Lofted Flange.
• Were introduced to the creation dialog box and the components needed
to create a Lofted Flange.
• Reviewed the procedure to create a Base Lofted Flange feature.
• Created and edited a Lofted Flange feature.


Lesson
7 Flange
Purpose
Create and edit Flange features.
Objectives
• Identify key geometric elements necessary to create a Flange.
• Examine the procedures to create a Flange.
• Create and edit Flange features.

Flange
Flange
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Flange .

You can also choose Insert→Bend→Flange.
The NX Sheet Metal Flange feature allows for the parametric control and
creation of a straight-brake Flange along a linear edge of any base feature.
In the previous lessons you created base features that allowed you to create
non standard profiles by using sketcher tools. You can modify a default profile
during the creation process.
Like secondary base features the thickness of the flange will be adopted from
the base feature.

Flange
The image below shows a default image of a Flange.

1. You must select a linear edge of an existing base feature.
You can create a Flange on a Secondary Tab or Lofted Flange
feature. You can also create a Flange on another flange.
2. The current dialog box defaults will create a preliminary sketch for the
profile.
3. Two direction vectors will be available to modify the position, you can
also modify the angle.

Flange
The Flange dialog box
The Base Edge section of the dialog box has only one requirement.
Select a linear Base Edge .

Once you select your linear edge the Section portion of the dialog box will
become available.
If you want to change the default profile, click Section .

This will bring you into the Sketch Task Environment where you can edit
the Flange profile.
The sketch orientation will be planar to the edge you selected for the
7 base edge. However, the orientation may be upsidedown since you are
not selecting a horizontal reference to help orient the sketch. You may
need to orient your view for a better work environment.
When using Sketcher to create your profile you may override other
parameters in the dialog box, such as length. In this case you can only
edit those parameters in the Sketch Task Environment.
Width will determine the position as well as the width of the Flange along
the linear edge of the base feature. Width required parameters will change
depending on the Width Option you select.
There are five Width Options.
• Full will extend the flange along the entire linear edge of the base
feature.

Flange
• At Center will position the flange at the center of the linear edge.
The Width of the flange will be extended an equal amount from the
theoretical center.
• At End will position the flange at a selected end point on the linear
edge.
1. Use Specify Point to indicate which end of the linear edge the flange
should start.
2. The Width of the flange will be extended along the linear edge starting
at the selected point.

Flange
• From Both Ends will position the flange at the center of the linear
edge. Use the Distance 1 and Distance 2 parameter boxes to determine
the Width of the flange, moving from each end of the linear edge towards
the center of the flange.
• From End will position the flange a desired distance from a selected
end point.
1. Use Specify Point to indicate which end of the linear edge the flange
should start the measured distance.
2. Use the From End parameter box to enter the distance the flange
should start.
3. Enter the Width to determine the amount the flange will extend.
7
Flange width options are not available for editing. It is
recommended that you select your width option with the overall
design intent of the part in mind.

Flange
Creating parametric relationships between sheet metal formed features and

the base feature is recommended to maintain design intent. Some of the
parameters needed in the Flange dialog box let you create either constant
values or use Parameter Entry Options to create these relationships.
The Flange Properties and Offset sections of the dialog box are two areas you
can create parametric relationships.
Flange Properties contains options that will define the overall shape of the
flange:
Length will determine the overall length and is required of all Flanges
created, the length value must be greater than zero.
Reverse Direction will flip the Flange 180 degrees in the opposite
direction.
Angle determines the angle of the Flange relative to the base feature,
acceptable values range from greater than zero to less than 180 degrees.
Additional Width parameter options will become available depending
on the type of width option you selected.

Flange
The Length Reference option will determine where the length measurement
is taken from in relation to the base feature.
The shaded area in the image below shows the Flange web area, this is the
portion of the flange that will adjust according to the Length Reference.
Other parameters involved in the formation of the Flange web include the
type of flange used, angle and bend parameters.
There are two Length Reference options available:

• The Inside reference will measure the overall length from the top or
inside bend face to the end of the flange web. This will create a longer
Flange web.
When using Inside the minimum overall length of the flange must
be greater than the Bend Radii.
7 • The Outside reference will measure the overall length from the bottom or
outside bend face to the end of the flange web. This will create a shorter
Flange web.
When using the Outside the minimum overall length of the flange
must be greater than the Bend Radii + Material Thickness.
Inset Options specify how far the flange is inset into the base part.
Material Inside will align the outside face with the
Material Inside edge of the base feature.
Material Outside will align the inside face with the
Material Outside edge of the base feature.
Bend Outside will attach the bend directly on the
Bend Outside end face of the base feature adding material, the
flange will be tangent to the planar face of the base
feature.

Flange
The Offset section of the dialog box lets you position the flange relative to the
base feature, only positive values can be used. This option will work with the
Bend Parameters and Relief sections of the dialog box.
The image below shows an Offset value added to the Bend Relief Depth
of a Flange that has been inset to the base feature.

Flange
Procedure: Flange creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Flange .
3. Select a linear edge .
4. To redefine the Flange profile, click Edit Sketch .
5. Select a Width Option.
6. Adjust the Flange Properties.
7. Enter an Offset value if needed.
8. Make any adjustments to the Bend Parameters and Relief options.
9. Click OK.

Flange
Bend relief options

The Relief dialog box specifies whether to apply bend relief to the source face
from which the feature is constructed. You can use round or square reliefs that
define the shape of the relief’s interior corners. You can also specify no relief.
You will need to determine the depth and length of the relief and if you want
the feature to extend to the edge of the part.
The Corner Relief option specifies that you want to apply corner relief to
features that are adjacent to and including the feature you’re constructing.
There are four corner relief options available:
• Bend Only will apply relief only to the bend portion of any adjacent
features.
• Bend / Face applies relief to both the bend and face portions of the
adjacent features.
• Bend / Face Chain applies relief to the entire chain of bends and
faces of the adjacent features.
• None will not attempt to apply any corner relief. This option will
create a small gap that is removed when a flat solid is created.

Metal®Creating sheet metal parts and features®Bend Parameters for
sheet metal features

Flange
The image below shows the bend parameters used in a flange feature.
1. Bend Radius refers to all inside bend radii applied to the feature, in the
example below the base feature and the flange feature used the default
value.
2. Relief Depth refers to the distance the relief will move inboard to
accommodate the feature. This measurement is taken from the edge of
the part to the center of the circular area.
3. Relief Width refers to the width of the relief, which will determine the
radii used for the relief. In the example below the relief diameter will
be three mm.

Flange
Edit Flange features

Much of the editing functionality for Flange features is the same functionality
you use when editing any feature in the NX Sheet Metal application.
• In the Part Navigator or graphics window, double-click directly on the
feature.
• Once you enter the editing mode the feature creation dialog box will
become available, any parameters used to create the feature can be edited.
You can also override global parameters during edit.
• The Width section will not be available for edit.
• You can relocate a Flange from one linear edge to another linear edge.
However, you will need to determine if any additional parametric
relationships need to be recreated or removed in order to complete the edit.

Flange
You can redefine the profile of a Flange using Sketcher tools.

Tips for redefining a Flange profile:
• Design intent will dictate maintaining parametric relationships that were
established during creation.
You can recreate the condition after the edit, however, you will need
to update all other features that share the same relationship.
• If you used the default Flange profile, these default curves will
automatically extract the current edge curves and project onto the sketch
plane. Some Inferred Constraints will be created to maintain the sketch
shape.
• In the Sketch Task Environment use the Show/Remove Constraints

option to remove any interfering Inferred Constraints that were created.
• Use the sketch Trim operators whenever possible when editing the original
sketch curves. This will help you maintain design intent by allowing you
to keep the original curves and their relationships intact.

Flange
Activity: Create a Flange

In the Flange section, do the activity:
• Create Flange features
• Create additional Flanges
Activity: Edit a Flange

In the Flange section, do the activity:
• Flange Edits
Project: Contour Flange

In the Projects section, complete the Contour Flange exercise.

Flange
Summary: Flange
The proper creation of Flange features is critical in sheet metal design. The
functionality introduced in this section will help you create Flanges that
are industry proper as well as allow you to create relationships and unique
profile designs.
In this lesson you:
• Learned the unique geometric qualities that define Flange features.
• Were introduced to the Flange creation dialog box and the components
needed to create Flange features.
• Reviewed the procedures to create and edit Flange features.
• Created some of the different types of Flange features.
• Edited Flange features.


Lesson
8 Bend Taper
Bend Taper
Purpose
Creating Bend Tapers will be the topic of this lesson.
Objectives
• Identify key geometric elements necessary to create a Bend Taper.
• Examine the procedures to create a Bend Taper.
• Create a Bend Taper feature.

Bend Taper
Bend Taper
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Bend Taper .

You can also choose Insert→Cut→Bend Taper.
Use the Bend Taper command to create tapered edges on the sides of
bend-web regions. You can also apply this feature to bend areas of flanges,
contour flanges, jogs, or to any other bend-web region. You can taper only the
bend region, only the web, or both.

Bend Taper
Bend Taper Dialog
The Bend Face section requires that you only select a face of a bend .
IIn the example below, the bend was selected and the system displays
what is defined as Side 1 and Side 2.

Bend Taper
Bend Taper options
Bend Face
Select Bend Lets you select the bend face that you
Face want to taper. The green arrows point in
the direction of the web areas that will be
tapered as well.
Taper Properties
Taper Sides Both lets you taper both ends of the
bend-web region, supplying different
values for each end.
Side 1 specifies that only the first side
is tapered. (Sides are identified in the
graphics window.)
Side 2 specifies that only the second side
is tapered.
Symmetric tapers both sides equally, so
Bend and Web Angle values are only
available for Taper Side 1.
Chaining Bend Only applies the same taper angle to
the bend face and web faces.
In the graphic, Symmetric is selected and
the taper angle is 15 degrees. The red
arrow points to the selected bend face.

Bend Taper
Bend/Face tapers the bend and adjacent

web face.
Bend/Face Chain tapers the bend and all

web and bend faces in the chain at the
same angle.

Bend Taper
Specifies that the web on the opposite side

of the bend region is tapered. This option
Reverse is only available if more than one choice
Direction is possible. In the following graphics, the
figure on the left shows the taper in the
default direction, and the figure on the
right shows the direction reversed.
8 Taper Angle Side 1

Bend Specifies the taper angle for the bend face.
Applies to both bend faces if Symmetric
is selected, and the first side if Side 1 is
selected.
Web Specifies a taper angle for the first side of
the web face.
Taper Angle Side 2 (only available if Both or Side 2 is
selected).
Bend Specifies the taper angle for the second
side of the bend face.

Bend Taper
Web Specifies a taper angle for the second side

of the web face.

Bend Taper
Procedure: Create a taper on a bend and web area
1. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, from the Cut list, select Bend Taper ,
or choose Insert®Cut®Bend Taper.
2. Select the bend face, as shown. The green arrows indicate the edges of the
bend and web areas that will be tapered.
3. Specify Taper Properties: indicate how you want the sides tapered, and
whether you want only the bend face, bend face and adjacent face, or
all chained bends and faces.
4. Supply taper angle values for the bend region and web region. If you
chose Both (not Symmetric) you need to supply taper and web angles
for Side 1 and Side 2.
5. Click OK.
In the following figure, Bend/Face and Both were selected, and Side 1
8 was tapered more than Side 2.

Bend Taper
Project: Bend Taper
In the Projects section, complete the Bend Taper exercise.

Bend Taper
Summary: Bend Taper

In this lesson you:
• Became familiar with the geometric elements necessary to create a Bend
Taper.
• Reviewed the procedures to create a Bend Taper.
• Created a Bend Taper.

Lesson
9 Hem Flange
Purpose
Create and edit Hem Flanges.
Objectives
• Identify key geometric elements necessary to create a Hem Flange.
• Examine the procedures to create a Hem Flange.
• Create and edit Hem Flange features.

Hem Flange
Hem Flange
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Hem Flange .

You can also choose Insert→Bend→Hem Flange.
You can create several different types of hem flanges using preset shapes.
hem flanges can be created on any linear or curved edge. It is not necessary
to only use a base feature edge.
There are seven preset profile Hem Flange types available:
Closed Open Loop
Open Closed Loop
S-Type Center Loop
Curl
9

Hem Flange
The Hem Flange dialog box
The hem flange dialog box input parameters will change depending on the
Type of hem flange you select.
The Edge to Hem section requires that you only select a Placement Edge
. You can select either a linear or circular edge.

In the example below a Centered Loop Hem Flange was placed on
the circular edge of a Tab feature.

Hem Flange
Hem Flange options

Inset Options specify how far the flange is inset into the base part.
Insets the hem flange into the base material such
Material Inside that the outside face of the web area is flush with the
selected edge.
Insets the hem flange into the base material such
Material Outside that the inside face of the web area is flush with the
selected edge.
Adds material to the selected edge to form the flange.
Bend Outside
Bend Parameters vary depending on the type of hem you select.
Flange Length Measures the length of the flange as shown in the
bitmap for that type of hem. For closed types, you
only specify one length. For loop, curl, and S-type
flanges, you specify two lengths.
Equal Radii Available for hems with two bends. Specifies that
the radii for both bends are equal.
Bend Radius Sets the radius of the bend for a given hem. For loop,
curl, and S-type hems, specify two radii.
Sweep Angle Available for open and centered curl-type hems.
Specifies the extent of the curl. The maximum value
is less than 360. The figures below show two open
loop hem flanges with sweep angles of 145 and 350
degrees, respectively.
The example below illustrates the S-Type Hem Flange and the different
9 variables you will need to create the feature.

Hem Flange
The Relief section lets you provide either a Square, Round or no relief.
The Miter section will let you create a simple miter.

Hem Flange
Procedure: Hem Flange creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Hem Flange .
3. From the Type list, select on of the preset shapes.
4. Select a Placement edge .
5. Enter the required Bend Parameters.
6. Make any adjustments to the Relief and Miter areas.
7. Click OK.

Hem Flange
Activity: Create and edit Hem Flanges
In the Hem Flange section, do the activity:

• Create and edit Hem Flanges

Hem Flange
Summary: Hem Flange

In this lesson you:
• Became familiar with the geometric elements necessary to create a Hem
Flange.
• Reviewed the procedures to create a Hem Flange.
• Created and edited Hem Flanges.

Lesson
10 Convert to Sheetmetal
Purpose
Convert to Sheetmetal is the topic of this lesson.
Objectives

• Identify the key elements of the Convert to Sheetmetal option.
• Understand when you would use the Convert to Sheetmetal.
10
Convert to Sheetmetal
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Convert to Sheetmetal .

You can also choose Insert→Convert→Convert to Sheetmetal.
The NX Sheet Metal application allows you to convert features created in
other CAD systems or legacy sheet metal data into a usable Base Sheet Metal
feature that you can then apply new NX Sheet Metal feature to or create a
Flat Solid from.
When you leave the NX Sheet Metal application the following warning
message will display.
Features added in the Modeling environment may not be properly

depicted in a flat pattern.
Some Modeling operations may make the sheet metal part unusable.
It is recommended that you create all your sheet metal parts using the NX
Sheet Metal application tools only. Creating data in other applications can
cause the part to break when using the Flat Solid operator. This is especially
true when creating features that will interfere with any bend region.
In particular the Boolean operations have difficulty translating math data.
Listed below are some tips for using Convert to Sheetmetal:
• Use this before you try to use Flat Solid on a part created in other CAD
systems or legacy sheet metal data.
• You can use the edge rip to prepare your geometry prior to conversion or
use the edge rip option available in the conversion dialog box.
• Bend Parameters will be applied to part features so you may need to

adjust those values on the Preferences dialog box Flat Pattern Treatment
page.
• Converted geometry will not display differently in the Part Navigator,

however, a Convert to Sheetmetal feature will be added to the timestamp
each time you use the operator.
• There are some Modeling application options available in the NX Sheet

Metal application, Extrude and Hole, that allow you to create additional
10 features without leaving the application.

Convert a solid model to a sheet metal part
1. Click Convert to Sheetmetal .
2. Select the part you want to convert.
3. Select a planar base face (preferably one that has tangent continuity
with the other faces in the model, or that will have after you rip edges).
4. Select the edges that you want to rip .
5. Click OK to complete the conversion.
If you unbend or flatten a part and then use Convert to Sheetmetal,

you cannot rebend the areas that were previously unbent.
Tips and techniques for using Convert to Sheetmetal

Successful conversion of a model into sheet metal largely depends on the
topology of the part and the base (seed) face you select. A face that has tangent
continuity with other faces in the model gives better results after conversion.
You can use the edge-rip option to achieve tangent continuous faces. 10
Summary: Convert to Sheetmetal

The Convert to Sheetmetal option is used to convert legacy data and features
created in other 3D systems to the NX Sheet Metal application.
In this lesson you:
• Identified the key elements of the Convert to Sheetmetal.
• Understand when you would use the Convert to Sheetmetal.
10
11
Lesson
11 Sheet Metal from Solid
Sheet Metal from Solid
Purpose:
Create Sheet Metal from Solid.
Objectives:
• Identify key geometric elements necessary to create a Sheet Metal from
Solid.
• Examine the procedures to create a Sheet Metal from Solid.
• Creating a Sheet Metal from Solid feature will be the topic of this lesson.

11
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Sheet Metal from Solid .

You can also choose Insert→Bend→Sheet Metal from Solid.
Use the Sheet Metal from Solid command to create a sheet metal part using
a solid to model it. The solid represents the inner void of an enclosure. You
select the faces from the solid to be panel (web) faces, and edges between the
faces to be bend regions. You specify bend properties, or use the ones you
established in NX Sheet Metal Preferences. The software creates the model
based on your inputs. You can then treat this part as you would any other
sheet metal part.
Complex geometry can make creating individual flanges cumbersome. The
Sheet Metal from Solid command greatly simplifies and streamlines this
process. It also provides a type of workflow familiar to users of I-deas Sheet
Metal.

11
Sheet Metal from Solid dialog
The Sheet Metal from Solid dialog box allows the user to select the Web
Faces and Bend Edges.
The Thickness section allows you to choose a thickness or use the global
value. The user can also choose the direction the material will be created..
You can select either a linear or circular edge.
The Bend Parameters section allows the user to choose a Bend Radius and
Neutral Factor or use the global value.
The Relief section allows the user to select from two types of relief or none. A
value for the relief can be entered or the user can use the global value.

11
Sheet Metal from Solid options
Web Faces
Select Web Faces Lets you select planar faces for your sheet metal
part. The faces do not have to belong to the same
body, but they must touch along linear edges. They
can belong either to sheet bodies or to solid bodies.
Bend Edges
Select Bend Edges Lets you select edges to be converted to bend
regions. When possible, the software determines
the bend edges automatically. If the location of bend
edges is ambiguous, you must select the desired
edges.
Thickness
Thickness Specifies the thickness of the sheet metal part. To
change it from the default, clear the Use Global
Value check box.
Thickens the part in the opposite direction.
Reverse Direction
Preview
Shows a preview of the result. Note that
Show Result for performance reasons, the preview is an
approximation only and may not exactly match the
resulting part.
You can also modify some of the default bend parameters. Some differences
exist between Sheet Metal from Solid bend parameters and the default bend
parameters:
• You cannot change the bend angle. It is inherited from the selected
geometry.
• Extend Relief is not available.
• Corner Relief is not available.

11
Procedure: Create a sheet metal part from a solid part
1. Create a solid part in Modeling. Surface features such as holes will be

reflected in the sheet metal part.
2. Open NX Sheet Metal.
3. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, from the Bend list, select Sheet Metal
from Solid , or choose Insert®Bend®Sheet Metal from Solid.
4. Select the web faces that you want to include in your sheet metal part.
As long as there is only one logical bend option, you see a preview of the
result. If you select faces where there is more than one choice of bends,
you get the following warning: Ambiguous bend edges must be resolved.
Select appropriate bend edges.
In this example, two faces are selected, and only one bend region is shared
between them, so you see a preview.
After the top face is selected, the preview disappears, and the warning
message appears.

11
5. Select bend edges. If you select an appropriate combination of faces and
edges (creating a part that can be flattened), the preview reappears.
6. By default, the sheet metal part is thickened on the outside of the solid
model. Reverse the direction to thicken it in the opposite direction.
7. Click OK to create the sheet metal part.

11
Here is the flat solid view of the same part.

11
Activity: Sheet Metal from Solid
In the Sheet Metal from Solid section, do the activity:

• Sheet Metal from Solid.

11
Summary: Sheet Metal from Solid
In this lesson you:
• Became familiar with the geometric elements necessary to convert Sheet
Metal from Solid.
• Reviewed the procedures to for Sheet Metal from Solid.
• Created Sheet Metal from Solid operation.

11
Lesson
12 Bend Region Control

12
Purpose
Managing sheet metal bend regions is the topic of this lesson.
Objectives
• Identify the key elements to Resize sheet metal options.
• Understand when you would use the Resize options.
• Resize bend radii and bend angles on a converted sheet metal part.

Bend Region Control
Resize Bend Radius
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Resize Bend Radius .

12 You can also choose Insert→Resize→Resize Bend Radius.
Use Resize Bend Radius to edit a converted sheet metal radius without
returning to the Modeling application and performing another Convert to
Sheet Metal.
When you bring in parts with the Convert to Sheet Metal command, you can
modify individual bend regions to suit the demands of the part
The Part Navigator below shows a combination of modeling and pre-NX
4 sheet metal features. The Convert to Sheet Metal feature should be
the last feature listed in your Part Navigator before using the Resize
Bend Radius option.
Model History
Block
SM Flange
SM Cutout
Bead
SB Convert to Sheet Metal
Resize Bend Radius

Bend Region Control
Procedure: Resize Bend Radius
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Resize Bend Radius . 12
3. For the Bend to Resize, select a cylindrical bend region .
4. In the Bend Parameters section, change the Bend Radius.
5. Click OK.

Bend Region Control
Resize Bend Angle
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Resize Bend Angle .

12
You can also choose Insert→Resize→Resize Bend Angle.
You can resize the bend angle of most sheet metal features that result in an
angled face or series of angled faces, including parts brought in using the
Convert to Sheet Metal command.
For manufacturing, you can visualize parts with bends in interim states
Resize Bend Angle gives you the option of adjusting the bend radius or the
web area of the feature.

Bend Region Control
Procedure: Resize Bend Angle
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Resize Bend Angle . 12
3. Select a Stationary Face
4. For the Bend to Resize, select a cylindrical bend region .
5. In the Bend Parameters section, change the Angle.
6. Optional: Select the Keep Radius Fixed check box, to maintain the
current bend radius and adjust only the web portion of the feature.
7. Click OK.

Bend Region Control
Resize Neutral Factor
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Resize Neutral Factor .

12 You can also choose Insert→Resize→Resize Neutral Factor.
The bend region Neutral Factor only affects the flattening of the model so you
may not notice any change to the part if it is in a formed state.

Bend Region Control
Activity: Resize
In the Bend Region Controls section, do the activity:

• Resize Bend Radius
12
• Resize Bend Angle

Bend Region Control
Summary: Resize
You can use the resize bend options to manage individual bend regions for
converted sheet metal parts or to show an interim manufacturing state.
12 In this lesson you:
• Identified the key elements to Resize sheet metal options.
• Reviewed when you would use the Resize options.
• Resized bend radii and bend angles on a converted sheet metal part.

Lesson
13 Flat Solid
Purpose 13
Flat Solid creation and functionality is the topic of this lesson.
Objectives

• Identify the key elements to create a Flat Solid.
• Review the procedure to create a Flat Solid.
• Create a Flat Solid.

Flat Solid
Flat Solid
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Flat Solid .

You can also choose Insert→Flat Pattern→Flat Solid.
Flat Solid allows you to create a Flat Solid for manufacturing in the same part
as the formed sheet metal part. This will allow you to create drawings with
views of both the formed and flattened version of the part on the same sheet.
13 The feature Additional Curves allows the user to include a 3–D curve to be
included in the Flat Pattern.
The user can control Outer Corner Properties and Inner Corner Properties
independently. This is helpful for tooling purposes.
In the Orientation group there is the option for Move to Absolute CSYS. This
option allows you to orient the flat solid/flat pattern so that it is oriented
properly with regards to absolute coordinates, rather than being oriented
with regards to the base face you select.

Flat Solid
Associativity
• Flat solids will be associative to the formed sheet metal version and will
be placed as the last feature in the Part Navigator. You will not be able to
reorder the Flat Solid to exclude a feature.
• Flat solids will update to include additional NX Sheet Metal features that
are added to the formed component, however, any deformation features
added with retain their formed shape.
• Changes made to the Flat Solid will not update on the formed body. The
13
Flat Solid feature is considered an end-state feature.
Modeling tips
• Not all NX toolbars are available in the NX Sheet Metal application, if

you create a feature not normally accessible in the application you may
have difficulty using Flat Solid.
• It is a good idea to generate a Flat Solid periodically during the design

process, this is especially true when the product is a complex shape.
Lofted Flange and Flat Solid
• Because Lofted Flanges allow you to transition dissimilar shapes, the

complexity of the input geometry will determine if you can use Flat Solid.
• When creating Lofted Flanges try to match the input geometries curve
segments, angle and if possible curve type. This will improve your chances
of creating a flat solid from the Lofted Flanges.

Metal®Sample sheet metal workflows®Showing both formed and flat
solids on a drawing

Flat Solid
Procedure: Flat Solid creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Flat Solid .
3. On the formed sheet metal part, select the Reference Face .
13 This will establish the plane the remaining features will lie on once
they are flattened.
4. Select a Reference Edge

This will establish your horizontal reference direction and must be
one of the edges from the reference face.
5. To position the feature at absolute, select the Move to Absolute CSYS

check box.
6. Click OK.
Although you can select non linear reference geometry to create a Flat
Solid, the resultant feature will not create a reference plane tangent to
the non linear face or edge you selected.

Flat Solid
Summary: Flat Solid

Flat Solid will physically alter your part in shape and material attributes.
You can use this function to prepare your part for manufacturing.
In this lesson you:
• Identified the key elements necessary to create a Flat Solid.
• Examined the procedures used to create a Flat Solid.
• Created a Flat Solid.

13

Metal®Sample sheet metal workflows®Flattening lofted flanges

13
Lesson
14 Flat Pattern
Purpose
Flat Pattern creation and functionality is the topic of this lesson.
Objectives
• Identify the key elements to create a Flat Pattern. 14

• Review the procedure to create a Flat Pattern.

Flat Pattern
Flat pattern
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Flat Pattern .

You can also choose Insert→Flat Pattern→Flat Pattern.
Flat Patterns are derived from an existing Flat Solid and are commonly used
to create shop drawings or for export to machine tools that cut out the blank
shape or perform the bending
The recommended translator for exporting flat patterns to tools is 2D
Exchange. Choose File→Export→2D Exchange.
14

Flat Pattern
Listed below are some tips for creating a Flat Pattern:

• You can only view the Flat Pattern result in the Model Views.
• You do not need to create a Flat Solid first, the Flat Pattern option will
automatically create the Flat Solid for you.
Flat Solid
Flat Pattern (61)
• The Part Navigator Model view will display the same feature number
as the Flat Pattern feature.
Flat-Pattern-61 14
Front
• If you delete the Flat Pattern feature the Model view will also be deleted.
• You can add the drawing view onto a drawing sheet for drafting.

Flat Pattern
Flat Pattern preferences
You can control corner treatment options and display options for flat patterns.
Choose Preferences→NX Sheet Metal.
The Flat Pattern Treatments page lets you determine if additional Corner
treatment options or simplification options for b-splines should be performed
on your part during the flat pattern operation.
The Flat Pattern Display page lets you change the default color, font and layer
options for the Model view.
The feature Additional Curves allows the user to include a 3–D curve to be
included in the Flat Pattern.
In the Settings group there is the option for Show Interior Feature Curves.
14 This allows the user to show interior features such as Dimples or Louvers.

Flat Pattern
Procedure: Flat Pattern creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Flat Pattern .
3. For the Upward Face select a planar face .

This will establish the plane the remaining features will lie on once
they are flattened.
4. Click OK.
5. In the Part Navigator expand the Model Views node. 14

6. Double-click on the Flat-Pattern_# view to make it the work view.

Flat Pattern
Activity: Flat Pattern

In the Flat Solid and Flat Pattern section, do the activity:
• Create a Flat Solid and Flat Pattern
Project: Flat Pattern

In the Projects section, complete the Flat Pattern exercise.
14

Flat Pattern
Summary: Flat Pattern

Flat Pattern lets you incorporation system and user defined elements into a
Model view and a drawing sheet for use in the manufacturing process.
In this lesson you:
• Identified the key elements necessary to create a Flat Pattern.
• Examined the procedures used to create a Flat Pattern.

14

14
Lesson
15 Bending sheet metal
Purpose
Creating and editing formable bend features from planar base features will
be the topic of this lesson.
Objectives

• Identify the key elements and conditions to create Bend features.
• Review the procedure to create Bend features. 15

• Create bend features and modify the formed sheet metal using the
Unbend and Rebend.

Bending sheet metal
Bend
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Bend .

You can also choose Insert→Bend→Bend.
Bend options will allow you to bend a planar base feature into a formed sheet
metal part.
15

Bending sheet metal
Listed below are some tips to create and edit Bend features:
• The section string must be a single linear curve and intersect with the
edges of the part.
If your sketch curve does not intersect with the feature edges,
select the Extend Section check box to extend the sketch curve to
the edges.
If your sketch curve is collinear with an adjacent edge the Bend

Parameters Bend Radius will run off to include adjacent edges.
15
• The overall length of the Bend feature is calculated by the Inset option
used and the Bend Parameters chosen.
• The Inset option you select determines the amount of the feature profile
distributed between the cylindrical bend region and the web area of the
Bend flange.
• Use Flat Solid as a design check.
• When you edit a Bend feature you can select it from the Part Navigator or
double-click on the cylindrical bend region in the graphics window.

Bending sheet metal
Bend dialog box
The Bend Line section of the dialog box has only one requirement, Select
Curve.
You can create the profile using either the Sketch Section or Curve options.
The Bend Properties section of the dialog box is where you will define the
shape of the bend feature.
Use the Angle box to enter the angle you need. This value must be greater
than zero and less than 360 degrees.
Reverse Direction will flip the direction of the Bend 180 degrees. Reverse
Side will switch the side of the part that will move to create the bend.
In the image below the feature will bend from the axis flush to the top
face of the feature towards the preview image.
15

Bending sheet metal
There are five Inset options:
1. Outer Mold Line Profile will create and position the Bend starting
the full length of the feature with the first tangent edge of the bend radii
and using the remaining profile length to create the web.
In a flattened state the entire feature profile will be completely outside
of the base feature profile.
2. Bend Center Line Profile will create and position the Bend starting
the full length of the feature at the center of the bend radii and using the
remaining profile length to create the web.
In a flattened state the cylindrical bend portion of the feature will be
centered on the edge of the base feature profile.
3. Inner Mold Line Profile will create and position the Bend starting
the full length of the feature with the second tangent edge of the bend
radii and using the remaining profile length to create the web. 15
In a flattened state the cylindrical bend portion of the feature will be
completely inside of the base feature profile.
The image below shows the formation for the first three Inset
options. The theoretical line at the bottom of the image indicates
the plane of the sketch curve.
1: Outer Mold Line 2: Bend Center Line 3: Inner Mold Line

Profile Profile Profile

Bending sheet metal
4. Material Inside will align the outside face of the Bend with the edge of
the base feature, using the remaining material to create the web portion
of the bend.
15
5. Material Outside option will align the inside face of the Bend with the
edge of the base feature, using the remaining material to create the web
portion of the bend

Bending sheet metal
Extend Section will extend the section curve until it intersects with the edges
of the part.
In the example below the image on the left shows the sketch curve does
not extend to the edge of the part. By selecting the Extend Section
check box the image on the right shows that the bend feature expanded
the entire width of the planar face.
Extend Section is available for many NX Sheet Metal feature options.
15

Bending sheet metal
Create a Bend
1. Click Bend .
2. Define the profile plane.
3. Draw a profile. The profile, which must be a single linear element,

represents the approximate location of the bend.
4. Define the bend location with respect to the profile.
5. To change the bend angle, drag the angle handle or enter a value in the
input field.
15
6. Specify the side of the part to move. The direction arrow points towards
the portion that will move.
To change the direction, double-click the direction arrow.

Bending sheet metal
7. Define the bend direction. To change the bend direction, double-click

the direction arrow.
15
8. Click OK to finish the feature.

Bending sheet metal
Activity: Bend
In the Bending Sheet Metal section, do the activity:

• Bend Features
15

Bending sheet metal
Unbend
Unbend will let you unbend individual bend regions so you can apply cutouts
and holes in the flattened state.
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Unbend .

You can also choose Insert→Form→Unbend.
15

Bending sheet metal
Listed below are some tips for Unbend creation:

• Use Unbend instead of Flat Solid to create additional geometry, such as a
hole or cutout, in a flat geometric state.
• When selecting the Stationary Face you must select a planar face. The
stationary face will determine the direction of the unbend.
• When selecting the Bend Face you must select a cylindrical bend region.
The web portion of the bend feature will be planar with the stationary face.
15
• You can Unbend multiple features without exiting the dialog box.
• Unbend can be used on all bend regions created using any type of bend
feature including flanges.

Bending sheet metal
Procedure: Unbend
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Unbend .
3. For the Stationary Face, select a planar face .
4. For the Bend select a cylindrical Bend face .
5. Click OK.
15

Bending sheet metal
Rebend
Rebend will let you Rebend individual bend regions that have previously
been modified with Unbend.
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Rebend .

You can also choose Insert→Form→Rebend.
15
Listed below are some tips for Rebend creation:

• Use Rebend to place a feature back into its formed state after an Unbend
has been performed.
The Rebend option will not work on a Flat Solid.
• When selecting the faces you wish to Rebend you must select a cylindrical
bend region.
• You can Rebend multiple features without exiting the dialog box.

Bending sheet metal
Procedure: Rebend
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Rebend
3. For the Bend select a cylindrical Bend face .
15
4. Click OK.

Bending sheet metal
Activity: Unbend and Rebend
In the Bending Sheet Metal section, do the activity:

• Unbend and Rebend
15

Bending sheet metal
Summary: Bending sheet metal

Bend Features allows you to create the formable shape of sheet metal parts
from the manufacturing or flattened position.
In this lesson you:
• Identified the key elements and conditions to create bend features.
• Became familiar with bend feature dialog boxes.
• Created bend features and modified the formed sheet metal using the
Unbend and Rebend options.

15

15
Lesson
16 Sheet Metal Corners
Purpose
The three types of corner creation methods will be the topic of this Lesson.
Objectives

• Identify the key elements and conditions to create the three types of
sheet metal corners.
• Become familiar with the corner dialog boxes.
• Create and the three types of corner features.
16

Sheet Metal Corners
Closed Corner
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Closed Corner .

You can also choose Insert→Corner→Closed Corner.
Closed Corner will modify two flanges in one operation to create just a corner
relief or create a corner relief and close the gap between the flanges.
As a best practice apply bend and corner relief elements before you
create a Closed Corner, this way you start with a clean corner.
16

Sheet Metal Corners
Closed Corner dialog box
The Type section has two choices, Close and Relief and Relief. The Relief
option will not allow the user to choose the treatment options Open and
Closed. However when the user chooses Close and Relief all options are
available.
The Bends to Close section of the dialog box has only one requirement,
Select Adjacent Bends. You will need to select two adjacent bend regions.
The Corner Properties section of the dialog box is where you will define the
shape of the corner feature.
There are six types of corner Treatment options:
• Open will leave the bend portion of the flange in its original state and
extend the web regions to close the corner.
• Closed will close the interior walls the entire flange feature so they meet
edge to edge. A 45 degree miter will be applied to a portion of the corner
with a small gap.
• Circular Cutout will create a hole in the bend area of the corner. You will
need to enter a Diameter for this option.
• U Cutout will create a “U” shaped relief in the bend area.
• V Cutout will create a “V” shaped relief in the bend area. 16

• Rectangular Cutout will create a rectangular shaped relief in the bend
area.
Open Closed Circular Cutout
U Cutout V Cutout Rectangular Cutout

Sheet Metal Corners
Overlap will determine the shape for the web portion of the flange.
There are two Overlap options:
• Closed will close the flange feature meeting edge to edge.
• Overlapping will overlap one flange web over the other flange web.
You must use either a Gap or Overlap Ratio to determine the
distance between the two flange webs.
You can now predict the overlap based off of what bend you pick
first. The bend that is selected second will be the one on top.
There are three areas where the parameters will be specified:

• Gap will create a gap between the corner treatment and the adjacent
flanges, this value can not be greater than the material thickness.
Even if the Gap value is zero a small gap will be created to avoid a
non-manifold condition.
• Diameter is available with the Circle Cutout Relief Option.
• Overlap Ratio is used with the Overlap corner option and will force
one flange feature to extend towards the outer wall of the second flange
feature. The value must be between zero and one
16 The image below is of an Overlapping Closed Corner with a 1 mm
Gap and an Overlap Ratio of 1.
The Relief Properties section has choices that varies depending on what
type of Treatment is chosen.

Sheet Metal Corners
Bend Center locates the center point

at the intersection of the bisection
of the corner angle between the two
Origin specifies the location of the bends and the centerline of the first
relief’s center point bend you picked.
Corner Point locates the center point
at the intersection of the inner bend
lines.
Specifies the diameter of the cutout.
The Legend illustrates how the
Diameter
diameter is measured for each relief
type.
Specifies an offset from the origin of
the cutout. A positive value moves
the origin away from the edges of the
part. In the following graphics, the
Offset
figure on the left has no offset, the one
in the middle has an offset of 10 mm,
and the one on the right a negative
offset of –5 mm.
V Cutout only: specifies the angles of
the sides of the V measured from the
Angle 1 and Angle 2
bisection of the corner angle between
the two bends.
Rectangular Cutout only: specifies
Length and Width the length and width of the sides of 16
the rectangle.

Sheet Metal Corners
Procedure: Closed Corner creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Closed Corner .
3. For the Bends to Close , select two adjacent bend regions.
4. Define the Corner Properties.
5. Click OK.
16

Sheet Metal Corners
Activity: Closed Corners
In the Sheet Metal Corners section, do the activity:

• Create Closed Corners
16

Sheet Metal Corners
Three Bend Corner

Three Bend Corner will let you close corners where three bends meet. The
sweep angle and bend radii must be equal.
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Three Bend Corner .

You can also choose Insert→Corner→Three Bend Corner.
16

Sheet Metal Corners
Three Bend Corner dialog box
The Bends to Close section of the dialog box has only one requirement,
Select Adjacent Bends. You will need to select two adjacent bend regions.
The Corner Properties section of the dialog box is where you will define the
shape of the corner feature.
There are three types of Treatment options:
• Open will leave the bend portion of the flange in its original state and
extend the web regions to close the corner.
• Closed will close the interior walls the entire flange feature so they meet
edge to edge. A 45 degree miter will be applied to a portion of the corner
with a small gap.
• Circular Cutout will create a hole in the bend area of the corner. Use the
Diameter input field for this option.
Open Closed Circular Cutout
16

Sheet Metal Corners
Create a Three Bend Corner
To close a 3-bend corner:
1. Click Three Bend Corner .
2. Choose the type of corner you want: Open , Closed , or Circular

Cutout .
3. Select the first outer bend.
4. Select the second bend.

16
5. Click OK or Apply to close the corner.

Sheet Metal Corners
Activity: Three Bend Corner

• Three Bend Corner
16

Sheet Metal Corners
Break Corner
Break Corner will let you place either a constant blend radius or a 45 degree
chamfer on sharp edges.
Break Corner will automatically filter the inputs to select only thickness edges
or planar top and bottom faces of base features, including planar flange faces.
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Break Corner .

You can also choose Insert→Corner→Break Corner.
16

Sheet Metal Corners
Break Corner dialog box
The Edges to Break section of the dialog box has only one requirement,
Edge to Break.
You will need to select either a thickness edge or planar faces. If you select a
planer face to apply the break corner, all edges on the face will have the break
applied. If there are no sharp edges on a face it will not be selectable.
The Break Properties section of the dialog box is where you will define the
shape of the break feature.
There are two types of break Methods available:
• Blend will apply a constant value blend. You will need to enter a Radius
for the blend.
• Chamfer will create a 45 degree chamfer. The Distance value you enter
will extend that distance along each edge and then apply the chamfer.
It is recommended that you apply all of your Break Corners at the
same time towards the end of your design and in the formed state.
16

Sheet Metal Corners
Procedure: Break Corner creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Break Corner .
3. For the Edge to Break , select either edges or select section.
4. Define the Break Properties.
5. Click OK.
16

Sheet Metal Corners
Activity: Break Corner

• Break Corner
16

Sheet Metal Corners
Summary: Break Corner

Corner features can assist you with the final creation steps of your design
for smoothing and blending sharp corners; without the need to enter the
Modeling application.
In this lesson you:
• Identified the key elements and conditions to create the three types of
sheet metal corners.
• Became familiar with the corner dialog boxes.
• Created the three types of corner features.

16

Lesson
17 Edge Rip
Purpose
Edge Rip as an independent feature to allow for additional model

development is the topic of this Lesson.
Objectives

• Identify the key elements and conditions to create an Edge Rip.
• Become familiar with the Edge Rip dialog box.
• Create an Edge Rip feature.
17

Edge Rip
Edge Rip
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Edge Rip .

You can also choose Insert→Convert→Edge Rip.
Edge Rip will create a rip either along an edge or positioned within
the features interior. This will allow portions of a single feature to act
independently of the other.
This feature is also available on the Convert to Sheetmetal dialog box.
17

Edge Rip
Edge Rip dialog box
The Edge to Rip dialog box consists of selecting the type of geometry you
want to use to rip.
There are two types of geometry you can select.
• Select Edge lets you select an existing edge.
• Select Section lets you Sketch a Section or select an existing Curve
.
All curves must be linear open profile curves.
In the image below, an open profile sketch was used to rip the existing
flange a bend feature was then added.
17

Edge Rip
Procedure: Edge Rip creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Edge Rip .
3. Use either Select Edge or Select Section to create the profile.
4. Click OK.
17

Edge Rip
Activity: Edge Rip
In the Edge Rip section, do the activity:

• Create Edge Rips
17

Edge Rip
Summary: Edge Rip

Using Edge Rip will help define non uniform sheet metal parts and give
you more flexibility within the tool.
In this lesson you:
• Identified the Key elements and conditions to create an edge rip feature.
• Created an edge rip.

17

Lesson
18 Jog
Purpose
Creating a Jog feature to allow for multiple ninety degree bends is the topic
of the Lesson.
Objectives

• Identify the key elements and conditions to create a Jog feature.
• Become familiar with the Jog dialog box.
• Create multiple Jog features.
18

Jog
Jog
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Jog

You can also choose Insert→Bend→Jog.
A single Jog feature will create two 90 degree bend areas.
18

Jog
Jog dialog box

The Jog Line section of the dialog box has only one requirement, Select
Curve.
Use Extend Section in the Jog Properties section to extend a shortened
sketch curve to meet the edges of the planer face.
18

Jog
The Jog Properties section of the dialog box is where you will define the
shape of the Jog feature.
Enter the overall height of the jog in the Height box.
Reverse Direction will flip the direction of the bend 180 degrees. Reverse
Side will switch the side of the part that will move to create the jog.
The Height Reference option will determine where the overall height
measurement is taken.
There are two Height Reference options:
• Inside will take the height measurement from the sketch profile to the
bottom face of the second jog.
• Outside will take the height measurement from the sketch profile to the
top face of the second jog.
In the following example shows how Inside and Outside Height

Reference are measured.
18

Jog
There are three Inset options:

1. Material Inside will align the outside face with the edge of the base
feature.
2. Material Outside will align the inside face with the edge of the base
feature.
3. Bend Outside will attach the bend directly on the end face of the base
feature adding material, the feature will be tangent to the planar face
of the base feature.
In the image below the theoretical line represents the original edge of
the base feature the flange is attached to.
1: Material Inside 2: Material Outside 3: Bend Outside
For the Bend Parameters section you can use Global Values or enter an
appropriate value for the Bend Radius and Neutral Factor. The Relief section
lets you set any relief options necessary if your Jog feature extends to an
interior section of the part.
18

Jog
Procedure: Jog
To create a Jog on a tab, or a planar region of a contour flange or lofted flange:
1. Click Jog .
2. Define the profile plane—select the face you want to jog on.
3. Draw a profile or pick one to serve as the Jog Line. The profile must
be a single linear element.
18

Jog
4. If necessary, click on the drag handle to define the direction you want
to jog. The drag handle should point toward the portion of the part you
want to move. (The following figures illustrate the results produced by
selecting different jog directions.)
5. Specify the height of the jog.
6. Click OK to finish the feature.
18

Jog
Activity: Jog
In the Jog section, do the activity:
• Create Jog Features
18

Jog
Summary: Jog
Jog features allow you to create multiple bends on the planar face of any
type of sheet metal feature
In this lesson you:
• Identified the key elements and conditions to create a Jog feature.
• Became familiar with the Jog dialog box.
• Created Jog features.

18

18
Lesson
19 Sheet Metal cutouts
Purpose
Creating sheet metal cutouts will be the topic of this Lesson.
Objectives
• Identify the key elements and conditions to create a Normal Cutout

features.
• Become familiar with the feature dialog box.
• Create Normal Cutout features.
19

Sheet Metal cutouts
Sheet Metal cutouts
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Normal Cutout .

You can also choose Insert→Cut→Normal Cutout.
Sheet Metal cutouts let you create unique shapes in order to remove material
from a formable or flat solid sheet metal part.
Cutout features are generally added to a sheet metal part after all bend
geometry has been created.
There are two methods available to create planar Cutouts:
• Use Normal Cutout to create cuts where the thickness faces

always maintain their perpendicularity to the top and bottom faces of
your part.
19

Sheet Metal cutouts
• Extruded Body will create a cutout that is normal to the plane or

surface the profile section curves were created on.
The Extruded Body cutout will allow you to create the extrusion in two
directions as well as place draft on the tool solid.
However, you will not be able to maintain a constant sheet metal thickness
if the section curves are not created parallel to the faces you wish the
cutout to go through.
19

Sheet Metal cutouts
Listed below are some tips for creating Normal Cutouts:

• Your section string profile can be either open or closed.
• You can create your section curves or sketch on a plane other then the
faces that will hold the cutout.
• Overbuild your cutout sections when removing material that extends

beyond the edge of the part, this will ensure a clean edge result.
• Bend Parameter and Relief options are not available, it is recommended

that you create your sketch curves to include all required radii for your
part.
• Linear cutout edges can be used to create additional features such as a

Secondary Contour Flange.
• You can now use 3D curves to create a Normal Cutout feature. Previously,
you could only use planar curves.
19

Sheet Metal cutouts
Normal Cutout dialog box

The Section portion of the dialog box has only one requirement, Select Curve.
The Cutout Properties section of the dialog box is where you will define the
shape of the feature.
There are two types of Cut Methods.
• Thickness Cut compensates for the material thickness of the part by

projecting the profile onto both layer faces, inner and outer (top/bottom),
then thickening the resulting surface into a solid tool, and removing the
tool from the base part
• Mid-Plane Cut projects the profile onto the mid-plane of the sheet metal
part, then thickens the resulting surface into a tool body.
Usually Thickness Cut consumes more material than Mid-Plane, the
projection onto a plane further away then the mid-plane of the part
provides for a larger cutout area.
19
Thickness Cut Mid-Plane Cut

Sheet Metal cutouts
There are four types of Limits.

• Value lets you define the extent of the cutout manually, either by dragging
the depth handle or by entering the distance in the Depth box.
Use Reverse Direction to flip the cutout 180 degrees.
Symmetric Depth is only available if you select Value. This option creates
a cut area symmetric in both directions from the section plane.
In the example below, a single internal sketch was created on
a mid-plane and the Normal Cutout created using the Value
Symmetric Depth option.
If the walls of the part move the plane and therefore sketch will
adjust accordingly.
The Value Depth must be greater than the total length of the part.
19

Sheet Metal cutouts
• Between will allow you to define the depth by selecting existing datum
planes or faces the cutout will project through.
The planes and/or faces do not need to be parallel to each other, however,
they must be able to intersect at some point in space.
• Until Next will extend the cutout from the section creation plane to the
next planar face encountered.
• Through All extends the cutout through the whole part.
19

Sheet Metal cutouts
Create a Normal Cutout using a sketch

1. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar from the Cut list, select Normal
Cutout , or choose Insert®Cut®Normal Cutout.
2. In the Type list, select Sketch.
3. Draw a profile, or select a section from an existing sketch.

• A closed profile defines the cutout.
• An open profile displays a direction handle that is perpendicular to the

open profile and co-planar with the sketch. Use this handle to specify
which side of the profile to cut. The following figure shows the effects
of reversing the direction handle.
19

Sheet Metal cutouts
The curves of the open profile are extended tangentially until they
intersect themselves to create a closed profile, or until they intersect
the edge of the part.
4. From the Cut Method list, select the type of cut you want to make:
Thickness or Mid-Plane.
5. From the Limits list, specify the extent of the material you want to
remove. If you select Value, you can select the Symmetric Depth check
box to specify that you want to create a cut area symmetric in both
directions from the sketch plane.
6. Click OK to create the Normal Cutout feature.
19

Sheet Metal cutouts
Activity: Cutouts
In the Sheet metal cutouts section, do the activity:
• Create cutouts
• Normal cutout
Project: Unbend, Cutout, and Rebend

In the Projects section, complete the Unbend, Cutout, and Rebend exercise.
19

Sheet Metal cutouts
Summary: Cutouts
Sheet metal cutouts allow you to create unique shapes in order to remove
material from a formed or flat solid sheet metal part. The Normal Cutout
feature will remove material normal to the part while maintaining uniform
thickness requirements.
In this lesson you:
• Identified the key elements and conditions to create cutout features.
• Became familiar with the feature dialog boxes.
• Created Normal Cutouts..

19

19
Lesson
20 Dimple
Purpose
Punch type features are commonly used with sheet metal design. Dimple
creates an indentation in the sheet metal surface and is the topic of this
lesson.
Objectives
• Identify the key elements and conditions needed to create a Dimple.
• Become familiar with the Dimple dialog box.
• Create a Dimple feature.
• Create parametric relationships using Parameter Entry Option with the

parent feature.
20
Dimple
Dimple
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Dimple .

You can also choose Insert→Punch→Dimple.
Dimple features let you create enclosed parametric indentions on the planar
face of most sheet metal features.
The Dimple can not be flattened using Flat Solid.
Listed below are some tips for creating Dimples:

• Section strings must be a closed profile.
• You can use a combination of curves and edges to create the closed profile.
If you create an open profile where the curves do not intersect
the outer edges of the part, the software extends the ends of the
profile curves tangentially until they either intersect one another or
intersect the edges of the part.
20
Dimple
Dimple dialog box
The Dimple Properties section of the dialog box is where you will define the
Enter the Depth in the parameter box. This is used with Depth Reference to
determine the total depth of the Dimple.
Use Reverse Direction . or double-click on the depth vector, to flip the

feature direction 180 degrees.
20
Dimple
Depth Reference will determine how material is offset vertically from the
planar placement face of the section string.
There are two Depth Reference options:
• Inside will take the depth reference measurement from the sketch
profile to the inside face of the dimple.
• Outside will take the depth reference measurement from the sketch
profile to the outside face of the dimple.
20
Dimple
Use Side Angle if you need to place a taper on the side walls of the feature.
The angle is measured relative to the default sidewall angle of 90 degrees.
Side Wall options will determine the placement of the side wall relative to
the profile section.
There are two Sidewall Material options:
• Material Inside specifies that the sidewalls are constructed so that

they lie inboard of the profile.
• Material Outside specifies that the sidewalls are constructed so that

they lie outboard of the profile.
In the image below the Dimple side wall parameters used are a Side
Angle of 6 mm with the Side Walls positioned Material Outside.
20
Dimple
The Rounding section of the dialog box lets you establish the three types
of radii you can use.
Select the Round Dimple Edges check box if you want to place a Punch
Radius and a Die Radius on the Dimple.
If you use the value of zero for the Die Radius the system will create a
default radius equal to the material thickness.
Select the Round Section Corners check box if you want to create a Corner
Radius.
You can also create the corner radii when you create the profile for the Dimple.
The image below shows the three types of radii you can place on the
Dimple.
1. Punch Radius
2. Die Radius
3. Corner Radius
Within the Dimple dialog box is the group Validation Parameters. The
Validation Parameters section of the dialog lets you establish a Minimum Tool
Clearance required by the punching tool between features.
A Checkmate license is required to run this validation.
20
Dimple
Procedure: Dimple creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Dimple .
3. Select either an existing curve or click Sketch Section to create the profile.
4. Enter a value for the Depth.
5. Define the Depth Reference.
6. Optional: Enter a value for the Side Angle.
7. Define the Side Wall position.
8. Define the Rounding options.
9. Verify the vector directions.
10. Click OK.
20
Dimple
Activity: Dimple
In the Dimple section, do the activity:

• Create a Dimple feature
20
Dimple
Summary: Dimple
Using the Named Expressions created by the parent feature helps to
maintain parametric relationships with additional sheet metal features. In
this lesson you created that relationship between the Dimple and the base
Tab feature.
In this lesson you:
• Identify the key elements and conditions needed to create a Dimple.
• Became familiar with the Dimple dialog box.
• Created a Dimple feature.
• Created parametric relationships using Parameter Entry Option with

the parent feature.


Metal®Sample sheet metal workflows®Using punched features
20
20
21
Lesson
21 Drawn Cutout
Purpose
Drawn Cutout is considered another type of sheet metal punch feature and is
the topic of this Lesson.
Objectives

• Identify the key elements and conditions needed to create a Drawn Cutout.
• Become familiar with the Drawn Cutout dialog box.
• Create a Drawn Cutout feature.
• Create a parametric relationship using Parameter Entry Option with

the parent feature.

Drawn Cutout
21
Drawn Cutout
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Drawn Cutout .

You can also choose Insert→Punch→Drawn Cutout.
Similar to the Dimple the Drawn Cutout will also create a parametric
indentation on a planar face of most sheet metal features. However, the
Drawn Cutout will not retain the bottom face of the feature.
The Drawn Cutout can not be flattened using Flat Solid.
Listed below are some tips to create a Drawn Cutout:

• Section strings must be a closed profile.
• You can use a combination of curves and edges to create the closed profile.
In the example below the profile was created using a combination of
lines, arcs and an existing edge.

Drawn Cutout
21
Drawn Cutout dialog box
The Cutout Properties section of the dialog box is where you will define the
Enter the total depth of the cutout in the Depth box.
Use Reverse Direction . or double-click on the depth vector, to flip the

feature direction 180 degrees.
If you enter a depth greater than the material thickness of the parent
geometry the feature will start the measurement from the placement
face the section strings are created on. The image below shows a Drawn
Cutout feature where the depth is greater than the material thickness.
Use Side Angle if you need to place a taper on the side walls of the feature.
The angle is measured relative to the default sidewall angle of 90 degrees.
Side Wall options will determine the placement of the side wall relative to
the profile section.
There are two Sidewall Material options:
• Material Inside specifies that the sidewalls are constructed so that

they lie inboard of the profile.
• Material Outside specifies that the sidewalls are constructed so that

they lie outboard of the profile.

Drawn Cutout
21
The Rounding section of the dialog box lets you establish the two types
of radii you can use.
1. Select the Round Cutout edges check box if you want to create a Die
Radius.
2. Select the Round Section Corners check box if you want to create a
Corner Radius.
Within the Drawn Cutout dialog box is the group Validation Parameters. The

Drawn Cutout
21
Procedure: Drawn Cutout creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Drawn Cutout .
3. Select either an existing curve or click Sketch Section to create the profile.
5. Optional: Enter a value for the Side Angle.
6. Define the Side Wall position.
9. Click OK.

Drawn Cutout
21
Activity: Drawn Cutout
In the Drawn Cutout section, do the activity:

• Create a Drawn Cutout

Drawn Cutout
21
Summary: Drawn Cutout
Using the Named Expressions created by the parent feature helps to
maintain parametric relationships with additional sheet metal features. In
this lesson you created that relationship between the Drawn Cutout and
the base Tab feature.
In this lesson you:
• Identified the key elements and conditions needed to create a Drawn
Cutout.
• Became familiar with the Drawn Cutout dialog box.
• Created a Drawn Cutout feature.
• Created a parametric relationship using Parameter Entry Option with

the parent feature.



21
Lesson
22 Louver
22
Purpose
Louver is considered another type of sheet metal punch feature and is the
topic of this Lesson.
Objectives

• Identify the key elements and conditions needed to create a Louver.
• Become familiar with the Louver dialog box.
• Create a Louver feature.
• Create a Flat Solid to check design integrity.

Louver
Louver
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Louver .

22 You can also choose Insert→Punch→Louver.
Louver is used to create vented areas on sheet metal parts.
A Louver can not be flattened using Flat Solid.
Listed below are some tips to create a Louver:

• The length of your section string will determine the values you can enter
for the Depth and Width of the Louver feature.
• The section profile must be a single linear curve.

Louver
Louver dialog box

The Cut Line section of the dialog box has only one requirement, Select
Section.
You can create the profile using either the Sketch Section or Curve options. 22
The Louver Properties section of the dialog box is where you will define the
Enter the total depth in the Depth parameter box.
The maximum Louver Depth must be less than or equal to the Width
minus material thickness.
Enter the total width in the Width box.

The Width must be less than half of the section length.
Use Reverse Direction on the Depth and Width options to or double-click

on the direction vectors, to flip the feature 180 degrees.
In the example below the part material thickness is 3 millimeters. This
value combined with the section length will determine the maximum
values for the Depth and Width.
1. The sketch profile is 20 millimeters in length.
2. The maximum allowable Width will be 9.99 millimeters.

Equation: Length divided by two — (20/2=10)
3. The maximum allowable Depth will be 6.99 millimeters.

Equation: Width minus material thickness — (9.99–3.00=6.99)

Louver
There are two types of Louver Shapes available:

1. Lanced will create a squared off feature with open ends. You can create a
Louver that will run off the part with this option.
22 2. Formed will create a cylindrical cap on the feature with closed ends, the
radius is based on the overall input values used to create the feature.
The Rounding section of the dialog box lets you establish the Die Radius. The
Die Radius will form between the planar placement face and the lift of the
Louver feature.
Within the Louver dialog box is the group Validation Parameters. The

Louver
Procedure: Louver creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Louver . 22

3. Select either an existing curve or click Sketch Section to create the
feature profile.
5. Enter a value for the Width.
6. Define the Louver Shape.
9. Click OK.

Louver
Activity: Louvre
In the Louver section, do the activity:

• Create a Louver feature
22
Project: Louver
In the Projects section, complete the Louver exercise.

Louver
Summary: Louver
Use Louver to create vented areas for sheet metal parts.
In this lesson you:
• Identified the key elements and conditions needed to create a Louver.
22
• Became familiar with the Louver dialog box.
• Created a Louver feature.
• Created a Flat Solid to check design integrity.



22
Lesson
23 Solid Punch
Purpose 23
Solid Punch creation and functionality is the topic of this lesson.
Objectives

• Identify the key elements to create a Solid Punch.
• Review the procedure to create a Solid Punch.
• Create Solid Punch. features.

Solid Punch
Solid Punch
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Solid Punch .

You can also choose Insert→Punch→Solid Punch.
Use Solid Punch when you want to create a sheet metal feature that inherits
the shape from the punch type tool body
There are two types of Solid Punch tools you can create, a die type tool or a
23 punch type tool.
Listed below are some tips for creating a Solid Punch.
• When creating a punch type tool the positive shape will determine the
result.
• When creating a die type tool the negative or void shape will determine
the result.
• You will have the option to determine material thickness during the
creation process.

Solid Punch
The following image is an example of a Punch feature.

This Punch feature uses the CSYS to CSYS option for location and the pierce
face option to create a louver shape in the sheet metal. This allows the user
to rotate and align the tool as needed to create the desired punch.
23
The following picture has been sectioned to better see the Die feature.

Solid Punch
Solid Punch dialog box
The Type list has two options to choose from, Punch or Die.
The Selections section of the dialog box is where you determine the location
and which faces should be pierced.
The Target Face will be the face that is touched by the Tool body first.
The Tool Body is a separate feature that will define the overall shape.
23 If your Tool Body has a complex shape your Target Face selection can
make a difference in the final product since it will be the first face that
encounters the tool.
If you need to allign your tool to the part, you can use the CSYS to CSYS
option. This allows the user to rotate and align the tool as needed to create
the desired punch.
If your Target and Tool bodies intersect you only need to indicate the faces
you wish to pierce, if the two bodies do not intersect you need to define the
from and to locations.
The Solid Punch Properties section is where you will define Thickness, the
intersection point of the feature and if you want to Hide the tool body.
The Infer Thickness check box will create your feature with the same
thickness as the Target Body. If you clear this check box you will need to
enter the Thickness you need.
The Auto Centroid check box will provide you with an intersection point to
indicate the center of the punch or die feature.

Solid Punch
The Rounding section of the dialog box will let you create radii at the target
face intersection of the feature.
Select the Round Solid Punch Edges check box if you want to define the
radii for your feature.
The radius of the “inside” rounded
Die Radius edge where the punch meets the
target (D in the figure below).
The radius of the “outside” rounded
edge where the punch meets the target
(P in the figure below.). In general,
23
Punch Radius is the Die Radius plus
the thickness.
Punch Radius
Blends sharp edges with constant

thickness on the tool body. The
following figures illustrate the
difference.
Constant Thickness
If you create user defined radii two Edge Blend features will appear in the
Part Navigator Model History so you can edit these without entering the
Solid Punch dialog box.

Solid Punch
In the following example, the Punch feature has an inferred thickness

(1) for the wall and a constant thickness (2) for the radii which use the
die radius (3) plus material thickness equals punch radius (4) formula.
23
In the following example, the Punch feature has a user specified

thickness (1) for the wall and the constant thickness (2) for the radii
turned off. The die radius (3) and punch radius (4) has also been user
specified.

Solid Punch
Procedure: Solid Punch creation
2. On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Solid Punch .
3. From the Type list, select either Punch or Die.
4. Select the Target Face . 23
5. Select the Tool Body .
6. Use the From CSYS and To CSYS as needed to align the tool.
7. Determine the Solid Punch location, this will define which faces are
removed from the solid.
8. Define the Solid Punch Properties.
9. Define the Rounding properties.
10. Click OK.

Solid Punch
Activity: Solid Punch
In the Solid Punch section, do the activity:

• Solid Punch
23

Solid Punch
Summary: Solid Punch

Solid Punch lets you will physically alter your part in shape and material
attributes. You can create unique shapes for punch and die features.
In this lesson you:
• Identified the key elements to create a Solid Punch.
• Reviewed the procedure to create a Solid Punch.
• Created Solid Punch features.

23

23
Lesson
24 Bead
Purpose
The sheet metal feature Bead is the topic of this Lesson.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to: 24

• Identify the key elements and conditions needed to create a Bead.
• Become familiar with the Bead dialog box.
• Create Bead features.
• Create Flat Solids.

Bead
Bead
On the NX Sheet Metal toolbar, click Bead .

You can also choose Insert→Punch→Bead.
Bead features are commonly used to add strength to sheet metal parts.
The Bead feature can not be flattened using the Flat Solid operator.
24
Listed below are some tips to create a Bead:

• Section strings can be either an open or closed profile.
• The profile curves you create will be the path the Bead will follow on
the planar face.
• A single Bead feature can be created with multiple strings.
• Beads are not able to pass over bend regions, therefore, all profile curves
must be created on and contained within a single planar surface.
Curve profiles must be tangent continuous for the feature to work.

Bead
Bead dialog box
The Bead Properties section of the dialog box is where you will define the
There are three types of Cross Sections available, the creation requirements
will change depending on the type of cross section you select.
• Circular creates a half-circle shaped Bead and has two required
parameters, Depth and Radius. The depth must be less than the radius
value.
24
• U-Shaped creates an angled shape with a flat surface. You will need to
define the Depth, Width and Angle parameters.
• V-Shaped creates an angled shape with a round surface. You will need to
define the Depth, Radius and Angle parameters.

Bead
For each Cross Section type you will also need to define an End Condition.
The image below represents the End Conditions displayed for the Circular
Cross Section.
1. Punched will create flat or cut ends with a relief. Use Punched Width
to define the relief.
2. Lanced will create flat or cut ends.
3. Formed will create circular ends.
24
The Rounding section of the dialog box lets you establish the Die Radius
for each type of bead.
Select the Round Bead Edges check box if you want to create either Die
Radius or a Punch Radius.
If you create a U-Shaped bead you will also have the option of using a Punch
Radius.

Bead
The image below is a U-Shaped Bead with a Die Radius (1) and a
Punch Radius (2) of 3 millimeters.
The arrows indicate which side of sheet metal the radii originate.
24
Within the Bead dialog box is the group Validation Parameters. The

Bead
Create a bead
1. Click Bead .
2. Select the profile plane.
3. Create a profile for the Bead. The profile can be open or closed.
Multiple elements in the profile must be tangent continuous. You can also
construct a single Bead feature using multiple, separate profiles. Each
profile must be a continuous set of tangent elements, but the profiles
can cross each other. The radius of any arcs in the profile must be more
than half the width of the bead itself.
24 4. Choose a bead cross-section type and specify dimensions for it. The icons
in the dialog indicate how the dimensions are measured:
• For Circular: Depth and Radius. (Depth must be less than Radius.)
• For U-Shaped: Depth, Width, and Angle.
• For V-Shaped: Depth, Radius, and Angle.

Bead
5. Choose a treatment option for the ends of the bead:

• Formed (the default)
• Lanced
• Punched
24
6. Specify rounding options.
7. Click OK to complete the Bead feature.

Bead
Activity: Bead
In the Bead section, do the activity:

• Create a U-Shaped and Circular Bead
• Create a Circular Bead
24

Bead
Summary: Bead
Use Bead to add strength to sheet metal parts.
In this lesson you:
• Identified the key elements and conditions needed to create a Bead.
• Became familiar with the Bead dialog box.
• Created Bead features.
• Verified the design with the Flat Solid.

24

24
Appendix
A Starting NX with Teamcenter

Integration for NX
Purpose
This lesson is a fundamental introduction to working with Teamcenter

Integration for NX.
Objectives
• Start a Teamcenter session. A
• Start NX.
• Search for items using the Teamcenter Navigator.
NX Sheet Metal Design A-1

Starting NX with Teamcenter Integration for NX
Introduction to Teamcenter Integration for NX

Teamcenter Integration for NX is a data management tool used in conjunction
with NX. When NX is used in Teamcenter Integration for NX mode,
Teamcenter is running at the same time as a separate process. Since the two
programs communicate, you can create, store, and access your data within a
Teamcenter database.
Teamcenter Integration for NX combines the power of NX in modeling and
generating data from geometric shapes, with the power of Teamcenter in
storing and retrieving data in a controlled fashion.
The integration of NX and Teamcenter provides the following capabilities:
• Management of NX parts and related files.
• Improved access control for data over operating system capabilities.
• Ability to easily revise NX parts, and keep all revisions of a part together.
• Convenient organization of data into user-defined folders.

A
• Manual and automatic check-out and check-in.
• Ability to easily locate stored data.
• Tools to facilitate workgroup and enterprise collaboration.
A-2 NX Sheet Metal Design mt16020_s NX 6

Starting Teamcenter
Application icons are displayed along the left border of the startup window.
This section of the window is referred to as the Application Manager. The
applications that are available depend on installation and licenses at your
site.
Locating parts in Teamcenter
All the parts you will need for the class are in the database.
There are two ways to locate a part when you need it. You can:
• Use the Teamcenter interface to create a reference to the parts folder
in your home folder, and locate parts alphabetically just as you do in
Windows.
• Search the database to locate each part when you need it.

Activity: Log on to Teamcenter and find the parts
1. Start Teamcenter.
Your instructor will explain the procedure to start the software in
your classroom.
2. Log in.
In the Getting Started window, in the navigation pane, click My
Teamcenter.
The applications listed in the navigation pane depend on which

Teamcenter applications are installed at your site.
A In the User ID box, type the unique student name that your instructor
assigned to you.
In the Password box, type the password that your instructor assigned
to you.
Click Login.
3. Find the parts folder for your class.

When you first log in, your home folder is shown.
You can search for data and create references to it in your home folder.
In the navigation pane, expand the quick search menu and select
General.

In the quick search box, type nx_*** where *** represents the
acronym for the class you are taking (for example, nx_esn).
Click Execute .
4. Copy and paste the reference.

When the query is finished, you see a reference to the folder. You can copy
this reference and paste it in your home folder.
In the Folders pane, right-click the nx_*** folder reference that you
searched for and choose Copy.
In the navigation pane, in the Quick Links group, click Home.
In the Folders pane, right-click Home and choose Paste.
You are ready to use the parts for this class.

Starting NX
To launch NX in a Teamcenter Integration for NX environment, you can:

• Choose the Start/Open in NX button in the Teamcenter workspace window.
This option will launch NX with no parts loaded.
• Select the UGMASTER of an item in the workspace and then choose the
Start/Open in NX button or, double-click the UGMASTER of an Item in
the workspace. This option starts NX and loads the part.
• Use a command or script to launch NX only and bypass the Teamcenter

interface.

Working with the Teamcenter Navigator

Use the Teamcenter Navigator to work with NX data in Teamcenter without
manually switching to the Teamcenter software.
• Search for objects.
• Open files.
• Create new folders.
• Cut, copy, and paste items into folders.
• Drag-and-drop Items from one folder to another folder.

You cannot drag datasets or item revisions from one item to another item.

Teamcenter Navigator options
The NX resource bar contains the Teamcenter Navigator tab.

1. Object Displays your personal folders and the results of searches.
It can also be used to organize your object references using
copy, cut-and-paste and some drag-and-drop functions.
2. Search Performs an item ID based search.
3. Browse Filter Controls display of items in the Object group with lists of
preset options for detail level, revision, and type.
4. Preview Provides preview capability if a selected object has been
saved with a preview.

Search for items in the Teamcenter Navigator
The Search group is a simple, item ID-based search. Enter the string
you want to use for the search. A wildcard is automatically added to the
beginning and end of the string (implied, not displayed) to allow you to enter
partial names.
Click Go or press Enter to start the search. The search is performed on

the entire Teamcenter database. The results of the search are displayed
in the Last Search node of the Object group. A new search overwrites the
previous search.

Summary: Starting NX with Teamcenter Integration for NX

In this lesson you:
• Started a Teamcenter session.
• Started NX.
• Searched for items using the Teamcenter Navigator.

Index
B Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Convert to Sheetmetal . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Base features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Using sketches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Corners
Bead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-2
Break Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-12
Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-3
Three Bend Corner . . . . . . . . . . . 16-8
Cross Section . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-3
Cutouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-1
End Condition . . . . . . . . . . . 24-4
Rounding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-4
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-2 D
Bend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-2 Dialog box
Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-4 Preset shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Extend Section . . . . . . . . . . . 15-7 Dimple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-2
Inset Options . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-5 Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-3
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-3 Depth Reference . . . . . . . . . 20-4
Bending sheet metal Rounding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-6
Unbend Side walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-5
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-12 Procedure: Dimple creation . . . . 20-7
Break Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-12 Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-2
Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-13 Drawn Cutout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-2
Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-13 Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-3
Procedure: Break Corner . . . . . 16-14 Depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-3
Rounding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-4
C Side walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-3
Procedure: Drawn Cutout
Closed Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-2
creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-5
Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-3
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-2
Overlap options . . . . . . . . . . 16-4
Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-4
Relief options . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-3 E
Procedure: Closed Corner Edge Rip
creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-6 Procedure: Edge Rip creation . . . 17-4
Contour Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2 Edge to Rip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-2
Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4 Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-3
Corner options . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Miter options . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
F
Width options . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Procedure: Contour Flange Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8 Default parameters . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
NX Sheet Metal Design Index-1

Index
Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4 N

Flange properties . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Length references . . . . . . . . . 7-8 Normal Cutout
Offset options . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9 Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-5
Section options . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4 Cut Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-5
Width options . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4 Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-6
Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
Edit tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14 O
Editing Flange Features . . . . . . . 7-13
Online Help . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 12
Procedure: Flange creation . . . . . 7-10
Overview
Flat Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
Course Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-4
Course Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Procedure: Flat pattern
Intended Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-3
The Learning Advantage . . . . . . . 12
Flat Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-2
Procedure: Flat Solid creation . . . 13-4
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-3 P
Preferences and defaults . . . . . . . . . 2-1
H Bend parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Global parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Hem Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2, 9-2 NX Sheet Metal toolbar . . . . . . . 2-12
Preset shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2 Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Procedure: Hem Flange creation . . 9-6 Flat pattern display . . . . . . . . 2-8
Flat pattern treatments . . . . . 2-7
J Global parameters . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Part properties . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Jog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-2
Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-3
R
Bend Parameters . . . . . . . . . 18-5
Height Reference . . . . . . . . . 18-4 Rebend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-14
Inset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-5 Procedure: Rebend . . . . . . . . . . 15-15
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-14
L Resize Bend Angle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-4
Resize Bend Radius . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Lofted Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 Procedure: Resize Bend Angle . . 12-5
Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 Procedure: Resize Bend Radius . . 12-3
Procedure: Lofted Flange Resize Neutral Factor . . . . . . . . . . 12-6
creation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 S
Louver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-2
Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-3 Sheet Metal cutout . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-2
Feature equations . . . . . . . . 22-3 Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-2
Louver shapes . . . . . . . . . . . 22-4 Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-4
Procedure: Louver creation . . . . . 22-5 Sheet Metal from Solid . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-2 Solid Punch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-2
Index-2 NX Sheet Metal Design mt16020_s NX 6

Index
Dialog box ........... . . . . . . 23-4 Teamcenter Navigator

Example . . ........... . . . . . . 23-3 options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8–A-9
Procedure: Solid Punch Three Bend Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-8
creation ........... . . . . . . 23-7 Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-9
Tips . . . . . ........... . . . . . . 23-2 Treatment options . . . . . . . . 16-9
T
U
Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4 Unbend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-11
Procedure: Tab creation . . . . . . . . 4-6 Procedure: Unbend . . . . . . . . . . 15-13
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
NX Sheet Metal Design Index-3

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PLM Software
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STUDENT PROFILE
In order to stay in tune with our customers we ask for some background information. This information
will be kept confidential and will not be shared with anyone outside of Education Services.
Please Print…
Your Name U.S. citizen Yes No
Course Title/Dates NX6 Sheet Metal Design / thru
Hotel/motel(s) while training Planned departure time after class

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Employer Location
Supervisor/manager (Emergency) Phone

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Your job title/responsibilities /
Industry: Auto Aero Consumer products Machining Tooling Medical Other
Types of products/parts/data that you work with
Platform (operating system)
Reason for training
Please verify/add to this list of training for NX, I-deas, Imageware, Teamcenter Mfg., Teamcenter Engineering, Teamcenter Enterprise, Tecnomatix or
Dimensional Mgmt./Visualization. Medium means Instructor-lead (IL), On-line (OL), or Self-paced (SP)
Software From Whom When Course Name Medium
Other CAD/CAM/CAE /PDM software you have used

Please “check”! your ability/knowledge in the following…
Subject None Novice Intermediate Advanced
CAD modeling o o o o
CAD assemblies o o o o
CAD drafting o o o o
CAM o o o o
CAE o o o o
PDM – usage o o o o
PDM – system management o o o o
PDM – customization o o o o
Thank you for your participation. We hope your training experience will be an outstanding one.
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Course Agenda
Sheet Metal Design
Day 1 Morning
• Introduction & Overview
• Lesson 1. Typical Sheet Metal Workflow
• Lesson 2. Preferences and Defaults
• Lesson 3. NX Sheet Metal Base Features
• Lesson 4. Tab-Activity
Afternoon
• Lesson 5. Contour Flange-2 Activities
• Lesson 6. Lofted Flange-2 Activities
• Lesson 7. Flange-3 Activities
• Lesson 8. Bend Taper
• Lesson 9. Hem Flange
Day 2 Morning
• Lesson 10. Convert to Sheetmetal and Flat Solid-1 Activity
• Lesson 11. Sheet Metal From Solid
• Lesson 12. Bending Sheet Metal-2 Activities
• Lesson 13. Flat Solid
• Lesson 14. Flat Pattern
• Lesson 15. Bend Region
• Lesson 10. Sheet Metal Corners-3 Activities
• Lesson 11. Edge Rip-1 Activity
• Lesson 12. Jog-1 Activity
Afternoon
• Lesson 13. Sheet Metal Cutouts-1 Activity
• Lesson 14. Dimple-1 Activity
• Lesson 15. Drawn Cutout-1 Activity
• Lesson 16. Louver-1 Activity
• Lesson 17. Bead-2 Activities
• Project
Rev-9/5/08-jab
Rev-9/5/08-jab
Accelerators
The following Accelerators can be listed from within an NX session by choosing
Information→Custom Menubar→Accelerators.
Function Accelerator
File→New... Ctrl+N
File→Open... Ctrl+O
File→Save Ctrl+S
File→Save As... Ctrl+Shift+A
File→Plot... Ctrl+P
File→Execute→Grip... Ctrl+G
File→Execute→Debug Grip... Ctrl+Shift+G
File→Execute→NX Open... Ctrl+U
Edit→Undo Ctrl+Z
Edit→Redo Ctrl+Y
Edit→Cut Ctrl+X
Edit→Copy Ctrl+C
Edit→Paste Ctrl+V
Edit→Delete... Ctrl+D or Delete
Edit→Selection→Top Selection Priority - Feature F
Edit→Selection→Top Selection Priority - Face G
Edit→Selection→Top Selection Priority - Body B
Edit→Selection→Top Selection Priority - Edge E
Edit→Selection→Top Selection Priority - Component C
Edit→Selection-Select All Ctrl+A
Edit→Show and Hide→Show and Hide... (by type) Ctrl+W
Edit→Show and Hide→Hide... Ctrl+B
Edit→Show and Hide→Invert Shown and Hidden Ctrl+Shift+B
Edit→Show and Hide→Immediate Hide… Ctrl+Shift+I
Edit→Show and Hide→Show... Ctrl+Shift+K
Edit→Show and Hide→Show All Ctrl+Shift+U
Edit→Transform... Ctrl+T
Edit→Move Object Ctrl+Shift+M
Edit→Object Display... Ctrl+J
View→Operation→Zoom... Ctrl+Shift+Z
View→Operation→Rotate... Ctrl+R
View→Operation→Section... Ctrl+H
View→Layout→New... Ctrl+Shift+N
View→Layout→Open... Ctrl+Shift+O
View→Layout→Fit All Views (only with multiple views) Ctrl+Shift+F
View→Layout→Fit Ctrl+F
View→Visualization→High Quality Image... Ctrl+Shift+H
View→Information Window F4
Hide or show the current dialog box F3
Rev-9/5/08-jab
View→Reset Orientation Ctrl+F8
Insert→Sketch... S
Insert→Design Feature→Extrude... X
Insert→Design Feature→Revolve... R
Insert→Trim→Trimmed Sheet... T
Insert→Sweep→Variational Sweep... V
Format→Layer Settings... Ctrl+L
Format→Visible in View... Ctrl+Shift+V
Format→WCS→Display W
Tools→Expression... Ctrl+E
Tools→Update→Make First Feature Current Ctrl+Shift+Home
Tools→Update→Make Previous Feature Current Ctrl+Shift+Left Arrow
Tools→Update→Make Next Feature Current Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow
Tools→Update→Make Last Feature Current Ctrl+Shift+End
Tools→Journal→Play... Alt+F8
Tools→Journal→Edit Alt+F11
Tools→Macro→Start Record... Ctrl+Shift+R
Tools→Macro→Playback... Ctrl+Shift+P
Tools→Macro→Step... Ctrl+Shift+S
Tools→Movie→Record Alt+F5
Tools→Movie→Stop Alt+F7
Information→Object... Ctrl+I
Analysis→Curve→Refresh Curvature Graphs Ctrl+Shift+C
Preferences→Object... Ctrl+Shift+J
Preferences→Selection... Ctrl+Shift+T
Start→Modeling... M or Ctrl+M
Start→All Applications→Shape Studio... Ctrl+Alt+S
Start→Drafting... Ctrl+Shift+D
Start→Manufacturing... Ctrl+Alt+M
Start→NX Sheet Metal... Ctrl+Alt+N
Start→Assemblies A
Help→On Context... F1
Refresh F5
Fit Ctrl+F
Zoom F6
Rotate F7
Orient View-Trimetric Home
Orient View-Isometric End
Orient View-Top Ctrl+Alt+T
Orient View-Front Ctrl+Alt+F
Orient View-Right Ctrl+Alt+R
Orient View-Left Ctrl+Alt+L
Snap View F8
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PLM Software
Evaluation – Delivery
Name: _______________________________ Course #: __________
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Please share your opinion in all of the following sections with a “check” in the appropriate box:
Instructor: 5
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AGREE
AGREE
AGREE
Instructor: 7
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2. Was knowledgeable about the subject
3. Answered my questions appropriately
4. Encouraged questions in class
5. Was well spoken and a good communicator
6. Was well prepared to deliver the course
7. Made good use of the training time
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9. Used examples relevant to the course and audience
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11. Used review and summary to emphasize important information
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Class Logistics:
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Student:
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NX Sheet Metal Design

This software and related documentation are proprietary to Siemens Product

2 NX Sheet Metal Design mt16020_s NX 6

Typical NX Sheet Metal workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Preferences and defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

NX Sheet Metal base features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

NX Sheet Metal Design 3

Activity: Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7

Create and Edit Contour Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Lofted Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Bend Taper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Hem Flange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1

4 NX Sheet Metal Design mt16020_s NX 6

Convert to Sheetmetal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1

Sheet Metal from Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1

Bend Region Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1

Flat Solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-1

Flat Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1

Bending sheet metal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-1

NX Sheet Metal Design 5

Sheet Metal Corners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-1

Closed Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-2

Edge Rip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-1

Edge Rip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-2

Sheet Metal cutouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-1

Sheet Metal cutouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-2

6 NX Sheet Metal Design mt16020_s NX 6

Drawn Cutout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-1

Solid Punch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-1

Starting NX with Teamcenter Integration for NX . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

NX Sheet Metal Design 7

Search for items in the Teamcenter Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9

8 NX Sheet Metal Design mt16020_s NX 6

• Set up default standards and creation preferences.

• Use NX Sheet Metal tools to create base features to support additional

• Work within the Sketch Task Environment.

• Edit parametric features created during this course.

NX Sheet Metal Design 9

• 200 hours of experience with NX Modeling after course prerequisites.

• Working knowledge of:

– Assembly Design in Context

How to use this manual

The general format for lesson content is:

• One or more activities

Activities have the following format:

10 NX Sheet Metal Design mt16020_s NX 6

• Confirm important facts by restating them in your own words.

It is important to use your Student Guide in the sequence it is written.

The student manual uses special symbols as shown below.

Tip — Useful information or advice.

Note — Contains useful information that supplements or emphasizes

Example — Shows a possible way that the current topic of discussion

Caution — Contains important reminders or information about a task.

Warning — Contains information essential to your success.

NX Sheet Metal Design 11

The Learning Advantage

• Presented in a self-paced learning environment