Large Assembly Structure
Large Assembly Structure
(OP)
I was told that for better performance, the main assembly and its main sub-assemblies should only contain datums and reference geometry (=considered as initiated by Assembly Template) and under those sub-assemblies, parts and components (=considered as initiated by Part Template). Like in other CAD, NX doesn’t have two type of designated Assy/Part templates structure, should it be considered such a method when building a large assembly in NX? Is this true?
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks





RE: Large Assembly Structure
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Large Assembly Structure
In NX, since there’re is no difference in Assembly template and part template; it’s chaotic and no followed structure or hierarchy that I could follow to see how the subcomponents are being inserted in the design tree. E.g.: Screws are inserted under one part and again inserted as a main component (parallel to the first part level or above) and wave linked from all-over and then subtracted. What a confusion!
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: Large Assembly Structure
Perhaps you should consider finding an NX mentor and/or getting some formal training.
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Large Assembly Structure
I’ve undergone formal NX training and quite well understand the process. What worries me is that I’m unable to establish proper best field practices with NX as there is no such documentation to be found. Everybody including every individual designer in the same design teams are following different design methodology, kind of cut and paste approach to patch up the mess on top of the mess. It’s hard to see anyone bothers to go back to clean up the design tree. Cloned deigns becomes horrible as the tree grows longer and longer with features, and then there is Parameters removed Body and then again continuation. I have seen the same body being linked and deleted 4 times repeatedly inside the same part. (BTW these are external designs, not our internal designs) I unable to decide if this is the flexibility that NX offer or the personal misconduct and bad habit.
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: Large Assembly Structure
Sounds like some of both.
NX is a powerful design tool; like other powerful tools it can be used to great or disastrous effect. I highly doubt that having specific file types would solve the problem, you'd just end up with different problems.
www.nxjournaling.com
RE: Large Assembly Structure
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Large Assembly Structure
We'll consider a very basic situation! "A mother block and an insert".
So there is a main assembly part with no features but datums. Then under that main assembly, insert the mother block part. Now the insert; I assume it should go one level under the mother block or it should reside at a parallel level with the mother block; directly under the main assembly? I see both ways and would like to know the best practice.
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: Large Assembly Structure
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Large Assembly Structure
Yes I’m doing a large Automotive body panel Transfer die. (Please don’t think I’m writing without doing my homework.)
We have taken 5days long NX formal training in PDW and have unutilised 3 PDW licences with active subscription. {Please check my signature again.
Before PDW, I would like to build a solid foundation by ironing out the issues with NX's native work process and setting up best practices. As a start, basic things like above Mother block and insert question!
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: Large Assembly Structure
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Large Assembly Structure
Please don't go away. (old is golden) I don't need PDW help right now.
I would appreciate if you could share your long experience from NX's basics to Large Assembly's best practices (The Topic). Answers to simple questions like block and insert.
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: Large Assembly Structure
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Large Assembly Structure
I wish NX had a better 5S file structure. Unfortunately it allows to use an untidy, unruly and a mess of a file structure. It’s very hard to keep up the integrity of the design throughout as it hands down or while passing through different hands.
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: Large Assembly Structure
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Large Assembly Structure
No matter what the legacy is, only efficiency & productivity will ensure our future and it’s this what bringing back manufacturing to NA. Be ready to serve the need or they will go somewhere else.
Technology has evolved so much and today I don’t want to work the way I worked 25 years ago.
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: Large Assembly Structure
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Large Assembly Structure
Team centre - I thought it's mere PLM system and to my knowledge and experience in other PDM system, it doesn’t control how the file structures are built but by the CAD programs itself. Sorry, may be I’m mistaken or underestimated TC performance.
After having unutilised 3 PDW licences (Which would have had directly impact on our efficiency, if could have been implemented promptly) I don’t think that we could bear Teamcentre on top of that cost.
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: Large Assembly Structure
RE: Large Assembly Structure
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Large Assembly Structure
Industry creates wealth!
RE: Large Assembly Structure
My other concern is avoiding circular references in the "LARGE ASS'Y STRUCTURE". I suspect the way NX users are getting around this is by using “Remove Paramerter” at those situations and sacrificing prarmetric behaviour of the design.
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: Large Assembly Structure
No. At least not the users that know (and care about) what they are doing.
In a previous post you mention working with outside design firms. I've also been in that situation, you can get some crazy files from people of questionable skills. Determine some rules that work within your group, then make sure those rules are added to any contract paperwork with these outside firms.
www.nxjournaling.com
RE: Large Assembly Structure
The thing that's needed in this case is called 'design methodology'. The set of rules which all designers have to follow. I know from experience that it's not easy to enforce and to get used to using one, but once desinger have taken it into their heads the benefits are obvious for both them and the company.
Also, once good design methodology is developed and implemented at your site you will really understand and appreciate the single part format the NX provides.
Industry creates wealth!