Question about tapped holes in NX4???

[CADWHORE]

I would like to add tapped holes to the "HOLE" option in NX4. I would imagine that the holes that are available in the "simple, counterbore, and countersink" options have their values stored in a database somewhere. Does anyone know where this database is located? Could I modify this theoretical database to include all of the tapped holes? Just an idea, anyone have any ideas????
Thanks,

 

[JohnRBaker]

There is a project proposed for UGS NX 5.0.2.x which will provide enhanced methods and approaches for creating 'hole' features including the concept of a 'threaded' hole, rather then the current approach of creating a smooth hole and then adding a separate 'thread' feature.


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/

 

[phillpd]

As to the "database" for stored values, take a look at the following (ASCII) files ... thd_metric.dat & thd_english.dat in the \UGII folder where NX4 is installed.

Rather than overwrite the originals, you can use the environment variables UGII_METRIC_THREADS and UGII_ENGLISH_THREADS to point to your own.

Specialty Engineered Automation

http://www.sea4ug.com

 

[CADWHORE]

Thank you for the advice. I am unclear what is meant by a seperate thread feature, is this some type of feature that will actually cut the thread profile in the model? I am mostly looking to make a hole a threaded hole and then have that transfer over into my drawing, so that I don't have to manually remember what holes are tapped and what holes are through holes.

The files thd_metric.dat and thd_english.dat are helpful, but what are they used for? Are they used for callouts in drawings?

Thank you much

 

[JohnRBaker]

Those files, thd_metric.dat & thd_english.dat, are only used by the 'Thread' feature and not the general Hole function.


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/

 

[CADWHORE]

What is the "thread" feature, I cannot seem to locate it anywhere??? Where is it located?

 

[phillpd]

Once the Hole feature has been created use Insert->Design Feature->Thread to create the Thread feature.

For best all round performance, especially in Drafting, I'd recommend you use the Symbolic option.

As John says, this gets a lot better in 5.0.2.x.

Specialty Engineered Automation

http://www.sea4ug.com

 

[Dave K]

"What is the "thread" feature, I cannot seem to locate it anywhere??? Where is it located?"

Insert, Design Feature, Thread

-Dave
Everything should be designed as simple as possible, but not simpler.

 

[CADWHORE]

Thank you, this works great. Next how do I properly dimension this hole in a drawing so that it is called out with the thread and thread depth? I know that you can manually type in all of this information, but I feel there is a good chance of missing a hole using this method.

 

[looslib]

You can also modify copies of the thd_*.dat thread files so they modify the tap drill size to the sizes that your shop uses.
When a threaded feature is added to a hole, the hole diameter is modified to the tap_drill size specified in the thd_*.dat files.

"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli
Sr IS Technologist
L-3 Communications

 

[JohnRBaker]

If you use Drawing Templates the hole and thread call-outs are created automatically for you.

If not, then you can add them manually by going to Insert -> Feature Parameters... and selecting the feature you wish to annotate and then select the view you wish to place the annotation in.



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/

 

[PennKoff]

Have you tried the UDF for adding a thread to your model? It's pretty easy and automated.

_____________________________________
Complex problems have simple, easy-to-understand, wrong answers.
_________________
PI Penkov
CAM Programmer
Non-standard Equipment Designer

 

[CADWHORE]

What is a UDF? If it's easy I'm all for it

 

[phillpd]

I wouldn't recommend a UDF (User Defined Feature) for a threaded hole, especially with the pending release of 5.0.2.x

UDF's certainly have their place and they're incredibly useful.

Specialty Engineered Automation

http://www.sea4ug.com

 

[PennKoff]

@CADWHORE:
To use UDF you have to do something like that:
Insert->Design Feature->User Defined...->Browse->expand metric or english->click Standard_Holes->OK->standard_thread_metric or english. I don't remember if the path is exactly the same in NX4 but it would be something like that.

@phillpd:
I understand that you wouldn't recomend an UDF for a thread but I don't understand why. And what's the deal with NX5.0.2.x when we are talking about NX4 here?

_____________________________________
Complex problems have simple, easy-to-understand, wrong answers.
_________________
PI Penkov
CAM Programmer
Non-standard Equipment Designer

 

[phillpd]

Yes, you can go to the trouble of creating UDF's for threaded holes in NX4. If you're going to stay with NX4, then that's fine, but from 5.0.2.x you won't need them.

Specialty Engineered Automation

http://www.sea4ug.com

 

[demco]

We have run into problems with threads in UDFS, when the UDF is designed to thread a blind hole, it can be used to create a threaded thru hole. However, this causes internal errors later on... Stay away from threads... symbolic or not. Use small coutersinks to represent thd Major Dia instead (for internal) or to Minor dia for external. Also, symbolic threads use of curves for displaying can create visualization issues in assemblies.

-Derek
DL Engineering Services
specializing in CAD Design Consultation Services

 

[CADWHORE]

Demco,

If you don't use the thread feature do you manually enter the thread callout in your drawing? Do you ever run into errors because of this? The cad software that I am most familiar with does all of this stuff very quick and very automated, and we would still see problems because of operator error.

If anyone has a UDF that will insert a thread could they please send it to me so that I can have a look at how this works? I have tried to play with this feature some, but have not got anything substantial out of it.

Thanks,

 

[demco]

CADWHORE, I must say, currently I work in a position where we pretty much use inserts for all threads, so we have the luxury of placing an insert, and calling out "install xx insert per spec xxx". Any dimensions we show are generally for reference...

-Derek
DL Engineering Services
specializing in CAD Design Consultation Services

 

[Dawson70]

You can also modify copies of the thd_*.dat thread files so they modify the tap drill size to the sizes that your shop uses.

You can also alter this chart to reflect actual drill bit sizes available; instead of using a percentile multiplier value.

Ron Dawson
Manufacturing Engineer
Ducommun AeroStructures-Parsons

http://www.ducommunaero.com/index.html