I love designing in Siemens NX, but keeping these files on my hard drive doesn't help anyone. I decided to put them out here for anyone who needs to practice material. Whether you're a student or just love CAD like I do, feel free to use these blueprints to sharpen your skills.
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U-Slot Mounting Bracket
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CAD Modelling Challenge #7 — Engineering Drawing Breakdown
NX Modelling Challenge #7 | NXDATUM 04DTM23
This week's challenge is a complex multi-level structural bracket. This model will thoroughly test your ability to read stacked vertical dimensions, manage internal wall steps, and correctly position features across different height planes. Pay close attention to the origin points of the dimension extension lines!
The Base and Internal Step
The foundation of this model is 90mm long and 75mm wide. Looking at the right-side vertical dimensions, the base block has a height of 40mm. Through the bottom runs a longitudinal tunnel that is 35mm wide, leaving two solid legs on either side that are 20mm wide (20 + 35 + 20 = 75mm).
Note on Tunnel Height: While the exact height of the bottom tunnel isn't explicitly dimensioned, proportional analysis implies a 20mm height, which leaves a robust 20mm thick solid middle plate. In the exact center of this middle plate (45mm from the back face), there is a Ø25mm through-hole.
The Main Uprights (Cheeks)
Sitting on top of the base plate are two side uprights. Here is where many students make a mistake: The uprights are 15mm thick, creating an internal gap of 45mm. Because the bottom legs are 20mm wide and the top uprights are 15mm wide, there is a visible 5mm internal step where the uprights meet the middle plate. The outside faces, however, are completely flush.
The height of these uprights is given by the 60mm dimension on the right. Notice that its extension line starts from the top of the middle plate. This means the uprights are 60mm tall above the plate (making the total overall height 100mm). The top profile of the uprights stays flat for 45mm (measured from the back), features an R18 rear corner, and then slopes downwards, terminating perfectly at the front edge of the middle plate.
Hole Placement & The Rear Lug
There are two Ø20mm holes on the uprights. Their centers are located 35mm from the front sloped edge, and 20mm down from the top flat edge of the upright.
Finally, look at the back-left corner. There is an asymmetrical mounting lug attached only to the left upright. It has a full R12 radius and a lateral thickness of 15mm (flush with the outer wall). The vertical dimension on the far left shows its center is located exactly 60mm from the very bottom of the part (which puts it 20mm above the middle plate).
Modelling Strategy in Siemens NX
Build this from the ground up. Try this sequence for a clean model:
Base Feature: Start by sketching the inverted U-shape of the base (75mm wide, 40mm high, 35x20mm tunnel) and extrude it 90mm.
Uprights: Next, sketch the 15mm thick upright side profiles on top of the base plate, complete with the 45mm flat top and the slope, then extrude them.
Holes: Use the Hole command for the Ø25 and Ø20 holes.
Lug & Blends: Finally, sketch the rear lug on the back face of the left upright, extrude it outwards by 15mm, and apply your R18 and R12 edge blends.
What This Challenge Tests
This model evaluates your blueprint literacy—specifically your ability to distinguish between absolute heights from the base versus stacked heights from intermediate planes. The internal 5mm step between the legs and the uprights is a classic "trap" that separates careful readers from rushers.
Complete the model in Siemens NX, run mass properties, and submit your answer on the NXDATUM validation tool.
Created by NXDATUM | Siemens NX CAD Modelling Series | All dimensions in mm | Scale 1:1
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