lab2010
Aerospace
- Mar 21, 2014
- 43
I am curious if there is a good solution to the following issue. When I create an assembly made of several parts, I like to use a sketch within each part that has the overall outline and dimensions. For a simple example, say my assembly was in the shape of a cone built up of 2 revolved segments (see attached drawing in ReferenceEntireSketch1.jpg). Each part contains 2 sketches. The first sketch shown with dotted lines is my outline sketch that I am referring to. The sketch uses reference lines, and I define the base radius and length of the cone (D1 & D2, respectively). Then in my next sketch, I draw in the front segment with solid lines to actually build my component. I can simply make the lines co-linear to the reference sketch and then use a single dimension of length to constrain my drawing (D3). In Part 2, I have the same base sketch with D1 and D2. Here the 2nd sketch makes the back segment, and I do the same thing with co-linear lines and a single length dimension. I am new to NX, and my coworkers requested I make my sketches in this manner to be consistent with their methodology. Because I don't know what the radius is between segments, this approach can constrain the part without having to worry about calculating it.
So I have developed the approach of drawing the base outline/dimensions as Sketch 1 in Part 1. In each subsequent part, I first copy Sketch 1 from Part 1 to the new part. I then use interpart references to define all of the dimensions, so I only have to make overall dimension changes to Part 1. This has worked well for the most part in allowing me to build up all of these parts to the overall dimensions quickly. However I recently ran into an issue. What if the base shape needs to change? Say in my cone example, it is no longer a straight line but a curved arc that defines the outer edge (see ReferenceEntireSketch2.jpg). I have to delete the line making the outer wall and then replace it with an arc in each part. That in itself is quite tedious, but deleting the line often causes lots of fallout. That line is often used in defining dimensions; those in turn are often used as interpart references in numerous other parts, which then automatically get changed to constants without indicating what dimensions in what parts were just modified. The whole process becomes quite an ordeal in making numerous changes and very carefully tracking the impact to the numerous references.
So my question is whether there is a better approach to making changes like this? Is it possible to essentially interpart reference an entire sketch? Rather than just making dimensions update, I can make the entire sketch match another sketch in another part? That would at least help the tedious task of making the same change over and over in that base sketch. Are there any simpler ways to then address all of the issues that come with changing the shape of deleting references, etc.? Is there an overall approach to modeling that makes it easier handle these types of changes?
Any advice would is much appreciated. Given that I have run into this issue in just a few weeks of using the software, I would think this is a common occurrence. I can see it coming up quite often in my work, so I'd like to avoid the hours of headaches it causes in the future. Thanks in advance
So I have developed the approach of drawing the base outline/dimensions as Sketch 1 in Part 1. In each subsequent part, I first copy Sketch 1 from Part 1 to the new part. I then use interpart references to define all of the dimensions, so I only have to make overall dimension changes to Part 1. This has worked well for the most part in allowing me to build up all of these parts to the overall dimensions quickly. However I recently ran into an issue. What if the base shape needs to change? Say in my cone example, it is no longer a straight line but a curved arc that defines the outer edge (see ReferenceEntireSketch2.jpg). I have to delete the line making the outer wall and then replace it with an arc in each part. That in itself is quite tedious, but deleting the line often causes lots of fallout. That line is often used in defining dimensions; those in turn are often used as interpart references in numerous other parts, which then automatically get changed to constants without indicating what dimensions in what parts were just modified. The whole process becomes quite an ordeal in making numerous changes and very carefully tracking the impact to the numerous references.
So my question is whether there is a better approach to making changes like this? Is it possible to essentially interpart reference an entire sketch? Rather than just making dimensions update, I can make the entire sketch match another sketch in another part? That would at least help the tedious task of making the same change over and over in that base sketch. Are there any simpler ways to then address all of the issues that come with changing the shape of deleting references, etc.? Is there an overall approach to modeling that makes it easier handle these types of changes?
Any advice would is much appreciated. Given that I have run into this issue in just a few weeks of using the software, I would think this is a common occurrence. I can see it coming up quite often in my work, so I'd like to avoid the hours of headaches it causes in the future. Thanks in advance
