Direct sketch?

[moog2]

I'm still using NX6 but am evaluating NX8.
I'm a bit confused as to the "double sketch enviroments".
It looks like a quicker way of editing sketches, but it seems to me that you'd want to choose to use the old sketch way OR the new way, not both?
Also if you were to have all the feature tools and buttons turned on when in direct sketch, you'd run out of space.
is it intended mainly for sketch editing, and if so, why have a sketch creation ability in it?
I'd be interested to here your thoughts, and experiences

 

[JohnRBaker]

The 'Direct Sketch' mode was first created for NX Drafting to allow the creation of 2D profiles and/or to add 2D curves to an exiting Drawing or to an an existing View on a drawing. Since the idea of a separate Sketch task wouldn't make much sense when working on a Drawing this 'Direct' scheme was introduced and it was decided to also make it available in Modeling as well as some people have been asking for something like this for some time (this was done in NX 7.0/7.5).

Now as for your idea that perhaps this would work better as an 'edit' task verse a 'creation' task, this has already been considered and we've provided a scheme whereby you can set NX up to behave in exacty that manner if you wish to work that way. Just go to...

Preferences -> Modeling -> Edit

..and look at the last two multiple-choice options. By setting these properly, even if I Create using the 'Task Environment' I can set it up so that I can use 'Direct Edit' to make changes.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

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

 

[moog2]

thanks John, i'll look at that and see what way i think works best

 

[SiW979]

I have my system set up so that a double click takes me into direct edit mode, basically the fastest way to activate the sketch to make an edit, however, it depends on what you are doing and the size/complexity of the model as well as it's position in the part navigator. for example, if my model is complex, and it is the base sketch is what I want to edit, then entering direct sketch leaves all the model visible which can leave your view quite cluttered, therefore in this isnstance, I would right click on the sketch and select edit with roll back which basically enters the full sketch environment whilst making it the current feature, thus giving me a nice clutter free view of the sketch.

Likewise if I'm wanting to edit the sketch in such a way that I'm adding more curves or drastically changing the profile, then direct edit mode isn't always the best option as any change you make to the sketch or any geometry that is added instantly updates the model in the back ground, therefore it might make sense to edit with roll back in the full sketch environment so you can make the changes an only when you exit the sketch mode wil the changes be applied to the model.

There are als0 one or two commands that are not available in direct mode that are in task environment, the main one that springs to mind is project curves, although I guess you could add it manually. At the end of the day a few weeks of using it anf you will find your own preference. One thing 90% of our 400 users did request though is for the infernal continous auto dimensions to be turned off!!!!

Best regards

Simon NX7.5.3 - TC 8

http://www.jcb.com

 

[moog2]

i have a user where i work, who continues to create sketches without constraints or dimensions, leaving them vulnurable to unwanted changes, so for him, the auto dimension is a good thing, but I agree, working with it on is painful, but you can at least have it off, then before you exit, you can toggle it on, then off again, to lock down all the elements in the sketch.

 

[JohnRBaker]

Note that for NX 8.0 we have added some of the so-called 'missing' Sketch functions such as, Project Curve, Intersection Curve, Intersection Point and Trim Recipe Curve.

We've also added a couple of options when creating a Direct Sketch which will allow you to first DELAY the update while editing, and second, to UPDATE the sketch when you wish to rather than it being only automatic. This should make using the Direct Sketch mode much more 'friendly' when working with a model where there are a lot of features (or they're complex features) dependent on the Sketch being edited.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

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