In many cases, you can easily add dimensions using the Inferred Dimensions command. NX infers suitable constraints based on the geometry you select and where you select it. This example shows you how to add dimensions to this pipe vise profile.
On the Direct Sketch toolbar, click Inferred Dimensions . NX displays degree-of-freedom arrows, and the status line identifies the number of constraints necessary to fully constrain the sketch.
Click the bottom line of the profile, move the cursor down, and click again to place the dimension.
Type 110 and press Enter.
Click the bottom line (1), the top line to the left (2), and place the dimension (3). A vertical dimension is created.
Click the center reference line to create a vertical dimension.
Click either of the top horizontal lines and place the dimensions.
At the upper right of the part, click the horizontal line and the angled line, and place the dimension. Be sure to click in the middle of each curve, away from the line end (1).
At the upper left of the part, click the horizontal line and the angled line, and place another angled dimension.
For the angle value, type the expression name from the last angular dimension (p153, for example).
Click the arc and place the dimension. The sketch is now fully constrained. NX switches sketch curves to the fully constrained color and the Status bar notes that the sketch is fully constrained.
To change the value of a dimension, either double-click the dimension, or right-click and choose Edit Value. You can edit the constraint in the on-screen input box.
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Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? 4 thread561-371325 Forum Search FAQs Links MVPs Menu Forum
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MVPs Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? peterrdevries (Mechanical) (OP) 10 Sep 14 05:09 Working Master Model Drawing.
Is there a way when to change a Drawing Dimension and automatically the expression of the 3D Model is also changed?
Or with other words, toc change my model in the drawing.
Thanks in Advance, Peter RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? braddles90 (Mechanical) 10 Sep 14 06:28
I *guess* you could, however, have an interpart expression link between the drawing file and the model file, but then I’m pretty sure that you’d only be able to change the expression in the drawing file – there’s no way to have both files able to modify the dimensions on the part.
Hopefully someone else might be able to explain that a bit better : Nope, that functionality doesn’t exist. I think it’s driven by the ‘master model’ approach – the model drive all downstream data, so I think it works against that to have the downstream files change the model.I *guess* you could, however, have an interpart expression link between the drawing file and the model file, but then I’m pretty sure that you’d only be able to change the expression in the drawing file – there’s no way to have both files able to modify the dimensions on the part.Hopefully someone else might be able to explain that a bit better : RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? cubalibre000 (Mechanical) 10 Sep 14 08:10
Then import PMI diemsnion from part
You must enable this functionality in the customer default. Yes, can be done if you have PMI license and convert dimensions that you want to put in the drawing as PMI.Then import PMI diemsnion from partYou must enable this functionality in the customer default. Thank you…
Using NX 8 and PDM RuleDesigner RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? Xwheelguy (Automotive) 10 Sep 14 08:37
Check out the NX documentation for “Inherit Sketch Dimension” in the Drafting section.
I’d also suggest including the version of NX you’re using whenever you post a question, as it helps us help you if we know that information up front. There is also another method that involves inheriting the sketch dimensions. For this to work, you have to sketch, add sketches to specific reference set (at least you used to have to do this), then the sketch dimensions will show on the face of the dwg and you can edit them there, which will drive a change to the model. Take care in how you set up diameters in your sketches if you use this method.Check out the NX documentation for “Inherit Sketch Dimension” in the Drafting section.I’d also suggest including the version of NX you’re using whenever you post a question, as it helps us help you if we know that information up front. Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 8.0.3.4
Win7 Pro x64 SP1
Intel Xeon 2.53 GHz 6GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? braddles90 (Mechanical) 10 Sep 14 08:49 Whelp, I stand corrected…
I was thinking of (I think Inventor or Solidworks?) where I think this is a standard function for all parts, rather than seemingly having to set it up for each part you want to do this with as described above. RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? CAD2015 (Computer) 10 Sep 14 08:59
I tried to follow your advice, but it doesn’t work! Xwheelguy,I tried to follow your advice, but it doesn’t work! MZ7DYJ RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? Xwheelguy (Automotive) 10 Sep 14 08:59
You don’t necessarily have to set it up for each part. You could use templates or start parts to accomplish getting the reference sets prepared – that’s about all that is specifically required other than how one chooses to model the part (sketch or no sketch), in which case a sketch is required for this workflow.
Personally, I’ve not found a good reason to use this, as you have to really think ahead when sketching for it to work flawlessly in every situation for every part you’re going to create. braddles,You don’t necessarily have to set it up for each part. You could use templates or start parts to accomplish getting the reference sets prepared – that’s about all that is specifically required other than how one chooses to model the part (sketch or no sketch), in which case a sketch is required for this workflow.Personally, I’ve not found a good reason to use this, as you have to really think ahead when sketching for it to work flawlessly in every situation for every part you’re going to create. Tim Flater
NX Designer
NX 8.0.3.4
Win7 Pro x64 SP1
Intel Xeon 2.53 GHz 6GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? CAD2015 (Computer) 10 Sep 14 09:04
I try to use your suggestion:
“Yes, can be done if you have PMI license and convert dimensions that you want to put in the drawing as PMI.
Then import PMI dimensions from part You must enable this functionality in the customer default. ”
I have two questions:
1) How should we convert dimensions that we want to put in the drawing as PMI?
2) How should we import PMI dimensions from part?
Can you present us a step-by-step complete procedure?
Thanks!
Cubalibre00,I try to use your suggestion:”Yes, can be done if you have PMI license and convert dimensions that you want to put in the drawing as PMI.Then import PMI dimensions from part You must enable this functionality in the customer default. “I have two questions:1) How should we convert dimensions that we want to put in the drawing as PMI?2) How should we import PMI dimensions from part?Can you present us a step-by-step complete procedure?Thanks! MZ7DYJ RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? 2 JohnRBaker (Mechanical) 10 Sep 14 09:21 Actually there’s a Customer Default which controls whether Expression are available to be edited while in a Drawing and I suspect that the vast majority of our customers have turned this option OFF, and in some cases, have probably gone out of their way to LOCK it as such, as this is considered to be a very poor practice at best. In fact I can recall how when we first announced that this capability was being added to Unigraphics (this pre-NX) that our largest two customers are the time demanded that if we did do this that thered needed to be a way that it could be disabled as they would NEVER allow something like that in their offices. With the current state of the art for CAD/CAE/CAM/PDM systems it is standard practice that the Models, NOT the Drawings, are where the ‘math’ or part data-model exists. Drawings are simply a ‘document’ showing what is to be manufactured, but they are not being used to actually manufacture the final product. John R. Baker, P.E.
Product ‘Evangelist’
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
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To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be. RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? peterrdevries (Mechanical) (OP) 10 Sep 14 10:28 John,
Can you please add the Customer Default (NX9), to test.
Thanks in advance. RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? looslib (Mechanical) 10 Sep 14 12:33
Chinese proverb: “Be careful what you ask for.”
I have heard of horror stories of users of another CAD product that has this capability on by defasult and the amount of scrap it has produced. One item was a V10 engine block that the drafting guy changed a dimension and then manufacturing took the model and created NC cutter paths. The block was scrapped when they discovered the drawing change. This company had been a UGII customer, went to this new software for its parametric approach and has since switched their manufacturing plants back to NX.Chinese proverb: “Be careful what you ask for.” “Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic.”
Ben Loosli RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? joycejo (Aerospace) 10 Sep 14 13:22
I agree with Ben. This is IMHO just a disaster waiting to happen. If you need the environmental variable contact gtac. Please don’t post it in a public forum. Change the model to drive the drawing not the other way around. John Joyce
N.C. Programming Supervisor
Barnes Aerospace, Windsor CT
NX6, NX7.5,NX8.5, NX9.0
Vericut7.3 RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? ewh (Aerospace) 10 Sep 14 13:51
Now, in the rare situation where this is a single, stand alone part that is not (yet) used in any other assembly, you may get away with it (but it would still be poor practice). What may seem a shortcut to get the dimension you want on a drawing may affect many other parts, depending on assembly size. It is always safer to do as mentioned above and let the model drive the drawing. Otherwise you may end up with some unfortunate unintended consequences.Now, in the rare situation where this is a single, stand alone part that is not (yet) used in any other assembly, you may get away with it (but it would still be poor practice). “Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.”
-Dalai Lama XIV RE: Edit dimension in Drafting -> changes model? peterrdevries (Mechanical) (OP) 11 Sep 14 05:34 Thanks for all your comments.
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The NX environment uses a single dialog box with a set of dynamic options to control the style of all Drafting and PMI annotation and dimensions. The same dialog box is used to control the preference settings for the style of all annotation and dimension types, as well as set or modify the appearance of existing annotation and dimensions.
It is called the Drafting Preferences dialog box if you are setting the global preferences for all annotation and dimension types. All options associated with all annotation and dimension types are displayed in specific nodes in the dialog box
It is called the Settings dialog box if you are changing the appearance of annotations or dimensions you are creating, or modifying the appearance of existing annotations or dimensions. Only those options applicable to the selected annotations or dimensions are displayed in specific nodes in the dialog box
The title of the dialog box, the nodes displayed in the dialog box, and the options displayed in the different nodes of the dialog box, depend on whether you are setting the display preferences for all annotation or dimension types, or setting the display characteristics of existing annotations or dimensions.
From this dialog box you can:
Control the color, font, width, orientation, and other properties of textual annotations and dimensions.
Control the type, precision, and tolerance display properties for dimensions.
Control the appearance of leader line, extension lines, and arrows.
Control the format of tables and parts lists.
Control the color, font, width and size of symbols.
Set the style, scale, and angle of crosshatch and area fill patterns.
Inherit options The options in the Inherit group of the Settings dialog box let you quickly change the appearance of selected objects. The Settings Source option lets you select from where NX obtains the new display characteristics. When you set Settings Source to Preferences or Customer Defaults, you must click the Load from Settings Source button to apply the changes to your annotation or dimension. When Setting Source is set to Select Object, you must select an existing annotation or dimension object, and then click OK or Apply to update the display of the objects you want to change.