Smart projection views 7

[MFDO]

In NX drafting, is it possible to have smart projection views?

If I 2D rotate the Base View parallel to the sheet (Edit> Orient View Tool); I need to see the orthogonal projection views updates accordingly.


Michael Fernando (CSWE)

http://www.solidCADworks.com

Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V9.0 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks

 

[JohnRBaker]

The MMT, or 'Master Model Technique', was initially developed as part of Unigraphics V10.0, which was released in 1993, but it wasn't really ready for primetime until the release of V11.0, which was in early 1996, so I guess, to be conservative, it's been around for 19 years. Part of the issue is that we needed to be able to support all of the legacy Drawing files which were transitioned from pre-UG V10.0 so we had to make MMT optional, which it still is today. This is an example of some of that 'heritage' that we have to account for whenever we develop new NX functionality, it has to be compatible with data that could have been first created many years ago. For example, I keep, for demo purposes, an old Unigraphics V9.1 Part file, complete with a J-size Drawing sheet, that was last saved in 1991. I can DIRECTLY open that part file in the latest versions of NX and the model and Drawing are still valid and usable. We'll put that up against anyone else in the industry.

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.

 

[PrintScaffold]

MFDO, mind that what I and cowski suggested you are two entirely different approaches.

Speaking about NX and competitive products, NX has one crucial advantage which is, oddly enough, often being overlooked. I mean the PRT file format, which is the single format for both part and assembly. This format, along with WAVE geometry linker, makes NX an immensely powerful and flexible platform for implementation of advanced modeling strategies. Here NX has an edge over any other CAD package.

As for mid-range CAD products, there's no surprise that NX finds itself marginally behind in productivity when tested on lightweight tasks. I used Inventor for few years (and still do from time to time), and I readily admit that its interface is much smoother than that of NX, and its tools are more fluent and intuitive. I think I can achieve better productivity when producting models and drawings of small products using Inventor than using NX. But NX is made for heavyweight tasks, and when it comes to really big things and complex geometry, then NX is really up for the job which mid-range CAD packages simply cannot bear.

http://www.cadroad.com

 

[daluigi]

This last post is indeed perfectly summarizing the situation and the fact that companies making huge stuff cannot take the risk of using a mid-range system that may start to lose the plot while assemblies get bigger than expected.

One other thing I personnaly like about UG/NX is that they have managed to maintain its legendary stability over time. In fact, I cannot remember having crashed the software within the last 14 years!

 

[MFDO]

It’s totally out of the topic. I’m wondering if I should continue.

Here it goes……..

I agree (always) that NX and CATIA are OEM software. They need lots of surfacing tools to produce organic surfaces to satisfy their customer’s eyes. They build their dreams in space, I mean in virtual space.

Like us, there are thousands of manufactures involved in each project of OEMs. We are only given one defined part to produce.
In our products’ only one face needed surfacing (i.e a die cavity) other 5 faces of the block needed only standard CAD work (= 83%). In a total project that will be more than 95% (Cavity area=5% or less in a tool).

My point is, if we could do 95% work faster, effectively and efficiently, we gain lot of extra time to play with remaining 5% of work.

Talking about the other software, it gives well thought CAD tools to work with the defined part. If you master limited surfacing commands which don’t overstep each other’s functionality, can get the work done. (Check my website). Mostly it’s just the lack of knowledge or the blaming game. Surely they are not as fancy as OEM surfacing tools and don’t offer numerous ways to do the same job.

I’m just asking NX to help those thousands of poor manufactures to be efficient in 95% of their work. Like the subject in question.

(Why it has to finish all my threads in this way…..)


Michael Fernando (CSWE)

http://www.solidCADworks.com

Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V9.0 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks

 

[PrintScaffold]

I’m just asking NX to help those thousands of poor manufactures to be efficient in 95% of their work. Like the subject in question.

Look, at least two different approaches to solve your problem have been suggested. It's not that hopeless.

Don't be so fixated on high-quality surfaces. There are other areas where NX can beats competition hands down in terms of efficiency and productivity. Just today I had to model in NX the assembly where components were insulated over and then put into box filled with lubricant (sorry, no images because they are proprietary). It took me only about ten design features in each of the prt files (one for insulation, one for lubricant) to fully model the case and get 100% perfect geometry with correct weight. Hats off to PRT and WAVE.

http://www.cadroad.com

 

[MFDO]

PS, It was in general and for all the above postings.

Still I don't get Cowski's method. (Sorry for giving a star for the wrong post. I'm unable to move it to your posing so I gave you one too.)

Michael Fernando (CSWE)

http://www.solidCADworks.com

Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V9.0 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks

 

[cowski]

If you use the master model method, the orientation of the model in the drawing file is independent of the orientation of the model in the geometry file. You can use assembly constraints to orient your model to the desired front view (or top view, right view, take your pick). As you edit your model, the assembly constraints will automatically reorient the component in the drawing file, keeping the desired view(s).

Attached is a super simple example (NX 9). In the drawing file, the component is constrained so that the front view is normal to the trimmed face of the block. In the model file, try changing the angle of the datum plane to see what affect it has on the drawing (you may need to update the drawing views after the model edit).

model
drawing

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[PrintScaffold]

The method is the following (see the attached archive): since with master model approach the drawing is the parent assembly file and plate - the drawing of which we are going to create - is the component in that assembly, we simply constrain plate against drawing's CSYS is in any other assembly. Any change of orientation of plate solid won't be reflected in the drawing, because assembly contraints will always orient it in a certain way.

www.cadroad.com

 

[PrintScaffold]

Well, we did this simultanously!

http://www.cadroad.com

 

[MFDO]

Thanks for the support to find workarounds.

It’s unfortunate that NX’s Cloning process don’t recognise MMT drawing’s parent child relationship to accept your workarounds as solutions.

According to John MMT had been introduced long ago, but doesn’t seems to have evolved or matured enough.


Michael Fernando (CSWE)

http://www.solidCADworks.com

Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V9.0 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks

 

[PrintScaffold]

MFDO, please take note that using Orient View tool you don't need to use MMT, it can be done in a same file.

http://www.cadroad.com

 

[PrintScaffold]

As for the cloning process, feel feee to pick up drawing in the clone tool, and it will be cloned along with the componen part. If you need many drawings to clone, collect them into the auxiliary assembly and pick it in the clone tool - there are companies doing exactly that. NX works.

http://www.cadroad.com

 

[daluigi]

<MMT had been introduced long ago, but doesn’t seems to have evolved or matured enough>

Now that Siemens is on the wheel and seen the wide range of their home product - from an electronic single part to a huge turbine system - I am pretty confident the old UG dog is on the way to the real resurrection. Isn't Scott planning for a Blade Runner sequel after all ?! Yes, he is.

 

[MFDO]

PrintScaffold, I don't want to carryover unused or unnecessary drawings and parts to the new project. It would be nice if the system could handle this association.

Attached is a short clip of my NX parametric designing process which I described earlier. I posted this in NX Forum to show my rookie working process (that is how one NX EXPERT described it).

I would like to see if you guys have a better or smarter way to do this.


Michael Fernando (CSWE)

http://www.solidCADworks.com

Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V9.0 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks