QoD: Associative horiz reference for rect arrayed feature...

[Shadowspawn]

Question of the Day: How do you associate the horizontal reference for a rectangular arrayed sheet body (via grouping the sheet...) to an datm axis representing the chord of an airfoil so that if the chord angle to abs changes, the horizontal axis of the rectangular array updates accordingly?

I initially thought I had it worked out via datm axis defined by associative points representing the chord line; everything seems to update fine except the axis defining the horizontal reference for the array doesn't change...

Regards,
SS
CAD should pay for itself, shouldn't it?

 

[JohnRBaker]

Array Feature, at least 'Retangular', is not associative to a horizontal/vertical reference.

However, in UGS NX 5 you have something called Instance Geometry that will allow you to create multiple copys of geometric objects and you will be able to associativly reference direction vectors, such as an edge, line or datum.


John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
UGS NX Product Line
SIEMENS
UGS PLM Software
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/ugs

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

 

[MSPBenson]

Shadowspawn

Could you do this with a component with the sheets.
Add it in and then using array component create your instance.
Finally wavelink it in.

Not tested this but it may work?



Mark Benson
Aerodynamic Model Designer

 

[Shadowspawn]

Unfortunately, that method isn't an option to even explore. I'm working on a template part that parses a formatted text file to load expressions into UG; thereby going thru a dance of various offsets, rotations, and translations to an airfoil at different Z heights... Complicated way more than this... but suffice it to say that making each section a component part won't work.

I have this beasty working fine initially, but when I change out the initial strings defining the cross section, the cord angle to absolute changes for the section (consider it a totally different airfoil section) and the aforementioned pattern horizontal reference angle isn't updating; it maintains the original pattern direction.

So how can I essentially get an associative copy of an airfoil section "translated" in an x/y direction when the x/y direction of the translation changes?

Regards,
SS
CAD should pay for itself, shouldn't it?

 

[JohnRBaker]

So how can I essentially get an associative copy of an airfoil section "translated" in an x/y direction when the x/y direction of the translation changes?

There is a way to do that if it were a solid body, however if it's a surface, there isn't, at least not until UGS NX 5.


John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
UGS NX Product Line
SIEMENS
UGS PLM Software
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/ugs

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

 

[Shadowspawn]

John,

What would you do if it were? ...solid that is. I can modify my approach if needed...

Regards,
SS
CAD should pay for itself, shouldn't it?

 

[JohnRBaker]

If it were a solid, you first do an Insert -> Associative Copy -> Extract... and select the body. Now, using the Part Navigator, hide the original body (this just makes it easier to only pick the copy). Now do an Insert -> Direct Modeling -> Move Region... and drag select all the faces of the solid and select the Translate Direction/Distance option, define the vector of the direction and enter a distance and hit OK. Now do a Show (Unblank) on the original body. Now if the reference that you used to define the direction moves this will update. Also there will now be an expression for the distance moved.

Until you have UGS NX 5, this is about the best I can offer you. With the new Instance Gemometry, this task will be trivial.


John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
UGS NX Product Line
SIEMENS
UGS PLM Software
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/ugs

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

 

[Shadowspawn]

John,

Interesting approach... Let me play with it and I'll get back to you on my success, or lack thereof.

In the meantime, I also fired off an email to get NX5 loaded on my machine so I can experiment with this new fangled technology stuff you were talking about...

I'll keep ya posted either way...

Regards,
SS
CAD should pay for itself, shouldn't it?