circular array of lines

[tsjaikdus]

I need to create a disk with a lot of bumps and notches on the circumference to act like a coding disk. (As they used to be applied in washing machine timers.)

My first guess was to create a sketch and use a circular array of lines to indicate differnt time slots. Then extrude and remove bumps until I have what need. But circular array or pattern face does not work on lines. Also I can not use pattern face on an extruded face and subsequently simplify as the pattern is to complex (some bumps are build on others).

Is there a way to automate the drawing of multiple lines through expressions. Is there some sort of loop code I can use in the expressions editor? Or is there something like a script editor I can use?

 

[JohnRBaker]

What version of NX are you using and could you provide a picture or sample file of what it is that you want the final model to look like?

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

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

 

[tsjaikdus]

Hello John. I'm using NX3. Imagine 3 concentric circles and 100 or so lines originating from the center (360/100 degrees apart). So 200 near squares are created. Then I want this to be a template. So I can extrude the center disk and then add any square I like to create the code I want the disk to carry on its circumference.

 

[JohnRBaker]

You mean like the attached example?

BTW, if you were move up to at least NX 5 (NX 6 would be even better) this would be a lot easier to model.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

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

 

[tsjaikdus]

That is pretty much what I need. Thanks!

But... I do not completely understand what you've done. i.e. the constant angle constraint does not seem to update the angles when I remove a line. I wasn't aware of constant angle, but it feels like an angle that is fixed at a constant value. It has no intelligence.

And did you draw and constrain all the lines by hand or is this automatically constrained after add existing curves from import?

I've been designing gears, mutilated gears and geneva wheels that can be controlled via expressions completely. I actually want to create a template for this shape too, if possible.

Why would this be easier in NX 5 or 6?

 

[JohnRBaker]

You're correct, a constant angle can not be edited, but at least you can edit the diameters as long as the number of dimple locations is constant.

The reason why I say NX 5/6 would be better is because there is an Instance Geometry command that would have allowed you to create a parametric circular array of the line segments which would have allowed you to change the number of potential 'dimples' by just editing a single expression.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

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

 

[tsjaikdus]

I took a look at instance geometry and this is exactly the kind of function I would expect to use. I wonder why it hasn't been implemented earlier.

However, is there a way to automate the drawing of multiple lines? Either through expressions or through some script that facilitates loops and counters (if scripting exists in NX I'm not sure).

But thanks anyway as your sketch is still a solution I can use.

 

[JohnRBaker]

"I wonder why it hasn't been implemented earlier."

Well, it's been 18 months already since it was released.

As for 'drawing multiple lines', exactly what did you have in mind? After all, a simple GRIP program could be written. The results would not be parametric or part of a sketch, but it would be pretty easy to write a program that would produce a set of simple curves laid out like the sketch I posted earlier and in reality, except for editing the sketch afterwords, the ability to produce the solid model included in the example file I posted did NOT depend on the curves being part of sketch. That part of the work-flow would be identical irrespective of how the curves were drawn or whether they were part of sketch or not.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

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

 

[JohnRBaker]

Attached is a GRIP program which will create the curves needed to define the outline used to create a 'Dimple Wheel'. While the results are not parametric, you can use the program to define the Inside Dia, Outside Dia, Dimple Height, and Number of Dimples, for any 'Dimple Wheel' configuration that you desire.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

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

 

[tsjaikdus]

That is neat. Thanks!

Were can I find this grip compiler? The only thing I can find in the NX directory is some gripbatch.bat file.

>> the ability to produce the solid model included in the example file I posted did NOT depend on the curves
>> being part of sketch. That part of the work-flow would be identical irrespective of how the curves were
>> drawn or whether they were part of sketch or not.

I think you mean that I can extrude any curve or edge. That I don't need a sketch for that. But I think a script like file is almost as effective as a sketch.

 

[JohnRBaker]

In order to compile/link a GRIP program you will need a GRIP Development License.

To access the GRIP Toolkit, go to the Windows Start menu and go to 'All Programs' and when you find an NX item place your cursor over it and select the 'NX Tools' item and then with the cursor over that select the 'NX Open Grip' item. Now before you say anything, yes, it looks like something that came out of the last century (come to think about it, it DID). As you will notice, this is a command-line driven tool, but remember, OFFICIALLY GRIP has been in maintenance ONLY for over 10 years now, however it still works (I just used the GRIP Tool yesterday in NX 6.0.2.2). Once you get used to it, it's pretty straight forward. Note that the actual creation and editing of the source text files can be done in any text editor, but you will need to use the .grs file extension or the GRIP Tool will not recognize the file when you edit or link it using the GRIP Tool.

Anyway, give it a try.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

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

 

[tsjaikdus]

Unfortunately I can not find it. I think we don't have a licence.

But thank you very much for your support. I now have all answers I was wondering about.