UG NX7.5 CREATE SMART LOCATION TAGS POSSIBLE? UFUNC HELP! 1

[mag00n]

Alright, in our assembly designs, we use tooling balls for CMM pickup and have to have tags that show the location (x,y,z) of each tooling ball.
Manually entering this information is no big deal if there is only one, but most of our designs incorporate multiple parts. We end up using multiple tags to represent 'car space' locations, so entering this information for say 15 tags gets to be time consuming.

My question is if a smart tooling ball tag could be coded? One that updates its displayed location wherever it is moved to.

I have attached a screenshot to give you a better idea of what im talking about.

 

[moudy1]

Use measure distance from the expression dialog then add a drafting note and use Symbols Category Relationships, insert Expression to tie to measurement.

 

[mag00n]

Thanks for the direction!

I am still having issues trying to work out how to display it correctly.

If I create a measured distance expression the link works, but always displays a positive number. Also, can't figure out how to single out an axis.

I need a way to create a displayed distance from absolute zero for each axis +/- . Sort of similar to executing an 'information > point' command.

If that is possible, can the number displayed be limited to a 3 place decimal?

 

[moudy1]

I think you could create datums relative to your tooling ball and mesurment object to single out an axis.

The only thing I can think for the +/- is to create another measurement using a datum that is always on the + side and then create an expression that compares the two and based on some logic would return either a + or -. You would then add that expression to your note. This is just a thought I have never tried it.

Once you create your note you will see something like <X0.3@p429>. The .3 in this example controls the decimal places.

 

[mag00n]

Thanks for the reply! I just returned from vacation, so I will try to implement it today. I will reply with results.

 

[mag00n]

Still stuck!

I have been playing around with the expressions but I cannot get this thing to display correctly.

I cant figure out how to execute an "information > point" command using an expression. If I can solve that, this thing would work!

I recorded a macro and a journal while executing that command so that I could reference called objects/commands. I used every keyword from those files while searching for known expressions and came up with nothing.
Is there a 'master' list of expressions somewhere on the gtac site that might help?

Or is there a way to record executed commands in C++?

 

[moudy1]

See if this file helps.
Edit the sketch and perform an alternate solution on the p14 dimension to see the +/- change.

For your c++ question you can change the customer default gateway... user interface... journal... journal language.

 

[mag00n]

moudy1,

First - Thanks for all your time and help with this!

Second - Your part file seems to be closer to what I am trying to accomplish. I do not use sketcher very much if at all, so I am not sure exactly how to use that part.

I have uploaded an example of how we structure our master assemblies. (Please read the README.txt file in the example first)

In the example;

The part we need to check is in 'car space' and I built the model without moving the actual part. I am trying to get the tooling balls to display Absolute X,Y,Z locations (where they are in relation to the 'part'.

Let me know if you need more information, and again - Thank you for taking the time to help!

 

[moudy1]

Take a look at this.
I removed the bond constraint so you can move the ball components around and see the numbers change.

 

[mag00n]

That is awesome! I have been trying for the last month to accomplish what you have in a matter of hours... Thank you!

My only question now is - is it possible to create the linked note inside the tooling ball part file so that dragging and dropping this component into other jobs would work without setting up the note for each design?

 

[moudy1]

Not that I can think of.
Does the tooling ball need to be a component?

 

[mag00n]

Yea, it does need to be a component. We use multiple copies of it in each job - sometimes up to 12 of them. Its very easy to drag and drop copies of it into a job and just tell it where to go.

Unless you are aware of a way to create multiple copies of it for each job without it being a component?

If it is not possible, no worries.. You have been such a huge help!