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]

No.

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.

 

[daluigi]

Do they do that into SolidWorks?

 

[MFDO]

Yes. Indeed. But I have to verify since I currently spend 99% of my time with NX.

You guys wanted to see other software functionality and when I show them with examples, I’m being accused for promoting the other software in this NX forum.


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

 

[daluigi]

Please feel free to show as much examples of Solidworks functions that do not exist in NX today as you want because, as a long time UG user and developper, I'd really like to understand why SW is today the most used over the planet and in areas that goes beyond CAD.
No shame in shaking the old UG dog as it is, all in all, for its benefit.

 

[MFDO]

daluigi,
Unless someone specifically ask or inquire, I rarely mentioned about any other software and names in this forum. Recently, for one of my other replies, one blogger wrote,

But please note that while posting SolidWorks videos may give you some level of personal satisfaction, when it comes to posting them in an purely NX oriented forum, even here on Eng-Tips, they tend to add very little to the process where others have come here to learn to use NX in a more productive and efficient manner.

First of all I can confirm that the software you questioned behaved as expected and beyond. Whatever I tested, all the dependent views were following the drawings standards and rules and also responded dynamically prompting with warnings and helping to resolve any shortfalls. While testing it, I felt how fluid and user-friendly it is and as a long time past user, how much I miss the productivity.

I think this is a basic functionality you expected from any CAD software. As parent, you show and teach your children the rules and how to behave, well and promptly as you move along in the real world. Even if I replace the Base View, the children adopted the new parent accordingly. With NX, the views are kind of dumb, no prompts, and sitting waiting until you see the problems and correct them. Maybe some of you wanted that way, to be in total control.

With my short YouTube research I couldn’t find a suitable clip to prove my findings. (I think it’s too basic for a recording.) But the following link caught my eye as a highlight. (Attention! Content may be inappropriate or irritant and contagious for certain NX users.)

Link




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

 

[daluigi]

What has always suprised me over years is how those SW developpers have done that mature product that is so much intuitive in drafting but still based on the same old Parasolid kernel as UG... Great link, thank you.

 

[ewh]

I can understand the usefullness of being able to have all views respond when reorienting one, but only to the point at which you start to apply dimensions or specific detail views. In many (if not most) cases those dimensions will no longer be standard compliant (such as dimensioning to hidden features).
As in the drawing board days, us NX users still have to plan ahead when placing views.

"Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively."
-Dalai Lama XIV

 

[ewh]

I don't have access to that link here at work, but I am curious... what does happen to existing dimensions, sections and zoomed detailed views when the views are all reoriented?
It would be very interesting if the data that they originally had shown remained without any standards violations.

"Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively."
-Dalai Lama XIV

 

[MFDO]

Let me explain little bit of my situation.

I’ve started to work with designs which have been cloning for years (15years?). Editing, adding or deleting components, Reference Sets; Updating the new and obsolete wave linked pockets through the assembly; what a lengthy process to get the work done. After a design review, have to go through again the same process. For me, this is a waste of resources. If they were made smart in the first place, could have got the work done with few clicks.

In this situation, I started new methods I used in the past. For instance, now when I edit/add/delete a sketch point, then quantity of components and all their pockets and depths in the assembly including threaded holes and information update automatically and smartly. (I found this is a new method to most of the NX users which they haven’t seen before). Stock sizes and drawing detail notes update automatically. (Since these are old designs, I didn't try PDW methods) Basically I’m making the old designs smarter and reducing repetitive manual work and errors/typos.

Now I’m trying to make the drawings smarter.
Ex. In the original design, the rectangular plates’ sketches were not square to their absolute datum. But the drawing views were rotated and aligned with XY and had created the orthogonal views. (= drawing is correct in that base view orientation)

When I open the new cloned and then modified (rotated as required for the new project) model’s drawings; the Base View is at a rotated angle and with the orthogonal projected views corresponding to its side views. Please see the attached sample drawing. My requirement is to rotate the new Base View so that the projected views update smartly. I.e. bringing the new crooked orthogonal views to default views as before.(= dimensions coming back to their original status.)

Some may say that redoing the view is easy, but it is an addition to the work load especially with dimensions with special tolerances, notes and texts attached to them. If I'm not mistaken, in NX must dimension first then have to go back to edit mode to add its tolerances and related notes. Do you guys enjoy this much of work?


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

 

[MFDO]

ewh,
You may find answers to your concerns in the YouTube link I posted. If not give me a your specific problematic scenario and I'll try to show you the behavior.(If you are still curious. )

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

 

[MFDO]

I’m surprised that NX’s “View Alignment” can’t help in this situation.

There should be a way. It’s a very basic requirement.


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]

If I'm not mistaken, in NX must dimension first then have to go back to edit mode to add its tolerances and related notes.

That's not true. Starting with NX 9.0 when you're placing a Dimension if you pause a second or two the 'edit' option appears and if you select it and then select the handle for the text, a pop-up dialog will appear where you can set all of the secondary items for a dimension, including style, tolerance, appended text, decimal places, etc. And of course, you can use this same pop-up when you actually are editing an existing dimension. Note that many people place their initial sets of dimension with just the nominal values set and only later do they come back and add tolerances and appended text and such, so what you say if the ONLY way that NX works is actually the approach that many people take in the first place. However, if you know exactly what you need to 'add' to your dimensions as you create them, you can work that way as well, if you prefer to. NX is flexible in that regard.

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.

 

[ewh]

Even before NX9, you can construct your most of your dimensions "on the fly" as you place them.

"Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively."
-Dalai Lama XIV

 

[MFDO]

We are off the track.

John, thanks for the tip. A Star is given.

But don’t you think it involves too many clicks? As soon as selecting the elements, editor should be available right there immediately to finish the work and place the dimension.

If you see the link I posted, did you notice that the presenter didn’t leave the working area to finish his drawing!


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]

When I open the new cloned and then modified (rotated as required for the new project) model’s drawings; the Base View is at a rotated angle and with the orthogonal projected views corresponding to its side views. Please see the attached sample drawing. My requirement is to rotate the new Base View so that the projected views update smartly. I.e. bringing the new crooked orthogonal views to default views as before.(= dimensions coming back to their original status.)

Did I get it right that your solid is at arbitrary orientation each new design, but you need it to be aligned horizontally/vetically on the drawing?
This can be done using 'Orient view tool'. You pick up normal direction, and direction of X-axis, and regardless of orientation of actual geometry, the view always remains oriented in the same way.

http://www.cadroad.com

 

[cowski]

If you use the master model method, you could use assembly constraints to keep the model oriented correctly in the drawing file.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[PrintScaffold]

MFDO, is this video showing what you're after? If not, then sorry. It's late where I live, and I'm quite tires.

cowski, spot on! This is yet another approach.

www.cadroad.com

 

[rc0213]

MFDO,

I am not sure if I am understanding your question, totally. I know that, in NX 9.0, when you do a Projection View, you can determine where the hinge line is. The hinge line in UG means the reference to where to project the view from. So, in theory, you can project from any angle or feature. If that does not do what you call "smart projection view", sorry.

I have used Solidworks, and, I used to like how easy and intuitive it can be at times. But, Solidworks is a newer CAD system, and does not carry the grandfather CAD program and data capabilities that UG has to carry over. Plus, UG is incorporating IDEAs into the system to make it feasible for IDEAs users to use UG easier. Also, with UG, you don't have to start every model with a sketch, like Solidworks and other CAD systems require. UG and CATIA has always been the preferred systems to create A surfaces. Though with Solidworks' surfacing, I heard, is getting better, and that is the only part of the program that is very lacking, to compete against CATIA or UG.

If you look at the major companies in the industries, they still prefer CATIA or UG. I do not like CATIA's GUI system, where UG's GUI is very similar to Windows, which makes it a little easier to adapt to.

Sorry, if I am out of line, in discussing these two systems.

 

[MFDO]

Hey Guys, Thank you for joining the party.

Cowski, I like your workaround method. A star for you too. (Still it’s not the solution) PrintScaffold, thank you for elaborating Cowski’s idea.

These are 15 years old designs and will be very hard to change the internal file handling procedures. I assume 15 years ago NX didn’t offer Master Model Technique (MMT). From the beginning of my NX, I was pushing for MMT. Now I found another reason to show the justification. Also I've done some bench marking work with MMT showing good results.

I guess this is why SWx is using only MMT which has been perfected in every aspect. It has Assembly, Part and Drawing Template/file structure and file properties which work seamlessly. RBM a file in any place, including Windows file explorer, it knows parent child relationship for file management.

When Cloning (a MMT project), NX fails to identify the parents/drawing files. This is where I think it’s not ready yet to be used in projects subjecting to cloning.


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