Drafting Dimensions

[DieMan44]

Is there anyway of going back to NX 8 style? Having to search through all these menus and pull downs is ridiculous.
Its taking me 3-4 times longer is detail a simple block not to mention more complex details, and the datum dimensioning is really cumbersome. We migrated because GM did but there is no way I can detail drawings with this configuration and be efficient.


Jeff

NX 9.0.2.5

 

[Xwheelguy]

Jeff,

I empathize with you, but sadly, no - Linear and Rapid dims are what's available (I assume that's what is getting you most of the time). You're not the only one that is frustrated.

Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 9.0.2.5 Win7 Pro x64 SP1
Intel Xeon 2.53 GHz 6GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB

 

[DieMan44]

I use the datum (ordinate) dimensioning the most, it's extremely frustrating.

 

[DieMan44]

After this design, I'm going to reinstall NX 8, I only need NX 9 to deal with GM directly.

 

[Kenja824]

I hated NX9 when I first got into it. Im still in the early stages of getting used to it but I am starting to see some benefits of this setup. I finally realizzed that I could set up the ribbons to have all the icons I need in personal categories how I like them, to make everything easier at hand. I think I still liked the old style more but this isnt as bad as it was when I first started looking at it.

Once you get your settings for dimensions right, it really isnt too bad. Are there any certain things in dimensioning that is causing you troubles? I know ordinate dimensioning gave us some problems at first. How to edit the positive and negatives if it was already placed on the drawing with the "postive Direction" already set to ALL, was a fun one to figure out. lol

 

[DieMan44]

The biggest thing with the datum dimensioning is well everything. Trying to place the zeros, you are on top of the directional arrows and have the pause over the corner and wait for the 3 dots to appear then click and select the end point then select baseline or perpendicular, uncheck the other if you are only doing one direction then place the zero, after that I can click ordinate, select the zero and then click the points I want dimensioned. This method is down right absurd, and should of never been implemented. Next I have it set to 3 place decimals as we machine most things that way but I need to change things like screw holes to 2 place, I have to go to settings, text, units, change to "2". Then if I need that to apply to other dimensions, I have to go to settings, change settings source to selected object every time because it doesn't remember the last time I changed it.
Dimensioning radii and bouncing around the setting menu is a pain too, searching for whether you want the arrow in or out and etc, angles are even worse. Up to NX 8 (never tried 8.5) drafting had steadly improved albeit never great compared to some other cad systems my coworkers use. But these changes in 9 have retarded the drafting application greatly. I'm not going to waste my time when I can be more productive on NX 8, it is more streamlined and requires far fewer clicks to get the desired result. Time is money and NX 9 is costing us money.

 

[Kenja824]

I wouldnt say they have retarded the dimensioning application yet. In the end you may still believe so, but right now it may be that you just do not know how it actually works yet. Lets learn the tricks first and give yourself a chance to get use to them before deciding.

First, let me help on the easy things....

1) After you select the points or lines to dimension, but before you actually place the dimension, you can right click and an options menue will pop up. In here you have the option to change arrows in or out. If you simply move the cursor up off of the options menue, another little popup will appear with a wrench symbol. If you click that, it will act as if the dimension is placed already until you click the wrench symbol again.

2) If the dimension is already placed, you can double click it to get the same look as if you hit the Wrench synbol when placing it. When this happens, the dimension will get little orange blocks at the arrows, where the dimension connects to part, and in the middle of the dimension numbers. There will be orange arrows next to numbers. If you select the arrows squares, you get an option to switch arrows in and out. Select the square in center of dimension and you will see a X.XX drop down where you can change how many places the dimension is. Check out the different options to get an idea of how much you can change right at your cursor rather than going into settings.

Where I might have a tougher time helping is in the datum dimensioning. Possibly this is a different term for Ordinate dimensions? If not, can you be specific in exactly what you click on to do it so I can see what you mean?

 

[stephlouv]

We have 2 more drafters here.
They are new to NX9.
I mean, it's the first time they are using NX but know other CAD programs.
They followed the on-line Siemens training.

They both found the "Rapid dimensioning" not rapid at all.

"My english is bad ? That's why i'am french."

 

[Xwheelguy]

You do not have to go to Settings for decimal places.

As you are placing the dimension, pause. A small wrench icon should appear near your cursor (don't worry where the dim is being dragged to, just move your mouse away from the dim and pause). Press the wrench, which should show approx. 3 dots, 1 over each arrow (if more than 1 arrow) and 1 over the dim. Press the one over the dim and another small box appears on the screen. Play around in that box and there is a pulldown (I believe it's an upside down triangle on the second row) and that's your dim decimal editing.

Now, DO NOT MIDDLE CLICK. Click the wrench and NOW place the dimension by clicking MB1. I'd post a video, but I have NX closed for the day.

Hope this helps.

Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 9.0.2.5 Win7 Pro x64 SP1
Intel Xeon 2.53 GHz 6GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB

 

[BazookaJoe]

First of all, let me agree with the crowd that NX9 drafting is a giant leap backwards.

Some things I have done to help, is to set up some hotkeys to change the number of decimal places. I push "2" for example, to change the setting to .xx places, "3" for .xxx, etc. The same can be done for other settings. This is a good change, maybe.

For the dimensions, the Rapid Dimension is a mess so I don't even use it. I have the linear dimension set up with a hotkey, same with angle, and radius/diameter. This is not a solution by any means, but eases the pain a little.

As a general statement, the general theme of NX9 Drafting is just a bad idea. There is simply too many choices buried deep inside of the little multi-gizmo boxes. The NX9 method is perhaps cheered by the people who use the approach of "insert-dimension-etc", and who were never very proficient at drafting in any of the previous versions. Or, perhaps those poor souls who are not allowed to change their hotkeys etc because of their pointed-hair manager mandates. But, for people like me, who use hotkeys and other time saving shortcuts, we will find that it simply takes MUCH more effort to operate this new NX9 Drafting.

Hang in there, Friday is coming. Just remember to play "Finally Friday" by George Jones.

 

[phillpd]

How are you assigning Hotkeys for decimal places ?

NX 9.0.3.4
NX 10 (Testing)
Windows 7 64 (Windows 8.1 Tablet)

 

[SDETERS]

Siemens is going to hold a Webinar on this subject. Please post here if you want to be included. They are wanting to listen to the usr's complaints and issues with this subject.

http://community.plm.automation.sie...imensioning-a-step-forward/m-p/278487#U278487

 

[BazookaJoe]

Phillpd-

My sort of bad on the decimal places. I went back and rechecked, and I see that I can create this hotkey because I have a custom tool kit with those commands available. I was assuming these commands were available, but not easily found. It appears these are custom commands. Let's put some heat on Siemens to make these keyboard hotkey options available for everyone, or at least, teach us how to create custom commands.

 

[sundeep198]

Try this
Preferences --> User Interface Preferences-->Layout-->Classic Toolbars

Regards,
Sundeep P
Nx 9.0.0.19

 

[JohnRBaker]

Just remember that the option to revert to the so-called 'Classic Toolbars' will not longer be available after NX 10.0. Besides, this has no effect whatsoever on the dialogs which comes-up when one selects a Drafting function.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Digital Factory
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
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