using a sketch in drafting
using a sketch in drafting
(OP)
Is it possible to import a sketch in drafting? I've used this sketch to create the model and I need the exact dimensions in my final technical drawing. I've imported the model, but this proved extremely difficult to use. I've been editing (with basic curves) and deleting lines for several days now and the longer it takes the more it looks like this approach is going to fail. Basic curves are near impossible to match exactly over the model and most of the dimensions of the model are useless because of blends. On the other hand there's the perfect sketch. But it seems I can not use it...?





RE: using a sketch in drafting
If you edit the style of your view there should be a tab that gives the appropriate options. I would suggest making them a different color and/or linefont to make them easier to work with.
RE: using a sketch in drafting
Most master model drawings just use a SOLID reference set which leaves out important features like sketches. You can retrieve the sketch dimensions using the Feature Parameters icon in drafting to get the original dimensions used for the sketch.
If you add the sketch to a reference set that will be the reference set for the model in the drawing, it is not possible to set a specific reference set for a view.
In order to be able to hide the sketch in views where you don't want it to display you can use visable in view and make sure the Layering is set to Original Layers that way you will have the solid geometry on a different layer and it won't be affected when the sketch layer is blanked.
If you want to display only the sharp corners you can add points to the sketch that will be added to the reference set.
Michael
Hope this helps.
RE: using a sketch in drafting
I'm not sure I'm following you. I'm understanding you to say that you import the model into the drawing in order to utilize the 'sketches' for your dimensioning. Is this right? If so, well....
Doing this totaly negates the 'master model' concept and all the benefits that go along with it. Too much to list here, but suffice it to say that this is a bad thing.
In a nut shell, what I think your after is a means of getting the model sketches to show up in your detail drawing to ease your drafting pains. This it totally possible without importing the model into the drawing or having a the model and drawing in the same part file.
What I'd suggest is to utilizing the 'insert feature parameter' thingy where your sketch dimensions are linked to your drawing. This, in effect, imports your sketch dimensions onto your drawing sheet (for specifics, check out the online docs, and from menu pull down in NX3: <drafting> <insert> <feature parameter> <follow the bouncing ball...>). This is pretty cool, but does have it's drawbacks. Primarily, if the sketch wasn't created with the detailer in mind (created as you will dimension it), the dimensions are pretty useless and takes a lot of manual effort to correct. Generally speaking, your always better off dimensioning from scratch instead of using this method, unless of course your making a template part or something to this effect...
Clear as mud?
SS
Regards,
SS
CAD should pay for itself, shouldn't it?
RE: using a sketch in drafting
Blends are part of the problem, but using virtual intersections won't do the job. Many blends in the model are too small, so the radius isn't correct and must be corrected in the technical drawing. Other thing is the fact that drafting doesn't want to put dimensions to many arcs and lines in the drawing. I don't know why that is. It just neglects lots of them that I thus need to trace with basic curves. The whole product is somewhat complicated and I'm now stuck in using those basic curves.
I know this is not a beautiful thing to do, and I don't like it doing it this way. But I don't know how to improve the model (I actually think it's rather ok) and even if I did know I doubt not having the same problems.
The questionable part of it is that the objective is to create mirror image of a well documented right handed product. My suggestion is really to scan the existing drawing into a computer and print out a mirror image of it. But for some reason they want a UG model (that they won't use for anything else) and a (non-parametric) drawing (with lots of basic curves corrections). Remarkable isn't it?
I'll try the suggestions tomorrow. Thanks.
RE: using a sketch in drafting
RE: using a sketch in drafting
IF I'm following you correctly (which is doubtful...) your actually importing the sketches from one part into the drawing part, and detailing that?
If there's no way that we can talk you out of doing this, then why not just export out the 'curves' of the sketch, import them into the drawing, and detail those?
SS
Regards,
SS
CAD should pay for itself, shouldn't it?
RE: using a sketch in drafting
RE: using a sketch in drafting
It sounds to me like he's wanting to flatten the views because he's trying to place dimensions on entities that most CAD systems will not recognize. For example, in the TOP view (XY plane) trying to dimension a radius that travels along or close to the Z axis. NX Drafting won't let you pick the radius because it's a face or surface, which most NX dimensions will not allow you to pick.
I'd just fake the dimensions with annotations and leaders rather than try to duplicate a model view generated in Drafting.
Then again, here we are with no visual references or anything, so we're all left guessing.
Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.
www.enkei.com
RE: using a sketch in drafting
Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.
www.enkei.com
RE: using a sketch in drafting
I wasn't allowed to fake the dimensions.
RE: using a sketch in drafting
RE: using a sketch in drafting
...but your doing just that by having a detailed print un-associated to the model. I've designed a lot of castings, as well as detailed my fair share of casting, machining, and cast/machining drawings in my day so I understand the difficulties involved, but I think your making things more difficult than they need to be.
To start with, I'm making the assumption that the model is correct. By this I mean that it passes all validity checks and is a valid solid body. Secondly, I'm assumming that you have standard cast size interior and exterior blends (.188 and .090 respectively for instance) and that there is a note on the face of the drawing stating this.
Now your left with dimensioning only those blends that don't fall within the 'standard' size... I don't see where using the sketches, or the curves representing the sketches and the associated dimensions will be of any benefit towards a casting/mach drawing. Dimension to the model. Very few radius dimensions will be difficult, and those could be handled easily enough. When the sketches were developed, it's very unlikely that the draftsman was even considered. So now the dimensions inherited from the sketches are essentially useless.
Clear as mud?
SS
Regards,
SS
CAD should pay for itself, shouldn't it?
RE: using a sketch in drafting
Based on his descriptions, I have no idea of any CAD software that can do what he seems to be wanting to do. It's almost as if 3D annotation would serve his purposes better than putting all this effort into fudging the views in Drafting. It also sounds like the customer has no clue about making their drafting standards or requirements in line with what the software can and cannot do.
Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.
www.enkei.com
RE: using a sketch in drafting
But I agree, without seeing the file we are all guessing.
RE: using a sketch in drafting
2)If your drawing is not a mastermodel then just make the Layers 'selectable' and 'visible in view'
hope this will work!!