Dimension TFR-TRI view in NX6

[jonmwilson]

I am having trouble adding dimensions to my drawing in NX6. My model view is TFR-TRI in drafting. Since my dimensions aren't angled properly with the lines in the drawing, I am not coming up with the right numbers. I have tried using "Parallel", "Perpindicular", and "Thickness" dimensions but nothing seems to work. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[JohnRBaker]

The recommended approach is to create those sorts of dimensions using PMI while still working in your model and then inheriting them onto your drawing.

If you don't have the PMI module, what you need to do is add the dimensions to your Modeling Trimetric view while the drawing is NOT being displayed where you can control the origin and orientation of the WCS since the the XY plane of the WCS is where the dimensions are placed and from which the projected points are measured. If you need to place dimensions on more than one orientation plane, you will have to move the WCS around as you create dimensions (you have to do a similar thing with PMI except there you only need to get the orientation correct as the origin is not as critical as it is when placing 'drafting' Dimensions in the 3D model view).

In either case, once you have the dimensions placed in your Modeling Trimetric view you simply add that view to the Drawing. For PMI dimension, you will need to select the view and in the Style dialog set the Inhert PMI options, while is you had placed simple Drafting Dimensions they should appears without any extra steps.

Below is an example I created using NX 6.0:

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.

 

[jonmwilson]

I am having trouble figuring out how to add the dimensions to the model and also have them show up in my drawing as you described. I do not have the PMI license so I am attempting your second approach. I've attached my model. Didn't know which feature allowed me to dimension the model. Could you add a couple dimensions like you say and maybe I can figure it out from there. Thanks.

 

[JohnRBaker]

Your file didn't help much since it's an Assembly and you failed to include any of the Components.

That being the case, let me try to explain how this works...

Unless you have the PMI module, you will need to enter Drafting but turn off the display of the drawing. Now set the view to be the one that you wish to add to your drawing (is you have to create a new saved view so that you have something that you can work with later when you create your drawing. Now while IN Drafting, but without the drawing displayed, you will need to move the WCS around as you create normal dimensions so that the dimensions both measure the correct distances (all dimensioning is done relative to the XY plane of the WCS) and are placed on the correct 'plane'. Once you've add all of your dimensions and notes, now turn the drawing display ON, and add a Base View selecting as the view the one which you were just working in. Note that you will need to completely finish adding ALL the desired dimensions, notations, symbols, etc. to the view BEFORE you add it to the drawing. Anyway, if you did thos correctly, you will have a view which looks similar to the image I posted in my last reply, at least with respect to how the dimensions are displayed.

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.

 

[Toost]

John,
-Is there a reason why you don't mention the "expand view" option?

The general problem is that the sizes of all drafting objects / settings needs to be scaled in reverse to the view scale.
Regards,
Tomas

 

[JohnRBaker]

Generally speaking, the approach I described is very similar to the one that you would use if you DID have PMI and used it to create you 3D annotation, so I guess I was promoting THAT idea which over time, more people will taking advantage of (PMI is already included in many of the 'NX bundles' which we sell) I might as well get people used to using a preferred workflow. Besides, in the future there may be less and less need for even having an 'Expand View' option and while there are currently NO plans to remove it, it will not be getting much attention in terms of enhancements or even making it easier to find and access.

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.

 

[Toost]

As i remember it, one could somehow automatically get the correct scaling of the dimension settings, but i cannot remember how it was done. ( This memory is very old, i can't even guess which version it was) - for example the text size got scaled 2x in a view scale 1:2 etc.
Any tips on this ?

 

[JohnRBaker]

Another reason to create your dims in a model view, either as PMI or normal annotation.

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.