How to add a new material to the library in NX 7.5? 3

[drir]

Hi,

I want to add a new, user specific, material to NX 7.5 which I can use for each part I will make in the future without creating it each time. How to do this? I opened the physicalmateriallibrary.xml and phys_material.dat file already with the standard NX materials. However I tried to add a new material but when I save this file again, I get the message that I'm not allowed to change these files. Is it because these are not the files for adding a new material in NX 7.5?

Thanks

 

[JohnRBaker]

Did you use the dialog found at...

Tools -> Materials -> Manage Materials (Create)...

...to create your new material?

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

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

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

 

[drir]

Hi John,

Under Tools -> Material Properties I made already a new material but when I create a new part or I close NX, I have to create the material again. Is it not possible to add a new material to the material library which can be used every time you want, like you can choose the 'standard' materials from the list in NX?

Thanks

 

[JohnRBaker]

Once you've created your new material in one part file, you can export it to a user material XML file (just make sure that you place it somewhere other than the default directory since users are not allowed to create new material files in the NX material folder). Just go to...

Tools -> Materials -> Manage Library Materials...

...and set the Source Material List to 'Local Materials' and select the material(s) desired to be exported, enter a name for you user defined material file in the Target Material Library field (remembering to place to in some safe but accessible location) and hit OK.

Now when you open a new part and you wish to use your new material, just go to Assign Material dialog, expand the 'Libraries' section under Material List and toggle on 'User MatML Library' and select the folder where you've stored your material XML file(s). Or to make this even more 'automatic' go to...

Customer Defaults -> Gateway -> Materials-> Location(s)

...and toggle on the 'Enable' option in the 'Site MatML Library' section. Now in the 'MatML File Name' option, browse to your safe folder with your materials and select one of them (it's not important which one). And then include just the path under the 'Directory Name' option.

Now when you go to Assign Material this folder will be referencd by default and you can select your custom material. And if no matter where you create any future new materials and you include them in that safe folder, they will automatically be made available whenever you assign material in any part file. Note that when you are assigning materials, the custom materials will only show up if you've toggled OFF the 'NX Material Library' option in the 'Libraries' section of the Assign Material dialog.

Anyway, give that a try and see if this provides you what you're looking for.

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

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

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

 

[drir]

Hi John,

It works fine! However, in order to make it more automatic, I cannot find the option 'MatML File Name' for browsing to my material file. Or did you mean 'Library File Name' where I enabled the 'Site MatML Library'? I tried to put the path of my material file here, closed NX, started NX again, but my new materials don't show up in the assign material section. So I think that it went wrong where I have to browse to my material file for the 'MatML File Name'. Where can I find this in NX 7.5?

Sorry but I'm a newbie in NX ;-)

 

[JohnRBaker]

To find this setting, go to...

File -> Utilities -> Customer Defaults...

...and select the 'Materials' item under the list of 'Gateway' items. Then select the tab labeled 'Location(s)'.

Here is where you will find the items I discussed.

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

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

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

 

[baschuve]

What is the process for editing a custom material that has been added to the Site MatML Library, physicalmateriallibrary.xml file? It appears as locked in the Manage Materials dialog. Do I edit the .xml manually? Example would be a value that did not get populated or was not created with the correct value. Thanks.