Best Practice for Cast & Machined Parts 1

[MTPatECT]

This is something that I'm sure many of the commercial users out there are doing on a daily basis. I am using NX 7.5.

I have a generic cast part, and am using it to create a family of similar parts, by varying a simple feature, like overall height. Let's say the part numbers are -99, -98, -97, etc...

I also have generic machined part, which is created via wavelinked body from the cast part. These part numbers are -00, -01, -02, etc...

I need a way (using part families?) to drive specific parts in my machined family to use specific parts of my cast family. Ex. I want my -00 to be linked to my -99, -01 to be linked to -98, etc...

Anyone know of a way to do this using part families or another method? I do this in Pro/E routinely today (using family tables) so I'm looking for the equivalent in NX. I can go into more detail if necessary.

Thanks for the input.

 

[wiengines]

Yes, you can do that. However, I have found that as the files get larger and larger it doesn't seem to work as well. NX seems to hang up for me when they get too large, but I haven't had the time to try to find the root cause.

What I have done is add the cast part as a component to the machined part. Then I create the wave link (or, you could also promote it), and create all of the machined features.

When you go to create the part family in the machined file, one of the available colums is "components". If you switch to that, then you should be able to add the cast part.

Once you are finished with defining the columns in the part family, you should see a column in the spreadsheet that lists the cast part filename. You can change this to be what you want for each instance of the machined part family.

Note: These instructions are for NX6

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

 

[MTPatECT]

Thanks Chris,

I plan on trying this out soon.

Any issues using this with NX Integrated?

 

[wiengines]

We use NX with Windchill for PLM, so I can't speak to that.

If you need a sample of how we do it, let me know and I can make something up for you.

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

 

[MTPatECT]

Chris,

Thanks again for the advice. Just created exactly what I needed based on your instructions. I appreciate the support.