Sketch constraints in NX8.5

[GaryFisken]

This post will be part rant and part a desperate call for help.

Background (you can skip this part)
I work for, what I would guess, is one of the bigger companies using NX. We have recently switched from NX6 to NX8.5. We have our own CAD methodology that must be followed for the models to be as robust as possible. Since the switch, at least once a day I am finding something new that frustrates me, whether its a bug or a new feature. NX8.5 seem to have a lot of bugs and is plagued by many, MANY poor design choices by the development.

The Problem
The biggest source of frustration is the new "improved" way of constraining sketches. And yes, I know that you can just click the lines and a menu will pop up offering you available constraints.

We build most of our models using lots of datum planes and then constrain lines to these planes. Of course, you cannot select the datum planes inside sketcher since the default selection filter is Within Active Sketch Only (I don't see an option in Customer Defaults to change this).

So I switch to Within Work Part Only, but then I get a seizure from all the flashing on the screen. It wants to select, not only the datums but faces and the bodies in the work part (not that you can constrain anything to faces or bodies in sketcher). Naturally I check Detailed Filtering and de-select faces and bodies from the Types tab (in NX6 they aren't even present in this list). I use this until I realize that I no longer can select End point, Midpoint etc. from the curves inside my sketch.

Can anyone suggest a better work flow or some settings that can make my life easier?

Since I am likely stuck with this version of NX for several years to come I ask you for help with this particular problem.

 

[SDETERS]

I set up accelerator keys which points to different macros. For Example I hit alt+c I get Coincident point to point if I hit alt+z I get collinear. What is also great about these macros there is a special line that changes that annoying within active sketch issue. What is also nice NX filters for objects depending on which constraint I use.

Here is one macro I use to constrain with.

This macro could probably need some help. I have this one named concentric.macro

ASK_ITEM 2686976 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  ! Make Reference
ASK_ITEM 3276800 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  ! Automatic Selection Progression
ASK_ITEM 3670016 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 3997696 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 4325376 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 4653056 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 4980736 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 5308416 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 5636096 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 5963776 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 6291456 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 6619136 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 6946816 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 7274496 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 7602176 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 7602176 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
ASK_ITEM 7929856 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 7929856 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
ASK_ITEM 8257536 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 8257536 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
ASK_ITEM 8585216 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 8585216 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
ASK_ITEM 8912896 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 8912896 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
ASK_ITEM 9240576 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 9240576 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
ASK_ITEM 9568256 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 9568256 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
ASK_ITEM 9895936 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 9895936 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
ASK_ITEM 10223616 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
ASK_ITEM 10223616 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
DIALOG_BEGIN "Geometric Constraints" 0 ! DA2
BEG_ITEM 327680 (1 RADI 0) = 8  ! Collinear
BEG_ITEM 917504 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  ! Object to Constrain
BEG_ITEM 1507328 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  ! Object to Constrain to
BEG_ITEM 2097152 (0 BOOL 0) = 0  ! 
BEG_ITEM 2686976 (0 BOOL 0) = 0  ! Make Reference
BEG_ITEM 3276800 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  ! Automatic Selection Progression
BEG_ITEM 3670016 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
BEG_ITEM 3997696 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
BEG_ITEM 4325376 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
BEG_ITEM 4653056 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
BEG_ITEM 4980736 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
BEG_ITEM 5308416 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
BEG_ITEM 5636096 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
BEG_ITEM 5963776 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
BEG_ITEM 6291456 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
BEG_ITEM 6619136 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
BEG_ITEM 6946816 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
BEG_ITEM 7274496 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  !  
BEG_ITEM 7602176 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
BEG_ITEM 7929856 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
BEG_ITEM 8257536 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
BEG_ITEM 8585216 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
BEG_ITEM 8912896 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
BEG_ITEM 9240576 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
BEG_ITEM 9568256 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
BEG_ITEM 9895936 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
BEG_ITEM 10223616 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  !  
BEG_ITEM 10944514 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  ! Preview
ASK_ITEM 917504 (1 BOOL 0) = 0  ! Object to Constrain
ASK_ITEM 917504 (1 BOOL 0) = 1  ! Object to Constrain
EVENT FOCUS_IN 0 0, 327680, 8, 0, 0! Collinear
ASK_ITEM 327680 (1 RADI 0) = 8  ! Collinear
EVENT VALUE_CHANGED 0 0, 327680, 9, 0, 0! Concentric
ASK_ITEM 327680 (1 RADI 0) = 9  ! Concentric
ASK_ITEM 327680 (1 RADI 0) = 9  ! Concentric
ASK_ITEM 2686976 (0 BOOL 0) = 0  ! Make Reference
TBR COMBO UG_SEL_SCOPE_FILTER 4 -7 0
TBR COMBO UG_SEL_SCOPE_FILTER 1 2 1
  LINE  "Within Work Part Only"

 

[PrintScaffold]

Filter menu on the extreme left (don't have its name on top of my head) will help you to select only the datums bit not faces and bodies.

Also, using Ctrl+W you can bulk-hide the entire categories of objects.

NX8.5 is a great version and a massive improvement over 6.0. I suggest you to try being more open towards this version and not being a 'stucker' - a user who is mentally stuck on paticular version of software and can't accept any changes beyond it.

http://www.cadroad.com

 

[GaryFisken]

Filter menu on the extreme left (don't have its name on top of my head) will help you to select only the datums bit not faces and bodies.

Well, unfortunately this doesn't make things better. Suppose I want to contrain a curve to a datum plane. I then would have to switch the selection filter between Datums and Curves...

NX8.5 is a great version and a massive improvement over 6.0. I suggest you to try being more open towards this version and not being a 'stucker' - a user who is mentally stuck on paticular version of software and can't accept any changes beyond it.

This is just insulting. I am generally excited when testing out new software and versions, but after having used NX8.5 extensively for 4 months - with an open mind - I have come to the conclusion that it is not an improvement over NX6. I'm just trying to mitigate the damage it has done.

 

[PrintScaffold]

I apologise for any insult because it was not intentional.

I am not in front of my NX at the moment, but if I have time today, I'll try to have a closer look at the described issues. Apparently this is some misunderstanding because although 6.0 and 8.5 are different, they are not that different in the reference selection/sketch constraining departement.

Maybe you have troubles with the direct sketch editing mode? Try editing it in the task enviromnent, it's the same as in 6.0. Right-click on a sketch and select "edit with rollback".

http://www.cadroad.com

 

[GaryFisken]

I suppose I have to get used to the Geometric Constraints, but again the function isn't designed very good: Why does it deselect all entities when opening the dialog? Why does it deselect all when changing Constraint type?

 

[GaryFisken]

Maybe you have troubles with the direct sketch editing mode? Try editing it in the task enviromnent, it's the same as in 6.0. Right-click on a sketch and select "edit with rollback".

I always sketch in task environment since I find that much more clear. Thank god it's possible to make that default...

 

[Ehaviv]

Hi GaryFisken

I builded a part with some datums
and I do not see any problem to constrain them to the sketch currves

Can you post a sample part with the problem you describe

 

[PrintScaffold]

Yes, I agree - if GaryFisken could record a video of his typical workflow and problems he faces, I believe we could advise something.

http://www.cadroad.com