Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
(OP)
Good afternoon to all users,
I'm trying to instance an edge blend using an existing feature pattern as a reference in NX8.5: I've tried all sort of settings but I couldn't get my blend properly patterned! Furthermore, I get a warning message ("Edge blend cannot be patterned without its body patterns") immediately after the selection of the feature to be instanced.
As a final note, the blend is applied on a patterned boolean feature (subtract).
Thanks everybody in advance and...I really miss my "blend all instances" feature!
I'm trying to instance an edge blend using an existing feature pattern as a reference in NX8.5: I've tried all sort of settings but I couldn't get my blend properly patterned! Furthermore, I get a warning message ("Edge blend cannot be patterned without its body patterns") immediately after the selection of the feature to be instanced.
As a final note, the blend is applied on a patterned boolean feature (subtract).
Thanks everybody in advance and...I really miss my "blend all instances" feature!





RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
I tested the above on a very simple model in NX8 and got an error message saying that I needed to change the Pattern Method to Variational in order to include the Blend. Once I did that, the Pattern worked fine for me. As I stated, though, someone will probably need to have a better idea of the model and workflow being used to offer a working suggestion.
Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 8.0.3.4
Win7 Pro x64 SP1
Intel Xeon 2.53 GHz 6GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
I've uploaded a simple test file which explains the problem I'm currently having with instancing of edge blends.
Thanks for your kind hints
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
Remember, that Blend is now created with Pattern command. It is not as in previous versions, where you have placed a blend on already created instanced feature (with using 'blend all instances').
I have uploaded my model, so that you can see, what I have done.
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
Nevertheless, my goal was not to simply have slots and blends, rather to find the correct way to link a new instance (blend) to an existing one (subtract).
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
The error message in pattern command also describes, that if you select just edge blend, it is not enough. You have to select also the parent feature.
And your fixed model is attached.
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
Is there any way to get same result with two instances, where the second refers to the first one?(I'd like to understand how the layout option "Refernce" under "Pattern definition" works)
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
I changed the "slots" to "wings" for easier viewing.
Then added two blends...
pink applies to the instanced "wing" only
blue applies to both the instanced "wing" and the original revolved.
Although both patterns initially complained that parent objects were required, once I'd selected reference pattern, and the correct instance handle for first feature, they've both worked fine.
Yes I could have moved the blends before the original pattern and included them, but I think reference is working ok.
I'll try again on the OP model.
www.jcb.com
NX 8.5 with TC 8.3
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
I do have generally a "complex" body to unite/subtract plus some additional feature (like blends) to add later on
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
Reference pattern does't work at all if the original boolean is a separate feature - I've tested both with your version and with mine.
www.jcb.com
NX 8.5 with TC 8.3
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
it's a real pity in my opinion that instanced boolean is no longer available as well as the "blend all instances feature"...
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
That said, there are times when you can't include the blend till afterwards, and blend all instances was pretty straightforward!
www.jcb.com
NX 8.5 with TC 8.3
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
Something that might still be around is Group Feature (just checked and it's Format -> Group -> Feature Group). The workflow is something like this:
1. create the features you want to be patterned first (booleans can be included or excluded with features I THINK).
2. create the feature group and add the features you wish to be in the named group (add Booleans if they are separate from their parent features)
3. instance the feature group.
I used to design OEM and aftermarket aluminum wheels and while the patterning or instancing of blends was at times a challenge, we were always able to come up with a workflow that would give us what we wanted. Did I always end up modeling a part the way I wanted or anticipated? No, I did have to change my approach at times. I will have to say that Blend All Instances option was nice but it didn't always work, depending on the situation.
Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 8.0.3.4
Win7 Pro x64 SP1
Intel Xeon 2.53 GHz 6GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
Might model the alloys off my car later that would be a good challenge for patterning, thanks for the idea!
Attached an image of the OP's part, which is a solid revolve, followed by a slot which is revolved, subtracted and then patterned.
So, I just created a feature group with the slot revolve and the subtract inside, which I then patterned (by selecting the feature group itself).
I then added the blend, and attempted to reference pattern it, but it still failed.
The reference only seems to work if the original subtraction is inside the revolve feature - unless I've done the feature grouping wrong?
www.jcb.com
NX 8.5 with TC 8.3
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
If I recall correctly, Booleans outside their parents must be included in the Feature Group (else they won't be Instanced/Patterned). Blends may or may not work using that workflow, it was hit and miss and I was never able to figure out why that was such.
However, once Instance Geometry hit the toolbars, I was set - I'd just model a "slice" and then when completed Instance the solid body and Unite all the pieces into one solid. Didn't need to worry about the pattern of anything changing, as those things were decided long before I got my hands on the math.
Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 8.0.3.4
Win7 Pro x64 SP1
Intel Xeon 2.53 GHz 6GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
In the part I created a feature group which contained the revolved slot, and the following subtract boolean.
I then patterned the feature group.
Finally I tried to reference that pattern for the blend, which failed.
So it looks like feature group might not work this time.
www.jcb.com
NX 8.5 with TC 8.3
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
A "slice" type model with a blend required between the slices, and again reference pattern doesn't work.
Possibly because of the unite, but there's no way to change that here.
Someone suggested including half the blend each side in the sketch, which did work although not "elegant".
Interestingly, in NX7.5 "array" does the unite as part of the command, which I didn't realise.
And then "blend all instances" worked just fine.
Still, there's always a way - maybe I should have just used pattern in my sketch!
www.jcb.com
NX 8.5 with TC 8.3
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
I still prefer Instance Geometry to the Pattern Feature command as I'm messing around with Pattern Feature a little more. Definitely doesn't care for some Booleans. Even had it give me an error message, I went in and changed some settings (before hitting OK or Apply), then changed them back and the error message disappeared and it did everything it originally said it couldn't (see the movie).
I feel that the Pattern Feature may behave better with the Booleans embedded with the parent features (Revolve, Extrude, Sweep, etc.) when possible. The reason I say this is because other than when performing Booleans between associative bodies (like after a Mirror then Unite), the Booleans can now be changed within the parent, so there isn't a really good reason to keep them external from their parents anymore (in my opinion).
Hopefully all attachments will work.
Pattern_NX8.zip
pattern_movie_NX8.zip
Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 8.0.3.4
Win7 Pro x64 SP1
Intel Xeon 2.53 GHz 6GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
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RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
Did you see the .avi and the behavior of which I was speaking regarding the warning/error message appearing then disappearing after settings are changed then changed back to default? Does it still do this in newer versions of NX?
Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 8.0.3.4
Win7 Pro x64 SP1
Intel Xeon 2.53 GHz 6GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
I've played around with Pattern Feature a bit more and for how I would approach your example, I find it just fine. Not sure why the Blend needs to reference the original Pattern and have a separate Pattern?
More examples of how I prefer to use Patterns/Instances. I tend to try to complete as much detail as possible then perform the pattern and a final union. Hope these are useful.
pattern3_nx8.prt
pattern4_nx8.prt
Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 8.0.3.4
Win7 Pro x64 SP1
Intel Xeon 2.53 GHz 6GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB
RE: Instancing an edge blend in NX8.5
I'll have a look at these and come back to you.
Thanks agaain! Carl
www.jcb.com
NX 8.5 with TC 8.3