Instance Feature in NX7.5 will not let you to replace/unselect featuers after a pattern is created?

[Erkka]

Hi,

I have previously worked in N 8 and NX8.5 and is used to create pattern with the "Pattern Feature" wich is great. At my current workplace NX7.5 is being used and here you need to use Instance Feature -> Circular Array or Rectangular Array. It seems to me that this feature will not let you to replace/unselect or ad featuers in the pattern after a pattern is created?

For example if you created a hole then made the pattern, then you realized you wanted to ad threads or camfer to the hole or somting else. Then you will not be able to ad this to the pattern, is that how it is?

Thanks in advance

// Erkka

 

[JohnRBaker]

You're correct with respect to adding a Thread feature to the members of an existing Feature Instance, however you can add Chamfers (as well as Edge Blends) by selecting the 'Chamfer All Instances' option in the Settings section of the Chamfer dialog (or the 'Blend All Instances' in the Settings section of the Edge Blend dialog). Note that this 'feature' is NOT supported in NX 8.0 or NX 8.5 when editing a Pattern Feature but as you've already noted, that's not an issue since you can add these and other features to members of a Pattern Feature by simply editing the 'master' feature(s).

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

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

 

[Erkka]

Ok, thanks for the answer John. We will transfer to NX8.5 within a few weeks, then we might get some problems making design changes to models built in NX7.5, since the Feature Instance no longer exists and the 'Chamfer/Blend all Instances' is no longer supported. Is that how it is?

Thanks in advance

// Erkka

 

[JohnRBaker]

While it is true that the 'Chamfer/Blend All Instances' option has been removed from the Chamfer and Edge Blend dialogs, you can still add a Chamfer or Edge Blend to all of the instances of an existing pre-NX 8.0 'Instance Feature' using NX 8.5. All that you have to do is create a Chamfer or Edge Blend feature on one of the instances, then select the new Pattern Feature function using the 'Layout' method 'Reference' which will allow you to select the existing 'Instance Feature' as the 'referenced' item. There are a couple of other selections required but basically the end result will be having the Chamfer or Edge Blend added to each instance of the existing 'Instance Feature'. As far as the 'Instance Feature' itself is concerned, if you wish to edit it, when selected for editing the old pre-NX 8.5 Instance dialog will be displayed and you'll be able to make any of the edits that could have been done in NX 7.5 and IF you had added a Chamfer or Edge Blend using the 'Reference' layout method for a 'Pattern Feature' as I described above, that Chamfer or Edge Blend will update as well if you were to change the number of instances or their arrangement. So you really haven't lost anything, just that you'll need to use a different approach to accomplish the same thing.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

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

 

[Erkka]

Aah Ok. Thanks for the good answer.

Best Regards

// Erkka