Associatively scaling points... Is there a way?

[Shadowspawn]

Question of the day: How can you associatively scale a point set, or series of points on a spline? Any ideas?

Regards,
SS

CAD should pay for itself, shouldn't it?

 

[MickyV007]

Try Insert --> Datum/Point --> Point set --> Choose points on Curve from the menu.

BTW which version of NX are you on?

Best regards,

Michäël.

NX4+TC9 / NX6+TC8Unified / NX7.5 native

 

[cowski]

What version of NX?

What's the goal here? Are you using a point set to place let's say 5 equally spaced points on a spline; then you want to scale up the spline and have the points stay associative to the new spline?

 

[Shadowspawn]

NX 6.0.3...

What I have are points on a spline, which will be used to define cross strings in a thru-crv mesh... I need to be able to associatively "scale" in all directions (X/Y/Z) these points...

There's no problem coming up w/the original point set on a spline. Scaling the points, however, is proving to be a different animal.

Regards,
SS

CAD should pay for itself, shouldn't it?

 

[Shadowspawn]

To further clarify... I'm basically dealing with multiple cross sections of an airfoil (4 splines). Customer definition of the original call for cross runners between like numbered points from each section (think thru-crv mesh).

I design forging dies, and thus need to compensate for thermal distortion of the metal, as well as distorting of the airfoil when it cools. The dies I design incorporate the inverse of the distortions, so that after the hot forged blade cools and warps, we tend to get something closer to the final product that's ideal for machining, or even 'as forged' blades. We typically make 10 or so blades, scan them, and prduce an aggregate 'average' blade. I then, re-design/cut the dies for production. Maintaining associtivity is crucial.... as there are can easily be >5K expressions in the NX file (which I load into NX automatically via grip).

Regards,
SS

CAD should pay for itself, shouldn't it?

 

[cowski]

I'm not sure the attached will do what you want, but its something.

 

[JohnRBaker]

OK, if the Points on the Spline were created using a 'Point Set' with the 'Associative' option was toggled ON, there are a couple of things that you can do. You could go to...

Edit -> Transform...

...select the Spline, hit OK, select 'Scale', pick or enter some reference point for the Scale to be applied relative to, enter the scale value (if it's a uniform scale; select the 'Non-uniform Scale' option if it's not), hit OK, select 'Move' and when the one screen message comes up select 'Transform Parent'. The Spline will sacle and the Points will go along for the ride adjusting accordingly.

Alternatively, particularly if you would like to perhaps have more control over how you're applying the scale or perhaps would like to dynamically do so, go to...

Edit -> Surface -> X-Form...

...set the Type to 'Scale', select the Spline, area select all of the poles displayed, in the 'Scale Direction' section of the dialog se it to 'Scale Uniform' (unless of course you would like to use one of the several other scaling methods available), select the appropriate scheme to define the Scale Center, and after all the options are set just grab any of the select poles and drag it and the Spline will change in size. Once you get your desired result, just hit OK and the Points will snap into place on the now resized Spline.

If you wish to not change the size of the original Spline, then create a non-associative copy first, making sure that the copy you then manipulate is the parent to the Point Set.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

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

 

[jerry1423]

just a thought . . .
Instead of scaling the points, you may have get better results scaling the surface that was created from the points.