How to identify which feature positioning method was used?

[uwam2ie]

How can identify what was used for feature positioning.
for example :
I have created an rectangular pad on a block positioned with parallel at distance and with perpendicular method. When I m editing positioning only perpendicular id displayed in the tip. What did I wrong how can I identify the used method
thx in ad

 

[hudson888]

There are a few things to mention with this. One is that some of the feature positioning methods that are offered actually create a different and similar method with given results. Line on to line is actually a distance positioning dimension with the distance set to zero, it can therefore be edited later on. This is a good thing, but perhaps not what you expected.

Especially when models change and positioning dimensions loose their reference the process of editing them to re-establish the dimensions can be exhaustive. So it is better where possible to use a more maintainable feature. Try a sketched extrusion instead of pads and pockets, very easy to create and reliable to edit. I want to get measure included in the sketch dimensioning somewhere but apart from that you're able to do more and have less hassles with sketched features than the pads and pockets.

Cheers

Hudson

 

[uwam2ie]

thank you hudson for your reply,
IMHO the feature positioning is much faster than switching into the sketch. I had not trouble so far with the features.
... is there a answer to which position was used ?

 

[hudson888]

I agree that the feature pad or pocket is a bit quicker to start with, but we have a few users who won't use them because the know what a pest that they can be to re-attach if something in the design changes from underneath them. That seemed to be your circumstance which is why I mentioned an alternative.

As far as I know there is no real means of telling which method was used, your common sense will tell usually tell you if something is perpendicular on occasion but often the results can be practically identical for several different inputs. Parallel, horizontal or vertical (depending of you orientation), line on line and point at distance, may all yield near about the same thing if they're all parallel cases with zero dimension.

Cheers

Hudson

 

[uwam2ie]

I think it is a weakness because I can check feature positioning with checkmate... I examine / the results are ok but I can not really see when the positioning is less defined
which option is used the tip only says perpendicular position dimension.
as Hudson:
cheers

 

[CEGraves]

Tools-Expressions tells you what positioning methods were used.

 

[CEGraves]

Or right click on your Rectangular Pad in the Part Navigator then click Properties-General-Info Button.

 

[uwam2ie]

... you bring light in my weakness
thx

 

[hudson888]

Here's what I'm talking about.

I added this pocket to a block in NX-5.0.4.1

I used the line onto line method on both sides just to take it out of the corner. I have pasted the listing below, and you'll see that in either direction the method listed is "Positioning Dimension Parallel To Edge Distance". The distance is set to zero and may be varied later on if you wish. I think this is a good thing, but some methods as shown in the feature modelling dialogs will NEVER show up in the feature information thereafter.

Be careful what you wish for, because this seems okay to me.

------------------------------------------------------------

Rectangular Pocket(2)
------------------------------------------------------------
p9=50 50
Length

p10=20 20
Width

p11=10 10
Depth

p12=0 0
Corner Radius

p13=0 0
Floor Radius

p14=0 0
Taper Angle

p16=0.0 0
Positioning Dimension Parallel To Edge Distance

p15=0.0 0
Positioning Dimension Parallel To Edge Distance


Feature Parameters for: Rectangular Pocket(2)
------------------------------------------------------------
Feature Type - Rectangular Pocket(2)
X Length = 50.000000000
Y Length = 20.000000000
Z Length = 10.000000000
Corner Radius = 0.000000000
Floor Radius = 0.000000000
Taper Angle = 0.000000000

Feature Associativity for: Rectangular Pocket(2)
------------------------------------------------------------

Parent(s):

Block(1)

<end listing>

Cheers

Hudson