I am trying to insert datum planes into an assembly and have not figured out how to do that. Is this possible or am I completely out of luck. Thanks in advance.
You should be able to do it just like in any other model file.
If you want to attach a plane to the face of a component you will need to use "promotion". If you need instruction on that then let me know.
Link a body or face, same thing in terms of creating an associative datum plane. Otherwise just set your WCS to the plane that you need and create a plane on XY which will be non-associative.
It depends on whether you want to create associative Datum Planes (which will update if the component that you referenced updates) or just ones that are located relative to the components but which will not update is there are changes made to the components.
If you're not interested in creating associative Datum Planes, then when you open the Datum Plane dialog, open the section labeled 'Settings' and toggle OFF the 'Associative' option (that's if you're running NX 5, but if not, just look for the 'Associative' toggle in the lower-left corner of the dialog). Now you can select edges and faces of components to define your Datum Plane locations.
However, if you wish to create them so that they will update when the original components are modified or moved, leave the 'Associative' toggle on. Now if you wish to create a Datum Plane that references some edges or faces in one or more components, you must first create WAVE linked copies of those items in the Work Part before you create the Datum Planes. To do that, first go to Insert -Associative Copy -> WAVE Geometry Linker... and select the items (edges, faces, curves, etc.) that you wish to reference.
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA