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Keeping layers when copying features (NX6) 4

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ukhal

Mechanical
Mar 16, 2006
9
This may be something obvious, but is there a setting that allows copied features to stay on the layer of the parent? I have to copy a lot of features and feature sets, it laborious to then have to go into all the copied features and assign layers.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
 
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A possible solution is to create catogories in the layer settings menu, sketches/solid/features etc and then create (=recording the actions) a macro in one part for putting the correct features on the right layers; create a button with te marco behind it. And then you can use the button each time you want to copy the features to the layers.

Best regards,

Michäël.

NX4.0.4.2 MP10 / TCE 9.1.3.8_build_0711 / NX6.0.2.8 / NX7.0.0.9

Belgium
 
You should be able to export the selected objects from one part to another without necessarily upsetting the original layer structure. This does not however carry with it any defined categories.

The other tack is to import parts. However you do need to keep in mind that you will always get the whole thing. There is a setting to maintain the original layers, and categories do come with the imported part.

An empty part with the right categories provides a handy way to populate the categories in a part that has none for whatever reason. All you have to do is import it and the categories will be just appear.

Best Regards

Hudson

www.jamb.com.au

Nil Desperandum illegitimi non carborundum
 
Exactly what 'features' are you talking about? Generally speaking 'features' are ADDED to an existing body and as such 'features' themselves HAVE NO layer status of their own, just that of the body they are part of. Now there are curve 'featurea' and point 'features' and even Sketch 'features, and these can be assigned their own layer, but there often they have no parents other than perhaps a Datum in the case of a Sketch, but in any case, there is NO automatic relationship between even these 'stand-alone' features and objects they may reference in terms of which layer they are assigned to or even remain on during updates or if they are copied.

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

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
 
As usual you are all quick to reply. I appreciate this so much. I feel I may have to explain a little more.

I MUST work on one part. This is not an assembly. My design intent is to build a group of features, this contains, Datum Planes, Axes, Curves, Revolves, Helixs, Sketches.

I then assign layers to features based on their function in the model. So there maybe a datum plane on one layer and another datum plane on another.

So, for instance when I may have assigned one datum plane to layer 62, and another to layer 65.

I then group all the features together and copy and paste. All the features in the copy go back to the work layer. I would like the features to copy the respective layers so I dont have to go through them all again.

Is there a way of doing this?

Thanks for all your help.

NX6.0.4.3
 
In the 'result' section of the move command dialog box, use the 'original' layer option.
 
Thanks cowski.

Unfortunately this is not applicable for what I want to do.

I build a complex curve from many features that are all based on one point on a curve. I then have to copy all the features to build the complex curve at many other points. This is not a move command. All the features must be used to generate the curve in its proper orientation. I cannot use sweeps either as the only reference to the curve is the one point in each feature set.

So ideally, I was hoping there was just some user setting that allowed for the copying of layer properties when copying any feature.

Thanks to everyone for there help. It's most appreciated.

NX6.0.4.3
 
The 'move' command is also the 'copy' command. It should work for you unless I misunderstand and you are not copying features?
 
Thanks again cowski.

I am copying features. However, I am copying sketches too. These canoont be copied with the move/copy command. The copied features are also associative. So if I do 20 copies, there is a chain of 20 variables linked through the part navigator chronologically.

I cannot use on variable for 20 instances, some of the values need to be additive.

I wish I could give a proper example, but I'm bound by non-disclosure agreements.

Attached is the basic premis. I have created a solid that is attached to a point on a curve. I then copy and paste the feature set named '1'. The settings for the paste are:
expressions=link to original
parents=reuse original

I can then change the position of the child solids by changing their respective points.

All is ok, but all the features are back on the work layer.

When you consider that my actual feature sets contain approx 30 features,and I may do 20 to 30 copies of each feature set, it becomes laborious. However the method is extemely powerful.

Thanks again cowski. Your time and attention is most appreciated.



NX6.0.4.3
 
 http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=ad6bfd4f-b134-496e-a3cf-b473510878ad&file=HAL-Example.prt
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