Author(s)

Jiajie Hao ¹, Wu Li ², Tie Xu ¹, Hai Qin ¹, Haifeng Liang ¹, Binbin Jiang ¹, Bin Lin ³

Affiliation(s)

¹ SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd., Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
² Changsha YIFN Automobile Technology Co., Ltd., Changsha, Hunan, China
³ Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China

Corresponding Author

Wu Li

ABSTRACT

The process of thickening body component structures during automotive design has several drawbacks. For example, each new CAS surface (initial vehicle body surface) requires the construction of a corresponding set of structural data (boundary changes, functional variations, performance modifications). Issues include small CAS corner radii that require manual rounding based on material thickness, intersections in B-surfaces after offsetting that necessitate manual trimming, missing or distorted B-surfaces requiring manual patching, and B-surfaces moving in the opposite direction, which requires logical reorganization and re-modeling. Utilizing the UG11 software platform and coding in Microsoft Visual Studio 2017, combined with UFun and NX Open secondary development technologies, and based on the needs and experience of industry engineers, a C++-based automation system for thickening complex body surfaces with an interactive user interface was developed. In this system, auxiliary surfaces and internal boundary-enclosed adjacent surfaces assist in quickly selecting and excluding surfaces for removal. The system uses commands such as offset surface, Ruled surface, N-sided surface, and Sew to automate the thickening of body parts and merge them into solid bodies. The system is packaged as a UG plugin, making it easy for users to install and use. This system significantly enhances the efficiency and reliability of body component design and modeling.

KEYWORDS

Secondary development; NX Open; Sheet thickening; CAS

CITE THIS PAPER

Jiajie Hao, Wu Li, Tie Xu, Hai Qin, Haifeng Liang, Binbin Jiang, Bin Lin, Construction of Automatic Thickening System of Complex Body Surface Based on UG Secondary Development. Journal of Precision Instrument and Machinery (2025) Vol. 5: 1-9. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/jpim.2025.050101.

REFERENCES

[1] Wang B, Yang Z, Giannini F, et al. Template-Based 2D High-Precision Model Reconstruction of Car Body[J]. IEEE Access, 2023, 11: 35608-35619.
[2] Li G, Long X, Zhou M. A new design method based on feature reusing of the non-standard cam structure for automotive panels stamping dies[J]. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 2019, 30(5): 2085-2100.
[3] Tran T A, Lobov A, Kaasa T H, et al. CAD integrated automatic recognition of weld paths[J]. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2021, 115(7-8): 2145-2159.
[4] Lee M, Park Y, Jo H, et al. Deep Generative Tread Pattern Design Framework for Efficient Conceptual Design[J]. Journal of Mechanical Design, 2022, 144(071703)[2024-12-24].
[5] Fonseca J H, Quagliato L, Yun S, et al. Preliminary design of an injection-molded recycled-carbon fiber–reinforced plastic/metal hybrid automotive structure via combined optimization techniques[J]. Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, 2021, 64(4): 2773-2788.
[6] Cao Shu, Luo Kang, He Xueming. Parametric Design of Globoidal Indexing CAM Mechanism and Secondary Development of NX[J]. Mechanical Science and Technology for Aerospace Engineering, 2021, 40(7): 1031-1036.
[7] Skarka W, Nalepa R, Musik R. Integrated Aircraft Design System Based on Generative Modelling[J]. Aerospace, 2023, 10(8): 677.
[8] Wang Jianjun, Chen Dandan. Digital development and application of body-in-white gluing technology based on Tecnomatix [J]. Modular Machine Tool & Automatic Manufacturing Technique, 2020(10): 152-154.
[9] Wang Qi, Han Xiao, Zhou Mingchun, et al. Application of UG second development technology in welding jig of a special vehicle[J]. Machinery Design & Manufacture, 2012(4): 247-249.
[10] Li J, Kong C, Zhou X H. Automatic design for trimming die insert of automotive panel[J]. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2020, 106(9-10): 4451-4465.
[11] Zhang X, Deng G, Zhang Z, et al. Robust design method and intelligent system for trimming die of complex automotive panel [J]. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2024, 133(7): 3549-3568.
[12] Dong Weijia, Hou Jie, Zhang Tiequn. Research on preliminary feasibility check of vehicle engineering based on modeling CAS surface [J]. Auto Manufacturing Engineer, 2020(8): 58-60. 
[13] Chen H, Yang Y, & Shao C. Multi-task learning for data-efficient spatiotemporal modeling of tool surface progression in ultrasonic metal welding. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 2021, 58, 306-315. 

Sponsors, Associates, and Links

---

• Cybernetics and Mechatronics
  
  
• Journal of Engineering Mechanics and Machinery
  
  
• Digital Manufacturing and Process Management
  
  
• Ultra-Precision Machining Process
  
  
• Journal of Robotics and Biomimetics
  
  
• Prognostics, Diagnostics and Health Management
  
  
• Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems
  
  
• Engineering and Solid Mechanics
  
  
• Fracture and Damage Mechanics
  
  
• Frontiers in Tribology
  
  
• Fluid and Power Machinery
  
  
• Chemical Process Equipment
  
  
• Journal of Assembly and Manufacturing
  
  
• Mechanical Vibration and Noise