Adding Features to a Rectangular Pattern

[marksummers]

I am using NX 7.5. I have a rectangular pattern of an extrude feature (round hole). I added four tapped holes (one hole feature and a rectangular pattern to creat the other three) around the original circular hole. Now, I want to add these four new tapped holes to the existing rectangular pattern. When I right-click on the pattern in the tree, the only option that looks like what I need is "Replace", which I can't get to work.

Any ideas out there?

 

[JohnRBaker]

Basically, you're attempting to 'Instance' an 'Instance'. That's not possible with NX 7.5 but is supported starting with NX 8.0 and the new 'Pattern Feature' functionality.

The best that you can do in NX 7.5 is to create a single hole, create the bolt circle around it and then do a rectangular instance of the 5 holes.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
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Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
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To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[Walterke]

Because I'm curious about the question:
Is there a way to get from what he has now, to what you're suggesting?
Can you 'add' features to an existing pattern?

NX 7.5.5.4 with Teamcenter 8 on win7 64
Intel Xeon @3.2GHz
8GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro 2000

 

[carlharr]

Hello,

You can't add the new hole pattern into the existing feature array, but if you create it in the other order, you can array the array.

So:

1. create the first hole
2. create the second hole (tapped), and then array it around the first
3. create your second array, and select the first hole, plus the 4 instances of the second hole

That works fine (the preview looks rubbish but hit ok anyway and its good).

http://www.jcb.com

NX 7.5 with TC 8.3

 

[carlharr]

Alternatively, a much easier way to do this is using the pattern command in sketch, and new hole command.

So:

1. create a sketch with a point in to locate your first hole
2. use pattern in the sketch to array the point

3. create a second sketch with a point located near the first hole (dimensioned from it if you wish)
4. in the second sketch, use pattern to create a circular array around the first point
5. then, use pattern again to create your linear array of the circular pattern

And that's it.
You can now use the hole command to create your "two" holes, by picking each sketch from the feature navigator as your locator.
I've just created 20 holes of two types using only 4 features.

Finally, if you want to tie the sketches together for updates, create some expressions for count and pitch.
Then go back into the sketches and double click on the pattern constraint to edit it and select the expression.

Regards, Carl

http://www.jcb.com

NX 7.5 with TC 8.3

 

[marksummers]

You guys are amazing. Thanks for all the good suggestions.

However, my (and evidently Walterke's) question still remains, can you add features to an existing rectangular array? It sounds like the answer is "no" based on carlharr's response. It seems like such a simple thing, I can do it in Pro/E rather easily.

 

[cowski]

I think John answered that in the 2nd line of his post.

Basically, you're attempting to 'Instance' an 'Instance'. That's not possible with NX 7.5 but is supported starting with NX 8.0 and the new 'Pattern Feature' functionality.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[marksummers]

Actually, I am not wanting to know how to "instance an instance", I just want to know if after I generate a rectangular feature pattern in NX75, is it possible to create a new feature and add it to the existing rectangular parttern.

 

[carlharr]

Hi Mark,

You can't edit an existing array to add further features to it.
The selection window doesn't pop up - however it's quite an old command (and now obsolete).

Regards, Carl

http://www.jcb.com

NX 7.5 with TC 8.3

 

[crecore]

You can edit a component array so it only makes sense that they have made feature array more robust to do the same.
However I am pretty sure there is a work around if you think ahead. If you array a feature group you can later reposition newly added features (dragging in timestamp order) to before the feature group, then add them to the feature group, this should update the array.

NX 8.0.1.5