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Layer Standards

Layer Standards

Layer Standards

(OP)
I would appreciate anyone sharing their layer assignment standards. We are moving from 2D to NX3 with NX Manager.

RE: Layer Standards

Layer assignment standards vary in importance from company to company.  It matters more that there is a standard in place (that is used consistently) than what specific layer is used for what.  Just as (or more)important is layer catagorization.  It is very frustrating to receive a file from a vendor who uses layer standardization with no catagories listed.

RE: Layer Standards

At my day job, the layering convention is pretty complex, but thats what the customer wants...so I'll skip it.

At the night job, its pretty simple, layer 1 is the solid, 3 is for sketches, 4 is for datum planes, 9 is waved geometry, and 10 is reference components.  That applies to simple models.  Anything more complex, the sketches, etc., get spread out, usually on 20, 30, 40, so you have a range of 10 for various features.  For an assembly I like, find no. 1 goes on layer 1, 2 on layer 2, etc., just so its easy when using visible in view on the drawing.

-Dave
Everything should be designed as simple as possible, but not simpler.

RE: Layer Standards

Our current standards are:

10 - master model
11 - opposite (if req'd)
12 - tooling points
15-29 - linked geometry
30-49 - sketches
50-59 - tool solids
60-74 - constr surfaces
75-89 - constr curves
90-99 - datums, planes, csys
100-199 - ply definitions (we are a composite component manufacturer)
200-210 - drawing entities
256 down (as req'd) - parent components (of linked geometry)

Our assembly files are much as Gunman posted; item 1 on layer 1, etc.

Out standards are pretty open other than the above, and we are currently in the process of adding and expanding some of the listed catagories to allow for ASME 14.41.  If we need more layers for something, we add them, as long as the CATAGORY is defined.  We don't have a grip license, and are not concerned with automated routines which may require stricter standards.  Our main concern is that someone unfamiliar with the file should be able to easily navigate and find what they need.


RE: Layer Standards

The layering Standard at GM is:

1 - Solid, Part
2 - Wireframe, Part
3 - Centerline, Part
4 - Theoretical
5 - Section
6 - Developmental
7 - Mate
8 - Criteria
253, 254 - Drawing Format & Annotation

Categories:
SOLID: Solids and sheet bodies required to define the part.

WIREFRAME: Lines and curves required to define the part that is not defined by the solid(s). Wireframe extracted from a solid is not supported by the standard.

CENTERLINE: Lines and curves used as centerlines as required for sweeps and extruded solids, such as pipes, etc.

THEORETICAL: Lines and curves used as theoretical intersectionsas required for drawing purposes.

SECTION: Sections shown to define material thickness and part development when used in a non-drawing file.

DEVELOPMENTAL: All geometry types used to develop the part,
i.e. sketches, smart curves, trimmed sheet bodies, swept curves, datum planes, etc.

MATE: Datum planes, datum axes and saved coordinate systems and any other geometry (i.e. points) used for mating conditions.

What most people end up moving their development to layer 6 rather adding layers to the development category. Which makes it harder to modify things down the road.

RE: Layer Standards

From our Cad standards:

1-199 ........  Any solid model including primitive bodies, swept from curves or sketches and sewn solids created from complex free-form bodies.
200 ...........  Reference sets for assemblies that are different when after assembly such as a loaded spring.
201-229 ....  Reference geometry consisting of sketch curves, wire-frame geometry used to extrude or sweep solid bodies or free-form sheet bodies and datum planes or axes.
230-239 ....  Preparations for FEA, CMM, N/C, mold flow
240-246 ....  Dimensions, Notes, Labels & GD&T
247-249 .... Customer Borders
250 ...........  Title block text,Formats, KPC
251 ...........  Revision Column Text
252-253.....  New revision columns:  After the revisions have gone to the bottom of the page.
254 ...........  Revision Block Points to align lines with pattern.  
255 ...........  Translation data received Models shall have the layers tracked by layer categories.

In assemblies, as mentioned above Item #1 is layer #1, Item #2 is layer #2, etc...

Jon M.
www.ceiltd.com

RE: Layer Standards

GM also allows for user-defined categories, which can exist on any layer other than those listed above.  The only catch is that the category name must begin with an underscore; something like _UPPER MOLD.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.
www.enkei.com

RE: Layer Standards

Is there a way to add category names automatically so that the user can follow the standards a little easier.

Would this be done in a seed file - if so how can I edit the seed file - I am a little new to Unigraphics.

Thanks

RE: Layer Standards

Yes, a seed file is a good way to go.  Edit it as you would any other file.  It's purpose is to make it easier to create drawings with the same initial standards.

RE: Layer Standards

Here is another example.  Unassigned layers can be used for anything.

 5        PARTING-LINE
 9        APPROVAL-STAMP
10        DIMENSIONS, DRAWING, NOTES
11        SURFACE-FINISHES
12        PRODUCT-MARKINGS
14        DATUM-PLANES-AND-AXIS
20        SOLID-BODY
30        BORDER
31-80        CURVES
81-130    SKETCHES
131-159    SURFACES

RE: Layer Standards

From my point of work, there are two solutions:
1. When You work with large number of same type objects (solid bodies, sketches, curves...), put them on diferent layers, but name layers by object name. for example:
L1 rivets
L2 spoiler
L3 ...
L10 screw M5
L11 screw M8
L12 ...
2. ewerything You read up on this forum page.

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