Full WAVE mode 1

[SiW979]

Full wave mode apparently allows you link geometry independant of position. I have been experimenting with creating a scheme of a digger boom using only a stick sketch, then linking individual curves into lower level pice parts so any changes to the length of the sketch curves will flow through and update fully detailed 3D models. However, if I change the angles of the stick sketch in the scheme, my 3D models also move accordingly lower down. Is this right, or am I missing something?

The only other thing I could think to do would be link the curve and bung it on it's own layer, create a brand new sketch with a centre line that has an equal length constraint to the linked curve which would be on an invisible layer and free to move all over the place without interfering with my model geometry??? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards

Simon (NX4.0.4.2 MP10 - TCEng 9.1.3.6.c)

http://www.jcb.com

Life shouldn't be measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of times when it's taken away...

 

[JohnRBaker]

If the only thing that you really need from the original sketch(s) are the lengths of the curves, you don't need to use WAVE. You could just create your sketch and if the actual lengths of the various line elements were NOT being directly controlled by an expression representing the length, you could use the Measure Distance function (using the Length option) to extract Associative Measurement Expressions for the various lengths of the sketch elements. Then just use Interpart Expressions and share those values with the detailed part files, linking the expressions in the sketches used when creating the models of the individual parts with the values from the Interpart Expressions inherited from your master layout sketch. That way, the only thing you need to worry about is that the numbers are correct and the orientations of the original sketch elements are irrelevant.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
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.

 

[SiW979]

Simplicty is a wonderful thing John and sometimes I get so carried away trying to use all the functionalty of the software, that the actual silver bullet is overlooked. I guess having an enquiring mind can sometimes cause the simplest solution to be overlooked.

Just out of interest, when would I actually need to use the full WAVE rather than just the basic linker found under Associative Copy?

Many thanks for all your help.

Best regards

Simon (NX4.0.4.2 MP10 - TCEng 9.1.3.6.c)

http://www.jcb.com

Life shouldn't be measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of times when it's taken away...

 

[JohnRBaker]

There is no 'hard & fast' rule on that other than perhaps when one reaches a certain level of sophistication that the extra control and analysis provided by the tools available in the WAVE Module become attractive. These could be where someone might be linking common parts with multiple projects or where there is a need to manage when or if updates take place on a part by part basis rather then just a simple global Delay/Update scheme. Also these more complex relationships could benefit from some of the investigational tools included in the WAVE Module such the Browsers or the Diagramming tools which can help document complex scheme as well to help establish and encourage reproducible workflows or the development of reusable templates and such.

So the real question, for anyone who understands and appreciates what the general WAVE linker and inter-part tools can do for them and their organization, it's not a matter of IF the WAVE Module could help, but rather one of WHEN will it prove to be worth the extra investment.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
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.