Parameterize Boolean for features in part family members?

[Bleaker]

Hi,

is it possible to control the Boolean status of a body feature from a part family table (NX 11)?

We have parts with part families where the features' on/off status is assigned per instance. The features are all United to or Subtracted from the main body. Problem is, if the first feature (the one with Boolean status "None") is switched off this way, the whole model either comes crashing down or has that feature enabled anyway. So I'm looking for a way to make the family instances viable by assigning Boolean status to features that are active in a selected instance. This way, if a "core" Target feature is suppressed in a given instance, another can take its place and the model stays correct.

I also tried experimenting with dedicated Unite/Subtract features - have their Tools/Target lists vary per family instance, or just have a separate feature with its own Tools/Target set for every instance, but none of this seems to be possible as of NX 11.

I have attached a simple model to illustrate: A number of geometric primitives that are United to each other and an Expression containing the name of the "core" feature of the current instance. The part family has three instances: "a" has everything enabled, "b" has only the Target and "c" has only the Tools. If only the value of that Expression could be used within the instance somehow... any ideas?

 

[cowski]

You can use "suppression by expression" (menu -> edit -> feature -> suppress by expression) to turn model features on or off based on the value of an expression.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[Bleaker]

Thanks, didn't know about this one!

But suppressing the features in the part family works already (via the Part Families dialog). I'm trying to figure out how to apply the correct Boolean to the features that are not suppressed in the current instance.

 

[Toost]

I think you are asking if the boolean "inside" a feature ( such as Extrude) can be suppressed,(?) which i would say no to.
You must use separate boolean features to be able to do the Suppress by expression .

Your example attachment is missing.

One possible solution if your attempts fail is to use Extract Body, i.e have associative copies of the base body/features which you add different features to.
You can combine the suppress by expression with expression -IF statements such that IF body A is active, then body B and C are suppressed etc.

Regards,
Tomas

 

[Bleaker]

Oops, looks like my attempt at uploading the file went awry. Hope this time it works.

 

[Bleaker]

To clarify a little, I have a list of "positive" features that comprise a model. The goal is to create these features and unite them into a single body. The model is a part family, where different features may be suppressed in different family members. However, every such member is guaranteed to create a single contiguous body. In order to create a single body, one of the features (the first) needs to have the boolean status of "none", all the others are then united into it. In an instance where the first feature happens to be suppressed, I'm looking for a way to select another feature (e.g. the second one) to have the "none" boolean status. I need to do this with an expression because they can be stored with their respective part family members and applied when needed.