Surface Finish Symbol

[bfleck]

Is it possible to insert a surface finsh symbol in an english units drawing. When I try to insert the symbol, I get a warning stating that Surface Finish Symbols are not supported in English partfiles or English Drawings.

 

[Xwheelguy]

I don't even mess with the included Surface Finish Symbols. Make it a Custom Symbol with editable text and you'll be good to go.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

Some people are like slinkies....they don't really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

 

[bfleck]

Can you outline how to create a editable custom symbol. Thanks

 

[Xwheelguy]

That's going to depend on what version of NX you're using.....don't see it posted.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

Some people are like slinkies....they don't really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

 

[bfleck]

NX 5

 

[JohnRBaker]

When we introduced Custom Symbols, which must have been 4 or 5 releases ago, we included a set of basic Finish Symbols under the category 'Unigraphics Symbols'.

Also as part of our PMI imitative we include the ability to add Finish Symbols to your model which can later be inherited onto your drawings if desired.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
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.

 

[Xwheelguy]

bfleck,

If you have the documentation installed, check there. It's a bit involved to try and walk you through it.

Look under Design -> Drafting -> Custom Symbol

It should outline everything you need to know in order to create a Symbol Library to adding individual Symbols.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

Some people are like slinkies....they don't really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

 

[bfleck]

nkwheelguy,
The documentation I have for NX5 does not detail the Create Custom Symbol technique correctly. I assume the instructions are for previous version. The instruction dont provide any relevant info.

All,
Why disable the feature for english units and enable it for metric. Are Siemens trying to say that the symbols do not exist in the english units system!!!

 

[potrero]

Also, the ANSI surface finish symbol in the PMI module doesn't seem to allow specification of max and min surface finish...

 

[ewh]

I don't know what setting was changed on your end, but we have had no problem using the out-of-the-box finish symbols in english drawings. In the text editor, we pick "User Defined Symbols", choose "Utility Directory" for the User Defined Symbol Library, choose the symbol needed from the list and click "Add Symbol".

Believe it if you need it or leave it if you dare. - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[Xwheelguy]

ewh,

He's not talking about User-Defined Symbols, he's talking about Surface Finish Symbols that are activated via an environment variable. If you don't have this variable set, I do not believe you will see what he's talking about in Drafting.

bfleck,

I'll have to post it as a PDF because you either aren't looking where I told you to look or you just don't have the Docs installed. If I were you, I'd make SURE I have the Docs installed. What I am looking at on my monitor shows me how to create a symbol step by step and I don't see anything that is incorrect.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

Some people are like slinkies....they don't really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

 

[ewh]

Sorry, only saw "drawing" in the OP, and that's how I get them on my drawings.

Believe it if you need it or leave it if you dare. - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[bfleck]

nkwheelguy,
I did find the instructions, sorry my mistake. After I try to create the symbol, I get an internal error. Log an IR and working through it, but why cant they just make their standard symbols available for english units.

 

[Xwheelguy]

bfleck,

I'm glad you found the area to which I was pointing you in the docs...it was more info that I wanted to type out. Not sure why you're getting an error message. Try restarting NX, and creating the symbol in a brand new part file.

I don't know why it's like that in regards to English units. I didn't care for the text control or placement options, so I just gave up and made my own to work the way I need them to work.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

Some people are like slinkies....they don't really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

 

[Jaydenn]

You mean there is no automatic way to place a finish symbol in an imperial drawing?

Surface finish is a fundamental component of detailing a drawing! how was it not included?

Do I really need to make a unique, custom symbol for every variation of finish I need?

Can I make a "smart" symbol that prompts me for a text input when I place it?

Thanks,
JAY

 

[JohnRBaker]

Have you ever looked at the PMI tools?

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
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.

 

[ewh]

What am I missing out on here? Doesn't the User Defined Symbols Utility Directory come with the software? I haven't had any problems placing finish symbols (many to choose from) on drawings for many years, and I've yet to have to create my own symbol to do so.
Hopefully, we will start using the PMI tools fairly soon, but that won't be the reason why.

Believe it if you need it or leave it if you dare. - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[bfleck]

Certainly it is easy to plave the surface finish symbol, but that is not the full requirement with some surface finish treatments. You have roughness average, min, max, Surface Lay, machining stock allowance to name a few. See the machinery handbook for further examples. It is not idea to associate a note with the symbol. I have got the Create Custom Symbol working now and set it up to act like the proper Surface Finsih Symbol feature. i.e. when you isert a custom symbol, the ensueing dialogue box asks for various inputs depending on the symbol. The downfall is that I had to create each symbol myself, which took some time.
I cant understand why they left out the functionallity for english units and when you talk to GTAC about it, they say there are already numerous enhancement requests. I was really surprised to see that it did not make NX6. I mean how hard is it to extend the availablility to english units.
To date I have not played with PMI, though I'm sure I should get some experience soon as I believe NX6 has more use of PMI.

 

[ewh]

There are 22 examples to choose from in the Utility Directory.

Believe it if you need it or leave it if you dare. - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]

 

[Jaydenn]

John,
I just looked at the PMI tools. Right now, we are not doing our own designs. I am trying to create a print from a customer model. STP file to be exact.
I managed to add some finish tolerances(PMI) to the model, however, for love nor money, they will not show up on my drawing. I chose the inherit PMI tab but nothing appeared on my print. I guess I'm missing something.
However, that doesn't remove the need for a simple Drawing annotation like a finish mark. I mean, really. Come on.

Ewh,
Are you placing finish marks that have text input support?
or are you just placing the "checkmark"?
Placing the "checkmark" is easy. I agree. However, that is not what I want. I want automatic association with the view, promts for each parameter, etc, etc.
Read Bflecks post. He describes it well.
If you are able to do this in an Imperial drawing enviroment, please explain to me how... Thanks.

JAY