Creating simplified & detailed versions of a part
Creating simplified & detailed versions of a part
(OP)
I've used SolidWorks for ten years but recently started working for a company that uses NX. The company itself has just switched from I-DEAS to NX, with everyone (including myself) going through a week of training. So we are all starting at about the same level of expertise.
I would like to create a model with simplified and detailed versions. For example, a model of a screw, with the option of showing detailed threads or not. In SolidWorks, I would have two Configurations. In z configuration called Detailed, the threads would be modeled explicitly as a helical cut. In a configuration called Default, the helical cut feature would be suppressed, so that the screw appeared as a simple cylinder. The appropriate configuration could be selected for a given purpose in the assembly model.
From what I learned in the class and read in the help files, it seems like Reference Sets would be the way to accomplish this. But I can't figure out how to control the visibility and/or suppression state of a particular feature in a particular Reference Set.
If I'm on the right track, what am I missing?
If I'm not, what approach would you take?
Thanks for your help,
Rob
I would like to create a model with simplified and detailed versions. For example, a model of a screw, with the option of showing detailed threads or not. In SolidWorks, I would have two Configurations. In z configuration called Detailed, the threads would be modeled explicitly as a helical cut. In a configuration called Default, the helical cut feature would be suppressed, so that the screw appeared as a simple cylinder. The appropriate configuration could be selected for a given purpose in the assembly model.
From what I learned in the class and read in the help files, it seems like Reference Sets would be the way to accomplish this. But I can't figure out how to control the visibility and/or suppression state of a particular feature in a particular Reference Set.
If I'm on the right track, what am I missing?
If I'm not, what approach would you take?
Thanks for your help,
Rob
Rob Campbell, PE





RE: Creating simplified & detailed versions of a part
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Creating simplified & detailed versions of a part
a good solution is using reference sets. The standard refence set "model" will use symbolic threads, another reference will use a detailed thread, a third one a simpliefed one.
If you open the attached sample you need to switch on the layers 2 and 3 to see all of the part geometrie.
If you insert the part into an assembly you can switch between the different reference sets.
Meinolf
RE: Creating simplified & detailed versions of a part
That is exactly how I thought it would work, but I can't figure out how to create the different reference sets with the different geometry.
As a test case, I created a plate with a hole in it; the plate is one extrude feature and the hole is another. I created a Detailed reference set. I'd like the hole to appear only in the Detailed reference set, but I can't figure out how to do this.
Could you provide more information on the actual procedure?
Also, how do I activate a specific reference set when I'm working on a part (instead of an assembly)?
Thanks,
Rob
Rob Campbell, PE
RE: Creating simplified & detailed versions of a part
Could this be integrated with Reference sets, so that changing to a Detailed reference set would set the value to 1 and switching to the Model reference set would set the value to 0? It wouldn't be as elegant as configurations in SolidWorks, but it would work.
(SolidWorks can track the suppressed/unsuppressed states of individual features. You can also specify whether new features added to a part will be automatically suppressed or unsuppressed in a given configuration, which makes them easier to maintain.)
Thanks,
Rob
Rob Campbell, PE
RE: Creating simplified & detailed versions of a part
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
http://www.siemens.com/plm
http://www.plmworld.org/museum/
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Creating simplified & detailed versions of a part
RE: Creating simplified & detailed versions of a part