Refactoring parts

[Tomerl]

There are many parts that were created in older UG/NX versions. I think that if one would create them in NX6 , the parts would probably will look different, with new functionality, one could better express design intent.
As an example let's look at wheel.prt found in NXFolder\UGDOC\html_files\nxmr601\breakout\adv_sim_tut_601\breakout.zip .
13 of the last 14 features in the part are Edge blends. The part was created in UG15 and last modified in UG16. At the time UG/NX did not has a multi set edge blend. A simple NXOpen program that I wrote merge these 13 edge blends into a single multi set edge blend feature.
The result is a smaller part, with better performance: editing features takes less time, it takes less computer resources to load the part (less memory) and in my opinion the design intent of the part is better expressed.
I call this process refactoring parts. I'm not sure it is a good name do you have better name for it?
Do you think a refactoring utility can help NX users? Do you know if there is such utility? There are probably many more refactoring operations that can be done on the part features, you can start write them here.
Thanks

 

[cowski]

I'm not convinced that adding multiple blend sizes/edges to one blend feature is a good idea. It seems like a good idea while you are designing the part but you may get into some trouble at revision time. For instance, a revision that changes geometry before your multi-set blend might cause one (or more) blends in the blend set to not reattach properly but as long as one of the blends in the set work you will get no error message.

 

[JohnRBaker]

The ability to create a single blend feature with multiple radii applied to multiple edges was NOT implemented simply to reduce the number features in the model or even to improve performance and reduce model size, but rather because there are certain blend situations, which either can't be created at all or the results are incorrect, if the blends were applied as separate features. By creating multi-radii blends in one pass the results are more robust and often allows solutions which are topologically more precise.

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

 

[Tomerl]

I just think that in some situations but not always adding multiple blend sizes/edges to one blend feature is a good idea in revision time. In those situations such a tool that helps make these modifications is valuable.

 

[hudson888]

If you need to apply corner setback then you need to select multiple edges meeting at at least one vertex, that's the way the functionality works. In most other situations you're probably better to keep thinks as reasonably simple as possible. Sure there's no reason to have a separate blend for each of four corners, but nor is it meant to be a competition to see who can model the part with the least features in the tree.

Best Regards

Hudson

www.jamb.com.au

Nil Desperandum illegitimi non carborundum