NX6 w/TC - What are the Pros and Cons of a separate drawing prt file?

[apekim]

I am currently working on developing the migration path from IdeasNX12w/TC to NX6w/TC. I would like to get a better understanding of some of the technical pros and cons which may effect our process or long term data management strategy.

Separate drawing files: It is my understanding that the only reason to go this way would be if your organization does not formally release part and assembly files...just drawings.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[JohnRBaker]

NO, the real reason is that this allows people to work independently on models and the drawings at the same time, as well as a bunch of other pluses.

This is what we refer to as the 'Master Model' mode and it's how we do lots of stuff in NX. In addition to Drafting, we also support this mode for Manufacturing and CAE. In fact, with CAE we basically make this the STANDARD way of work by making an automatic behavior. This also helps to keep the Master Part Model as 'clean' as possible, not burdening it with all the Drawing, NC Toolpath, FEM Meshes/Constraints, FEA Results, data which if we didn't use the Master Model approach would all have to be stored inside the SAME Part file.

So I hope you can see that this goes way beyond just Drawings and in fact is a fundamental architectural advantage that NX has and which we intend to continue to enhance and strengthen. So I hope you seriously consider what this might mean is you choose to not go this route, which is possible, but as I hope I've got across to you, is NOT recommended.

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.

 

[hudson888]

One main advantage is that it takes content OUT of model files which become components of assemblies. As your assemblies become larger and larger there is an appreciable advantage in opening smaller model files.

Another advantage is that is reflects common systems of change management in practical terms. While it is common to revise component drawings for every model change many people and organisations have come to realise that maintaining assembly structures should effectively require that every model change cascades all the way to the top.

The third advantage is that where you have different individuals working on data for industrial design, engineering design, drafting, machining, tooling and FEA then you can work in separate files on the same data even without having write access to some of the files for downstream uses.

Best Regards

Hudson

www.jamb.com.au

Nil Desperandum illegitimi non carborundum

 

[smermet]

Hi,
An other advantage : you can used the "reference sets" to control elements that are visible in your drawing, without use the "layer visible in view"...

 

[BOPdesigner]

Is there a system variable that you can set that will prevent users from creating a drawing sheet inside the master model file?

 

[JohnRBaker]

NO, but that in itself wouldn't stop you from working since you can always convert your non-Master Model drawing into a Master Model drawing by simply creating a Component while in the part file with the Drawing and selecting the Model to be included in the Component.

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.