Custom Drawing Sheet / PAX file for use in GM TeamCenter NX

[maluchm]

I have been able to do single and multi Sheet drawing templates from within Native NX but I'm trying to add a custom Sheet to use from within GM's TeamCenter and not having any luck so far. I have a simple 8.5 x 11 drawing sheet with title block in PRT format I'd like to use on a multi page drawing setup. Are these files for GM TeamCenter somewhere other then C:\Program Files\Siemens\NX 9.0\UGII\templates? Is this even possible? Thanks

 

[SDETERS]

have you looked in teamcenter. The PAx file is probably calling the files out of teamcenter VS what is running native. Look at your pax it is probably calling something like @DB/Drawing-A-Size2D-template/A</Filename>

We also store out pax files in teamcenter. We do not work with the GM. But this is where I would start. So you probably need to figure out where the pax files and which ones NX is using.

 

[Xwheelguy]

Are you doing this for GM drawings? Are you not required to use the GM Supplier Toolkit to generate drawing formats (borders, titleblocks, revision blocks, part blocks, etc.) for GM drawings? If you are required to use the toolkit, you're wasting your time creating these home brewed templates as they will probably not integrate with Teamcenter or NX files correctly unless you've gotten all the attributes set up correctly.

Also, I am not so sure GM even allows 8.5 X 11 drawings - 11 X 17 is the smallest I've seen.

I think I'd be asking my GM engineer about all of this before going much further.

Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 9.0.2.5 Win7 Enterprise x64 SP1
Intel Core i7 2.5GHz 16GB RAM
4GB NVIDIA Quadro K3100M

 

[claireandmabel]

If you are creating drawings for GM Product Engineering and Design, you would use the 11x17 format and tool from the GM Toolkit.
Powertrain has different drawing requirements.
Other divisions might have other approved processes as well.

Lynn Ploss
Teamcenter/NX mentor
GM Product

 

[maluchm]

We are Tier one to GM and I am making a layout drawing of our products and all the background information i.e., Hood assembly, Front and Rear doors, Body side, Interior trim, Lift gate etc. There's a ton of data and I want to keep it in the TeamCenter environment instead of exporting it out to native. This is for our use and will not be submitted to GM. It's simply a large drawing of sections to check criteria dimensions. We already use the standard GM format and go through the SMC process for required GM 8 digit drawings.

 

[Xwheelguy]

Again, ask GM.

Only a GM employee can tell your company yes or no - the rest is just someone's best guess unless they've worked for every division within GM.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that GM is not in the business of giving suppliers free storage space to assist in developing the end product, which is what I derive from your description. GM tends to only be interested in the end product or variations of that end product, not all the development data that a supplier generates in between, which is what this essentially boils down to in my opinion.

Ask GM.

Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 9.0.2.5 Win7 Enterprise x64 SP1
Intel Core i7 2.5GHz 16GB RAM
4GB NVIDIA Quadro K3100M

 

[maluchm]

Just about every bit of data we develop for GM is stored in their database which includes a lot of study files, developmental models, prototype pieces, SLA models etc. We work direct in TeamCenter and they give us secured areas to store our manufacturing drawings. So every little bit of info is stored under our local folder system or Home directory from within TeamCenter. Unless for some reason we export out of TeamCenter and work native which hardly ever happens.

This isn't about space, this is about a drawing to check criteria dimensions but with a simple generic title block on it since it's not a GM released drawing. I just want a title block boarder with a section name and number. I have that in PRT fashion but can't get it to be recognized under the "Insert Sheet" command. That is my dilemma and what I'm trying to achieve if possible.

GM DRE's often ask for these drawings during programs. They can/will see this drawing, since it checks GM's criteria set up dims, but since it does not have a GM part number it will not be released in any official way. Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[Xwheelguy]

OK - there's an example of different GM divisions doing different things - I never have encountered that with the 2 tier 1's for which I've worked.

This is why it's usually better to ask the GM DRE rather than random people on a public forum - most don't have the specific experience needed to answer your GM or product specific questions unless they are working in the exact same area or you get lucky.

Here's a couple of examples based on my past experience (because that's all I have to share)

My previous employer supplied wheels to GM. GM would create the Class A sufaces, hand it off to us and we'd refine that so that it was manufactureable. Once we were done with stress analysis, we'd have to present our final design to styling for approval. Part of that styling approval process was creating a GM layout drawing (which took criteria information - mostly component envelopes) and integrated it with our wheel model and laid out onto a drawing (basically showing we're clearing all the components around the wheel except for the body). After that was done, we'd fine tune the casting and machining areas and then if the layout drawing was approved and the physical styling model was approved, we'd be given the green light to move onto the production drawing for GM. The only things we kept on GM's servers throughout that whole process was the math data, the layout drawing data and the production drawing (8 digit drawings which were charted drawings). None of the development stuff we did on the side was required (or allowed). All of our parts were visible to other suppliers if they were aware of the 3 digit prefix most wheel part numbers were saved.

My current employer works in Teamcenter every day. The only things we keep on their servers are the components and assemblies that GM buys from us and for GPS the drawings for which we supply 8 digit part numbers are included (car & truck only require a PDF of the drawing) - we don't keep any of our internal work on their servers and don't have to supply GM with intermediate layouts or criteria during development - that's all done in 3D and stored in the full vehicle assembly (which we have to access to get our background info - and we have to export to native or to an alphanumeric to use as a study file in Teamcenter).

That's mainly why I keep repeating for you to ask GM - it's different depending upon with which division you're working.

Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 9.0.2.5 Win7 Enterprise x64 SP1
Intel Core i7 2.5GHz 16GB RAM
4GB NVIDIA Quadro K3100M

 

[maluchm]

I posted a question up here just to see if anyone had some insight or personal experience with the matter. That's what this forum is for correct? Not to get into a debate over who does what and worked where and for what group. Again...thanks for your suggestion on "Ask GM"

 

[Xwheelguy]

No problem and I wasn't trying to come across like I feel you shouldn't ask that or any GM-related question here. I and others have been members here for a long, long time and similar questions get asked - it's at times just difficult to get the correct answer when it involves GM. What I said was meant to be advice based on those past experiences. Sorry if it came across in a negative manner.

Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 9.0.2.5 Win7 Enterprise x64 SP1
Intel Core i7 2.5GHz 16GB RAM
4GB NVIDIA Quadro K3100M