Array

[Xwheelguy]

For those that are veteran users you are probably well aware that the only way to create a Circular Array of a solid body or sheet body that is a "standalone" body is to either use Group Features with Array, Extract with Array or Pattern Face. I have been somewhat patiently waiting for UGS to incorporate SOMETHING that will allow me to array an entire solid body or an entire sheet body. From what I am seeing, this doesn't seem to be a priority to them, so I am going to swallow my pride & ask if there is anyone out there that could create this as a UFUNC/Execute program for me? I would be more than willing to attempt such a feat, but at the moment I do not have the licensing nor the training to do so. I only have the above mentioned UFUNC/Execute license.

All I want to be able to do is take a solid body, sheet body or curve and associatively array it with MINIMAL mouse clicks. Group Feature is too time consuming, Pattern Face never works for me & Extract would double my file size, which there shouldn't be a NEED to do.

If anyone can do this, it would be GREATLY appreciated. I would be willing to consider a REASONABLE fee as well if the program was powerful enough. Should anyone be interested or willing, feel free to contact me via my profile. Thanks.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[HellBent]

I can see where a wheel designer would appreciate that function!....lol. I've done some motorcycle wheels and I always end up having only 1 parametric "spoke" and the rest are just dummies. It works but whenever you want to tweak something it's a total do-over.
Have you tried copying the body to another layer and then rotating it? Or maybe exporting the body and then importing it into the new position? You'd still have to edit each one individually but at least they'd be parametric. You've probably "been there done that".
I have wondered why they don't have that function yet...I'd use the crap out of it!

 

[Xwheelguy]

Yep. The lack of a single array function that will associatively array any sort of 3D surface or solid completely baffles me. When I look at the Array commands that are offered, I want to laugh because I know there are cheaper softwares out there that can completely outperform NX at 1/4 of the cost. I mean that in terms of efficiency only, not surface quality, etc.

As far as wheels go, I typically revolve our casting profile to what ever line of symmetry is appropriate. Some designs allow for a 15° section, others need to be a full 360° revolution.

After that, we usually go one of two routes. The more common method we use is to develop free form surfaces, sew them and use Trim Body to remove the material from the original revolution. Then we would use Group Feature and add the Revolve and the Trim Body followed by an Array to end up with a full wheel. The second method involves using Booleans to subtract the vent windows from the revolved casting. Using that method allows for the use of Array without any problems.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[mjcole]

You may want to try making the solid body a part and array it for your model in Assembly Mode.

For pattern face you could pattern for a cube the top face of the cube. and then the rest of the surfaces of the cube other than the top as a dim-linked array and do a sew sheet command to get the solid.

Michael

 

[J-C]

Yeah, UG's Array options are fairly limited which seems surprising considering the comapnies that use UG. SolidWorks will array(pattern) Linear, Circular, By sketch points, By x-y coordinates, Along a curve, and they just added Fill Pattern which patterns the feature within a region. You can pattern Features, faces, or bodies.

Does NX4 address this at all?

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2005 SP5.0 on WinXP SP2
SolidWorks 2006 SP0.0 on WinXP SP2

 

[HellBent]

If you made it an assembly arrayed component you would then have to wavelink all the pieces into a seperate file so you could unite them. Not an ideal solution but would work.

 

[Xwheelguy]

Without going into great detail as far as the why's are concerned, my only option is the UFUNC/Execute. Workarounds are fine for a temp fix, but unfortunately not what I am looking for. I do appreciate your responses though.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[HellBent]

You could always just do it in Solidworks....lmao.