Creating Sheet Metal Flange in NX

The flange is the feature created on the edge of the sheet metal by bending at a defined angle, extruding at a defined length, and offsetting out or in from the selected main sheet metal feature.

To create a flange on a sheet metal:

1. Start the “Flange” command.
   • Home Ribbon Bar => Base Group => Flange
   • Menu => Insert => Bend => Flange
2. Select an edge or edges of the sheet metal in the graphics window.
   (The “Select Edge” bar in the “Flange Properties” group is highlighted automatically in the dialog box start-up)
   Note: You can select more than one edge to create a flange on it.
   
3. The “Width Option” defines the Flange creation method. Define the width option.
   • Full: Creates flange along the selected edge.
     .
   • At Center: Creates a flange at the center of the edge with a specified width.
     
   • At End: Creates a flange that starts on a selected end of the flange with a specified width.
     
   • From End: Creates a flange with a specified distance from a selected start point.
     
   • From Both Ends: Creates a flange with distance values from the selected edge’s start points and end points.
     
4. Type the length value into the “Length” box.
   Also, you can change the flange length by dragging the length arrowhead in the graphics window.
5. If you want to change the flange direction click on the “Reverse Direction” icon in the dialog box. (near the length bar)
   Also, you can change the direction by clicking twice on the length arrowhead in the graphics window.
6. Type a new angle value in the angle box.
   Also, you can change the angle value by dragging the circular angle sign in the dialog box.
7. Set the “Length Reference”. It is very important. It changes the total length value of the flange even if the length does not change.
   • Inside: The distance between the sheet metal’s inner side and the flange’s top face.
   • Outside: The distance between the outer side of the sheet metal and the top face of the flange.
   • Web: the distance between the bend tangent line on the flange and the top face of the flange.
   • Tangent: The distance measured according to DIN 6938.
8. Set the “Inset” method. It changes the flange location according to the selected edge.
   • Material inside: Flange will be created on the inner side of the selected edge.
   • Material Outside: Flange will be created on the outside of the selected edge.
   • Bend Outside: The flange bend starts on the selected base edge. The bend will have tangency with the base tab at the selected edge of the base material.
   • Material Inside OML:
9. You can extend the to the outside or inside of the metal.
   • Type the offset value in the “Offset”  box in the dialog box.
   • Drag the offset arrowhead in the graphics window.
10. To change the offset direction click on the “Reverse Direction” on the “Offset” bar or click twice on the offset arrowhead in the graphics window.
11. If you want to create flanges with different lengths, angles, etc…
    1. Create a new set.
       • Click on the “Add New Set” icon in the dialog box.
       • One-click on the middle mouse button
    2. Arrange the settings for the new flange set as shown in step 2…10
12. To finish the command and create the flanges:
    • Twice-click on the middle mouse
    • Click on the “Ok” button in the dialog box.

Note: You can change the Bend Radius value and neutral factor by changing the values in the “Flange” dialog box but these values will be used only for the current flange. Next flanges will use the default values. If you want to change the bend radius and neutral factor for all flanges, change these settings from the preferences (for the current part) or customer defaults (for the next sheet metal parts.)
Important Note: Check the bend parameters again and again when designing a sheet metal part.