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Pneumatic drawings

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dtharrett

Mechanical
Feb 28, 2008
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We design automated equipment and most assemblies require a pneumatic schematic. Is anyone here using NX for pneumatic schematics? schematic? there a special module we need to purchase?
 
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There is no specific 'Schematic' module developed for NX. However, you can create (perhaps someone may already have done so) a series of schematic symbols using Custom Symbols.

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

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
 
John,
Thank you! If I create a library of "custom symbols" would I be able to drag them into a 2D drawing and constrain them to each other?
 
Well it too some time but I created a library of Custom Symbols that represent our pneumatic components. I can now insert several symbols and place them on the drawing format.

To improve the little process, I would like to add some sort of control points to the symbols. Basically I would like the symbols to snap to something alrady on the drawing. Anyone know if this is possible?
 
Hi,

in my previous job I've used the drawing grid while creating hydraulic schematic with custom made hydraulic symbols.
For example the single symbol has a frame size auf 10x10mm. The drawing grid is set up with 20mm distance of the major lines, 2 minor lines and 20 snap points per minor line. So the symbols and the connecting lines snaps every 0.5mm.
The internal connectors of the symbols are created also with a 0.5 grid.
Not perfect, but it works.

hope this helps


Meinolf
 
 http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=f66158f4-fdaa-4e18-9835-5a053a98cb9c&file=symbol.zip
Thanks, that looks like a good work around for what I am trying to do. Certainly much better than our present (revert to 2D program for schematics). Also, still curious if other users have alternate techniques...

FWIW, I was able to create "blocks" with control points in SW. This allowed me to make an 8 position valve manifold with 8 contol points. I also created blocks with various valve configurations. Each valve has a control point. So when you drag a valve over the manifold, the valve snaps to one of the manifold control points. Anyone know of a way to get this functionality in NX? I hear there is a drafting plus package that we can purchase. Would that add any functionality that would be suitable for schematics?
 
Backburner project has been to continue searching for a viable alternative to our present process of dcumenting pneumatic schematics (we currently us another 2D program). I stumbed across a web site (LTX) that has some sort of an add on module that claims to provide pneumatic schematic capabilities to NX: "NX Schematics provides a unified approach to multiple disciplines such as electrical (wire harness), electrical (equipment design), piping, tubing, and pneumatics."

Has anyone here used this package & do you think it could work for my application?
 
Hi,
John R. Baker can confirm, but from NX8, you can use Autocad symbol in reuse library to create all type of schematic drawings.
On Internet there are lot of free pneumatic Auotacad symbol.

Thank you...

Using NX 7.0.1.7 MP3 and TC8.1
 
Yes, for NX 8.0 we have added the ability to import AutoCAD 'blocks' and convert them into NX Custom Symbols. However, this was not added as an enhancement to regular 'NX Drafting', but rather as part of the add-on module, 'NX DraftingPlus'. Note that a license for the DXF/DWG Translator is also a prerequisite.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
 
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