Need Help with NX Part List 2

[realmagicracer]

Hi. I'm trying to customize the automatic part list in nx5 and create a template. I'd like to add additional description fields (material, part number, etc.) and different part name (not file name). But the help documentation is quite poor about it.
Additionaly I see another problem with the automatic generated files in Mold Wizard. There are many secondary part files, which are redundant in the part list.

Can you help me about it?

 

[hudson888]

I think this may be what you meant to ask about...

If you have drawing templates that you are ready to customize with borders in various sizes then in each you can add standardized attributes under File>Properties using the "Attributes" Tab. The standard ones to add would be "Title, Description, Scale, Date" etc anything that you want to add to the title block. Again while customizing your template files you would add notes that are linked to these attributes and place them into the title block on the drawing. You can do this via the annotation editor if you can find the relationships tab, and the icon for "Part Attribute" then select the attribute that you wish to use from the list of attributes that you created earlier (this list should appear/pop-up in a separate window). If you create an attribute called "Title" with the text value "HELLO" then when you pick title from the list of part attributes the note would read "HELLO". If you edit that note then is shows up as <W@TITLE>. you should be able to set up an easy to use title block in each of your template files in this way.

When working with drawings you create you would then edit the attributes to fill out your title block. Many people set this up because they find it quicker and easier to edit the attributes that to change the notes using the annotation editor.

Try adding a parts list as well while customizing your drawing templates. These can use attributes drawn from the model files and assemblies. Many companies might like to have different parts lists for assembly drawings from those used for single components. Some I have seen set up two sets of drawing border templates to allow for this.

There are sample drawing templates shipped with NX. They are set up to work as Palletes so if you search for *.pax in the installation directories you can find metric_drawing_templates.pax or english_drawing_templates.pax. By adding these under Preferences>Palletes and by looking at their contents using a simple text editor you should be able to get a head start on customizing drafting formats.

Many people ask this question on the forum. I usually answer that this will be a good start. I have used samples like these and made changes for each different company that I work for. By starting with a working example you can make changes and if you find the dialogs unfamiliar and difficult then hit <F1> for help on context. To otherwise attempt to explain how best to make drawing templates is an even longer answer. There are many steps but most are small and easy, so with the help of a good example you may not need s more detailed explanation. If you still get stuck post under this thread just about that problem and we will no doubt help you.

You have posted a second question or comment about mold wizard that is unrelated. It would be easier of you made two posts on separate topics. Somebody else may take up that question since mold wizard isn't my specialty.

Best Regards

Hudson

P.S. When you posy always state what version of NX you are using?

 

[ewh]

Good post, Hudson!
As to the specifics of the OP, you can edit the attributes in the PL and add and subtract columns and attributes as needed, using Hudsons advice. As he mentioned, it is best to do this in template files to maintain consistency and a smoother work flow.

Believe it if you need it
or leave it if you dare

 

[realmagicracer]

OK. But I asked about part list (BOM).
The problem is following: I have a few parts in assembly. These parts have their own attributes for part name, part number, material, etc. How can I call these custom variables in the part list (BOM) , and how can I create my own part list template (BOM)?
As I wrote, the documentation is quite poor about part list customization. Maybe some working example like CAST should be ideal.

Best regards
Dimo Urumov

P.S. I use NX5.0.0.25 and NX5.0.2.2

 

[hudson888]

Dimo,

The using parts lists on a drawing has elements that aren't altogether different from the Title Block setup that I described above, in that it can use attributes. As I mentioned the attributes will be drawn from the component files that are added to your drawing. There are also a couple of extra types of fields that you can define for callouts (item numbers), quantities and weights.

As with the drawing templates you should find palletes of tables that include some part lists in a file called "tables.pax". Again you can perform a search in the installation directories to find it. There are some generic parts lists that I would use to start with and some versions of a more complex parts list for assemblies that you probably don't want to bother with.

Open your component and add an attribute called "Title" with the test value "Hello". Then add that component to a drawing. I suggest using the tables pallete to add a generic parts list for the sake of the examples I am describing.

Parts lists are just a special type of table so if you know how to use tables then parts list will be not much more complex. Depending on where you mouse over the cells, rows or columns will allow you to select one or the other to work with. You want to be in Object Selection Mode for this, and it is helpful to zoom right in so that you can mouse over the right area of cells to highlight rows or columns as opposed to individual cells. As with tables the right mouse button brings up a menu of operations you can perform on the selected cells.

You can work with the whole partslist by selecting the origin as indicated by a boxed + sign. One important operation available for the whole parts list is "Edit Levels". It controls how many levels of an assembly are displayed. You have the option to filter out components from sub-assemblies by adjusting these settings correctly.

So I'll just take you through adding a column and using an attribute from your components. You start by selecting a column and with the right mouse button you should find Insert>Columns to the Left, or Columns to the right on the pop-up menu. Having added a column you then select that new column and, with the right mouse button again, find the Style option from the pop-up menu. If you have selected the column properly the resulting menu includes a tab labeled "Columns". By selecting that tab you'll find everything you need to populate your parts list. At the top there is the Column Type, General, Callout or Quantity. Below that is the "Attribute Name" tab, and you should find an icon at the left side of the page with a hooked arrow and three dots... When you click that icon you should see your attribute called "title" listed somewhere near the bottom. When you select it you'll see the attribute default text becomes <W$=@TITLE>, and after you hit OK again the first cell above the header row should contain the text "Hello" as you might expect. Select the bottom cell only and edit the text of the header line to read "TITLE" if you wish, and that's about it.

The example partslist already contains a callout field and a quantity. When you were looking at the various attributes listed above "Title" it the list where you selected if from, (see above), then you would see several other generic attributes that start with a $ sign, they are also very useful, and I'm sure you will find most of what you need in the documentation, or help on context via the <F1> key.

If you want to use callouts for the first time I expect you'll ask, but you should first search the forum for earlier threads on the same topic. I'm sure it has been explained here several times before.

Well I Really Hope this helps you this time....

Regards

Hudson

 

[realmagicracer]

Thanks about detailed explanation. It's realy helpful. But it just clicked another peroblem connected to the Part Lists and Title Blocks which you mentioned.
I have a part file with attribute TITLE=Hello. Now I can call it in assembly drawing BOM. And it's OK.
But when I create part drawing using template, and I try to make automatic fill in the title block. I use <W@TITLE> and it calls TITLE variable in drawing-part file, which is parent.
The original TITLE var. was called using <W!28845@TITLE>. I suppose that 28845 is "random" number, and I can't use it into template.
Is there a way to call TITLE variable from part file into drawing-part file?

Regards: Dimo Urumov

 

[hudson888]

Yes I know what you mean, in part because we had a thread some time back that was asking the same question. Top of the page for this forum allows you to make a google search of Eng-Tips Forums on any subject so you ought to be able to find and read through some of the earlier topics.

What I would normally advise is that in the past we used parts lists on every drawing including those for the individual components. This was so that we could gain access to those attributes in an automated fashion. It seemed to be the only way to do it, things may change in newer releases so it is always work checking, but once you have a system in place you often persist with it just to be consistent.

In looking into the user's earlier post on a similar topic I became aware of the <W!28845@TITLE> scenario that you mentioned above. The numeric portion relates to the object number and you're right it is unreliable for use with a template.

The part attributes that I mentioned earlier that are pre-assigned and start with a $ sign, have been expanded from NX-4 to NX-5 so you may find something useful as a work around in there. Otherwise unless greater experts in NX-5 than I can come to the rescue then I think the options that you have are limited.

One work around that I have used is to copy and Paste like named attributes from file to file. I name some of the attributes in part files using identical names with the attributes used for the title block in the drawings. Then if the part file has the attribute called "title" with the text value "HELLO" then you can go file properties and highlight one or more attributes that you wish to copy, using the Copy Icon. When you swap into the part file you want to go File>Properties and Paste. So if the title block contains a note with the value <W@TITLE> then the text of the face of the drawing will be updated to read "HELLO". Remember you can do more than one attribute this way so when doing several similar drawings I tend to copy all the attributes from the first to the second , third etc... Then I change only those attributes which differ from one to the next. Your own name, the date material and probably the majority of other items in a title block are relatively repetitive so it is a very helpful method.

Hope this helps

Best Regards

Hudson