Interpart expression links

[swale74]

Hello I'm working on a handful of parts that is assembled in a circular array. The parts are all built using expression files that allows the user to modify a couple parameters to update each part. (part size, number segments, number of fasteners) Now that I have the final assembly complete I'd like to pull all the variables into the final assembly so the user can adjust all the parts at the same time and update the assembly at once. When I pull the required variables it will only allow me to pull them one at a time in the expression screen using "Create Inter-part Reference" button. Is there a quicker or preferred method to pull all the expressions into the final assembly?

Running NX 6.0.5.3 on Windows XP Pro Service pack 3.

 

[JohnRBaker]

Exactly how many expressions are you interested in setting up this way?

While it is true that the interface only allows you to make one assignment at a time, there's nothing magical about the Expression which you're creating.

For example, lets say that one of the Components which you wish to drive from the assembly has 4 expressions that you'd like to have control over. I assume that you're creating over-ridding expressions where you enter a value at the Assembly level which updates the Component part. If so, just create one of the interpart expressions giving it a value and accepting it. Now reselect that expression so that's loaded in the entry/edit area of the Exprssion dialog and highlight the Expression's 'name' (which will look like "<Component name>"::<Expression name>), copy & paste this 'name' into a new expression, edit the <Expression name> using the next desired expression in the Component part, enter the Expression value and accept it. Now repeat this for each of the remaining expressions.

Now the above workflow is fine for only a few expressions, but say you have dozens, after creating the first interpart Expression, from within the Expression dialog do an 'Export Expressions to File' operation (3rd of 3 icons to the Right of the 'Listed Expression' section at the top of the dialog page). Now open this text file using your favorite text editor. Do your copy & pasting there making edits the <Expression name> and values until you've got them all accounted for, then save the file and go back to the expression editor and perform an 'Import Expression from File' operation (2nd icon). Now hit 'Accept' and you should be good to go.

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.com/museum/

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

 

[swale74]

Thanks John, The export.import buttons was something I thought about but thought all links between parts would be broken. Some of the entries are used in multiple parts. eg "Number of fasteners" this feature cuts holes in the plates and is used to setup the angles of the array of holes as well as place the array of nuts and bolts in the assembly. I thought by importing this data into the final assembly the links may have been broken. Can you confirm that this is not the case?
Thanks again.

 

[swale74]

One other quick question is there a way to import external images into the expression visual editor? The resolution of the screen shots are poor. I'm trying to setup a couple pages in the final assembly that each page has an image of each component and the parameters that the user adjust but the notes in the image are not legible.

 

[JohnRBaker]

I think the confusion is caused by the use of the term 'link'. Unlike WAVE-linked bodies and Promotions which create actual 'feature' objects, when you create an Interpart Expression it's all based on finding 'named relationships' (Part and Expression) contained in the expressions themselves when an update is performed. Therefore these 'links' can be created ad hoc at any time as long as you know the name of the component part and the relevant expression(s).

As for the Visual Editor, sorry the only image-capture mechanism is what's been provided. Note however that once an image is captured it remains as you see until you replace it with a new image. Now this means that you can make whatever display resolution/scale changes you need to make to get a usable image prior to doing the actual image capture, which can be then set back to normal settings afterwards.

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.com/museum/

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

 

[terrors42]

I came across this thread recently and was wondering if there is a way to have an expression which equals a component name and then in other expression use that expression to pull an expression out of another part.

something similar to:
A= Part_A

B="<A>"::<Expression B from Part_A>
C="<A>"::<Expression C from Part_A>
D="<A>"::<Expression D from Part_A>
E="<A>"::<Expression E from Part_A>

I have several parts that are similar and that have several of the same expressions and if there was a way where I could change one expression and have several expression changed to link to a different part file it would help a great deal.

Christian
_____________
NX 6.0
Window XP 64-bit

 

[JohnRBaker]

Sorry, you can only place an Expression name on the Right-Side of the double colon ( :: ). The Left-Side can only be a string literal, not a variable.

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.