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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Pipe Saddle Cradle
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CAD Modelling Challenge#14 — Engineering Drawing Breakdown
NX Modelling Challenge #14 | NXDATUM 04DTM23
This week's challenge is a Custom Pipe Bench — a pipe saddle support block used in plumbing, hydraulic line routing, and structural pipe clamping applications. The title block names it directly, which is rare in this series. Despite appearing straightforward in the isometric view, the angled side faces and the semicircular saddle cutout require careful sketch planning that beginners consistently underestimate.
Front View — The Saddle Profile
The front view is the most information-dense view on this sheet. It shows a semicircular cutout centred on the top face, with a radius derived from the 24mm vertical dimension and the 20mm base reference.
The sides of the block are not vertical — they are chamfered outward at 40°, giving the bench a trapezoidal cross-section rather than a rectangular one. The left and right wall thicknesses measure 11.9mm and 12.1mm respectively at the top face. This angled profile must be sketched as a trapezoid with the semicircular cutout integrated into the same closed profile — do not attempt to add the chamfers as a secondary operation after a rectangular extrude.
Top and Right Views — Length and Slot Geometry
The top-right view confirms the overall width of 45mm with two 10mm wall thicknesses flanking a central slot opening that matches the saddle cutout width. This view is essential for confirming that the semicircular cutout runs the full depth of the part — it is not a blind pocket.
The bottom view establishes the overall footprint: 100mm total length, 36mm inner base span, and 20mm height with a 40mm depth dimension confirming the extrusion length of the entire block.
Modelling Strategy in Siemens NX
Begin by sketching the full trapezoidal front profile on the front datum plane — include the 40° angled sides and the semicircular cutout at the top as one closed sketch boundary. The semicircle should be tangent to the inner top edge and fully constrained by its radius.
Extrude this profile to 45mm as confirmed by the top-right view. No secondary cut is needed for the saddle — if your sketch is correct, the cutout extrudes through cleanly. Apply edge blends on the base corners if shown in the isometric — examine the 3D view carefully for any implied fillets. Verify the bottom face is flat and the saddle opening is centred on the top face before running mass properties.
What This Challenge Tests
This task tests trapezoidal profile sketching with integrated curved cutouts, angular constraint application in Siemens NX, and the discipline to extract all geometry from a three-view drawing without guessing.
The 40° chamfer is the "trap" here — students who start with a rectangular block and try to chamfer afterward will create a different part with incorrect mass. One sketch, done right, is all it takes. 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 | Sheet A3
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