Retrieval point for a component

[KrausAl]

Hello,
We have several components where the users were not careful when they were created "top-down". The component now has a postion as if it were "rigged in space" to the proper position in that assembly. The problam is that when I use the component in other assemblies it is not positioned relative to the part geometry.

By default, NX uses the absolute zero of the component part as the reference point.

Moving the geometry to the zero point is not an option because that will mess up any existing assemblies that utilize the component. Yes, I know that I can specify to mate it or move it during the add process and that is a solution. I am just hopeing to find a way to control the retrieval point so that the destination point I select on the screen is not 6 feet away from where the component appears.

In the old days, I could define a reference point and orientation during reference set creation. Can this ability still be turned on? If not, is there any way I can set the retrival point of a component. We are currently running NX 7.5.5.4

Thanks
Al Kraus

 

[cowski]

In the old days, I could define a reference point and orientation during reference set creation.

Sounds like an interesting option, how long ago was this?
I'm not aware of any such option in recent versions.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[jerry1423]

I don't think that option was there for creating refernce sets,
but it is there when working with a top-down assembly and create new component when specifying the reference point

 

[JohnRBaker]

why not simply position your Components using Assembly Constraints?

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

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

 

[Toost]

John, you are not living in the real world. Imagine placing a couple of thousand components, which is what we do for living, and you need to correct the position of "quite a few" due to the component has the wrong "zero". Not fun. But yes we do use constraints, where necessary.

Cowski,Jerry, : it was there in NX5 or NX6, it was as i remember it removed because the point/ orientation was only used when the component was placed during add component, when the same component was to be moved , the point/ orientation was no longer available. - I think the function / button was "Reference set CSYS".
The function might still be available to enable, i can't remember if it is or not.

I think I have read somewhere ( Whats new in NX10 ?) that the option of "placement point" will return in NX10.
( we have written ER's about this several years ago.)

Regards,
Tomas

 

[KrausAl]

Hello,

Thanks for the responses.

cowski: I found it back in my NX2 notes. I do not know when it went away. By defining a reference set CSYS, you could control the retrieval point and the orientation of the component as it was added. Here is the link to a screen grab I found from some of my old training materials.

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...-4e6b-b1ac-6dfe0e020fc2&file=Ref_Set_CSYS.jpg

Jerry 1423: Yes, I am aware that it can be defined during the top down component creation. That is what I wish the users had done but... they don't always remember until it is too late.

John: Thanks for your suggestion. I do frequently use mates/constraints when adding a component but there are some times when I just want to drop it in and that is when I see the problem.

I am just an old school guy. I was happy to hear about the Siemens developers working on allowing the dialogs to be pushed off to a second monitor. Good plan! When will the PFK come back