NX6 Assembly Cut Feature

[wiengines]

Using NX6.

I have an assembly that was designed in mm. In this assembly, there is one assembly cut feature. We have noticed that when this assembly is added as a component to another metric file, everything appears as it should.

However, when this assembly is added to an inch file, the body that had the assembly cut applied to it moves out into space. Has anyone seen this behavior before?

Chris T.
Project Design Analyst
Kohler Co. Engine Division
Using NX6

 

[JohnRBaker]

Are the Components of the Assembly constrained (using Assembly Constraints and NOT Mating Conditions)? The 'tool body' used to create the Assembly Cut, was it an Assembly Component constrained within the Assembly or was it a solid body created in the context of the Assembly explicitly for this operation?

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

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

 

[wiengines]

John,

To answer your questions:
1) The components are constrained using assembly constraints.
2) The tool body was a solid body created in the context of the assembly explicitly for this operation.

Chris T.
Project Design Analyst
Kohler Co. Engine Division
Using NX6

 

[JohnRBaker]

OK, I've tested NX 6.0.5.3 using an assembly modified in the manner that you have decribed and have verified that the problem you observed DOES indeed occur when adding this Metric Assembly to an Imperial units part as a Component. Furthermore, when I add this same Assembly to a Metric assembly there are no issues, again, as you described.

So I then opened a session of NX 7.5.5.4 and duplicated these tests, first adding the NX 6.0 Metric Assembly as a Component to an NX 7.5 Metric Assembly and then repeating this same workflow using an NX 7.5 Imperial units Assembly, and in BOTH cases the results were correct, all of the Components, whether they were the 'target' of the Assembly Cut feature or not, were exactly where they should be. Therefore, it appears that whatever the issue was, it does NOT manifest itself when creating this mixed-unit Assembly using NX 7.5.

Now you can report this problem to GTAC if you wish, but I must warn you that the door is about to slam shut (and I mean this literally) on the lifecycle of NX 6.0, but it's still technically open so if you're not able to upgrade at this time to the current 'supported' versions of NX (preferably NX 8.0), you can still try to get a patch, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

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

 

[wiengines]

John,

Thanks for looking into this. We need to upgrade, but I'm afraid that decision is above my pay grade. Which is a shame, considering there is real value in doing so.

Chris T.
Project Design Analyst
Kohler Co. Engine Division
Using NX6

 

[JohnRBaker]

Perhaps it's time to make lemonade...

If this workflow, creating mixed unit assemblies which includes Assembly Cut features, is a common process for you, perhaps you can use this as leverage with your management by pointing out the fact that this problem will go away if you were allowed to upgrade.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

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

 

[wiengines]

I logged a call with GTAC, and updating to the latest MP resolved the issue. Which is too bad, this is just one less reason that I can use to convince management to upgrade...

Chris T.
Project Design Analyst
Kohler Co. Engine Division
Using NX6

 

[JohnRBaker]

Note that I generally don't install all the MP's, only the MR's, particularly once I start working with the more recent versions of NX, which is why my copy of NX 6.0 didn't have what apparently was the fix that was in NX 7.5. Anyway, I'm glad that we fixed your problem but now you're going to have to try and find something else to use as a 'club' in your quest to upgrade ;-)

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

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