Assign Density to a Family Part

[Kenja824]

I am creating a family part of a cylinder with 8 different stroke lengths. I am using expressions to the bodies to change their size depending on which stroke is chosen. Is it possible to add a density to a solid body through an expression, so it will change according to which stroke is changed?

I would have to add density and not material, as the body does not have all of the correct mechanisms inside, so I need to add specific densities to get the bodies to come out to the correct mass for each stroke. It would be cool if I can just write an "IF" statement into the density saying "=(IF(p345=25,.1467,IF(p345=50,.1778 etc... )) (Yes I know this was an excel formula. I know those better than others. it gets my point across.) lol

 

[JohnRBaker]

What version of NX are you using?

Depending on what version of NX that you're using you will have the option of assigning, to each family member, it's own Density, Material or Assigned Mass. If can use the 'Assigned Mass' option that may prove to be the best approach if you already know what the weight is supposed to be for each iteration of your family part, but you can still go the 'Density' route is that works better for you. When you create the Family Table part when the first 'Part Families' dialog opens, under the 'Available Columns' list you'll one of more of the options, 'Density, Material or Assigned Mass', available for inclusion in the family table spreadsheet. Note that each entry in the table must be an explicit value.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Digital Factory
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[Kenja824]

Ok. I have seen that, but I thought it was just adding the attribute to the properties of the family memeber and not actually giving it a real mass. So I thought you could look it up in properties, but if you did a measure bodies on the family member, it would not read that. I will give that a try and see how it go. Let you know tomorrow. There are a lot of family members to this one and I will let it create them tonight after I leave. lol

Thanks

 

[JohnRBaker]

I know with the 'Material' option, you have to have actually assigned a Material to the part before you create the family. As for 'Density', all solid bodies already have an assigned Density so there is nothing that needs to be done ahead of time. Not sure about the 'Assigned Mass' as I've never had an occasion to use that option, which is relatively new.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Digital Factory
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.