part modeling tutrorials

Basic Hole ProceduresThis section contains basic procedures to use with the Hole function.

Basic Simple Hole ProcedureBasic Counterbore Hole ProcedureBasic Countersink Hole Procedure

Simple HoleThis option lets you create a simple Hole, with a specified Diameter, Depth and Tip Angle for a pointed tip.

Basic Procedure for Simple Hole

To create a hole using the Simple method, follow these steps:

1. Use the Placement Face selection step to select the planar placement face or datum plane on which to locate the hole. The system displays a preview in the graphics window of the hole and its dimensions using the current parameters. If you selected a datum plane, you can use the Reverse Side button to switch the direction of the vector.

You can enter values for the parameters discussed in the following steps before you select the planar placement face.

When you change a value in one of the parameter fields discussed below, pressing the Return or Enter key updates the graphics window preview of the hole with the new value.

2. (Optional) Use the Thru Face selection step to select a face through which the hole is to extend and pass through. If you specify a Thru Face, the Depth and Tip Angle options become unavailable.

3. Enter a value for the Depth, or accept the default.4. Enter a value for the Tip Angle, or accept the default. You can press the Return or Enter

key to update the graphics window preview of the hole with the new value.5. Click OK or Apply to create the hole.6. Use the Positioning dialog to precisely locate the hole.

Counterbore Hole

This option lets you create a counterbore hole, with a specified Hole Diameter, Hole Depth, Tip Angle, C-Bore Diameter and C-Bore Depth.

Basic Procedure for Counterbore Hole

To create a hole using the Counterbore method, follow these steps:




2. (Optional) Use the Thru Face selection step to select a face through which the hole is to extend and pass through. If you specify a Thru Face, the Hole Depth and Tip Angle options become unavailable.

3. Enter a value for the C-Bore Diameter, or accept the default. This value should be greater than the value for the Hole Diameter.

4. Enter a value for the C-Bore Depth, or accept the default.5. Enter a value for the Hole Diameter, or accept the default.6. Enter a value for the Hole Depth, or accept the default. This field is not available if you

specified a Thru Face.7. Enter a value for the Tip Angle, or accept the default. This field is not available if you

specified a Thru Face.8. Click OK or Apply to create the hole.

Countersink HoleThis option lets you create a countersink hole, with a specified Hole Diameter, Hole Depth, Tip Angle, C-Sink Diameter and C-Sink Angle.

Basic Procedure for Countersink Hole

To create a hole using the Countersink method, follow these steps:




2. (Optional) Use the Thru Face selection step to select a face through which the hole is to extend and pass through. If you specify a Thru Face, the Hole Depth and Tip Angle options become unavailable.

3. Enter a value for the C-Sink Diameter, or accept the default. This value should be greater than the value for the Hole Diameter.

4. Enter a value for the C-Sink Angle, or accept the default.5. Enter a value for the Hole Diameter, or accept the default.6. Enter a value for the Hole Depth, or accept the default. This field is not available if you

specified a Thru Face.7. Enter a value for the Tip Angle, or accept the default. This field is not available if you

specified a Thru Face.8. Click OK or Apply to create the hole.

Datum Plane Overview

Procedures Dialog Fields Constraints Editing Datum Planes

Datum Plane - OverviewUse the Datum Plane option to create reference planes that serve as aids when existing planes are not available. Datum planes can assist you in creating features on cylinders, cones, spheres,

revolved solid bodies, and other objects. Datum planes can also help you in creating features at angles other than normal to the faces of the target solid.

You can create either relative or fixed datum planes.

Relative Datum PlanesWhen you create a relative datum, you create it "relative" to other objects in the model. You can select curves, faces, edges, points, and other datums for the reference objects. By default, the constraint type is inferred based on the objects you select, and the sequence in which you select them. You can also specify a constraint explicitly, and then select the object to be associated with it.

Relative datum planes can be applied across multiple bodies.

Relative Datum Planes Used in Construction

The size of a relative datum plane depends on the size of its parent geometry; it will only be as large as a hypothetical box drawn around that geometry. If their are multiple geometry elements used in the creation of a relative datum plane, they are all used to determine its size. For example, a relative datum plane created coincident with two edges would be as large as a box that contains both edges.

Fixed Datum PlanesFixed datum planes do not reference, and are not constrained by, other geometric objects, except when used in a user defined feature. They are created along the lines of the WCS. For details, see Fixed Datum Planes.

Constructing Datum PlanesThere are two basic methods you can use to construct datum planes:

Select the edges, planar faces or wireframe geometry needed to specify the datum, and then choose the Datum Plane option.

The system attempts to infer the best mode to use with the selected objects to successfully define a datum, and presents a preview of the datum in the graphics window. If a datum plane cannot be created based on the selected objects, use the Datum Plane icon options to change the mode, add additional objects or change the constraints.

Invoke the Datum Plane option and then select the required objects for the datum from the graphics window. When you have selected enough valid objects to define a datum, a preview of the datum is displayed in the graphics window. Use the Datum Plane icon options to help specify objects and constraints. For more complicated datum planes, open the full Datum Plane dialog.

In either case, a previewed datum is inferred and then presented, based on the selected geometries and constraints.

Before creating the datum based on the preview, you can specify new constraints and objects. You can change the parameters of the previewed datum by dragging the handles displayed in the graphics window. Advanced editing options to change the type of the datum and delete or change constraints are available with the full dialog (see Datum Plane Dialog for full details).

A dialog displays if you try to create a relative datum plane that is coincident with a pre-existing relative datum plane that has the same parents. The corresponding coincident datum plane is highlighted, and you can choose from the following options:

Yes The datum plane is created coincident with the existing datum plane.

Yes Always

Same as with Yes, but the warning is not displayed again during the current session.

No The operation is cancelled and no datum plane is created.

Datum Plane Icon OptionsOpening Datum Planes first displays the icon options in the upper left corner of the graphics window (unless there are no objects in your part file, where you will get the Datum Plane dialog instead). The icon options use the Inferred method to let you quickly create a datum plane based on your object and optional constraint selections.

Datum Plane Icon Options

The Datum Plane icon options include the following tools:

Datum Plane Dialog - Use the dialog to create datum planes that are more specific than those you can create with the Inferred method. See Datum Plane Dialog for details.

Constraints Cascade Menu - Available constraints are Inferred, Coincident, Parallel, Perpendicular, Center, Tangent, Offset and Angle.

Only constraints appropriate for the currently selected objects appear on the menu. If no objects are selected, all constraints are available. If you specify a constraint, the objects you can select are somewhat limited to what is appropriate for that constraint. If the objects you select could not be used to create a datum with the specified constraint, the system resets the constraint to Inferred, and the selectable objects change.

See Inferred Constraints for details.

Alternate Solution - Cycles through different solutions when more than one type of datum plane can be created, based on the object selections and constraints. See Datum Plane Alternate Solution for details.

OK - Creates the previewed datum plane. Unlike the Apply button on the Datum Plane dialog, dismisses the Datum Plane option.

Cancel - Discards all datum plane constraints and exits the Datum Plane option.

Display of Datum Planes Relative datum planes are displayed based on the size of their parents. For instance, if a datum plane is created through the axis of the cylindrical face of a hole feature, the size of the face is used to determine the datum plane display. If a datum plane is created through points and/or linear geometries, the datum plane is displayed such that its parents are contained within the boundaries of its rectangular box.

The display of fixed datum planes is controlled by the size of the display when they are created, as long as there are no bodies in the part. Otherwise, their display is controlled by the bodies in the part. You can adjust the size of fixed datum planes to fit the current size of your model at any time by choosing Insert-> Datum/Point-> Resize Fixed Datums.



Datum Plane - Example Procedures Using Dialog OptionsThis section includes examples of Datum Plane dialog methods.

Point and Direction

This method lets you create a datum plane by defining a point and a vector direction.

1. Open the full Datum Plane dialog by clicking its icon button on the Datum Plane dynamic input box.

2. Choose the Point and Direction option.3. Select a point. Use the Snap Point toolbar if necessary to aid in point selection. You can

also use the Point Constructor from the Point Submenu to define a point.4. Use the Vector submenu to define a direction, or accept the default. A preview of the

datum plane is displayed.5. Click OK or Apply to create the datum plane.

In the figure below, a point has been defined (red marker) and the XC direction specified.

Point and Direction Method using the XC Direction

In the case of a point on an edge or line, you can enter a parameter value or expression in the dynamic input box to adjust the point location, with 0 through 1 representing the percentage distance along the edge or line. If you enter a value greater than or lesser than this, the datum plane is located off the edge or line. During edit, you can drag the point along the edge or line. If you specify a point on a planar face, the direction is the surface normal.

Three Points

This method lets you create a datum plane by defining three points through which the plane passes.


2. Choose the Three Points option.3. Select three points (use the Snap Point toolbar if necessary to aid in point selection). A

preview of the datum plane is displayed.

If you use the Point on Curve option (under Snap Point) to specify a point, you can drag the point handle and alter its position, dynamically changing the datum plane.

4. Click OK or Apply to create the datum plane.

In the figure below, the three points have been defined (red handle markers), and a preview of the datum plane has been displayed.

Three Points Method

You can enter a parameter value or expression in the dynamic input box for each point to adjust the point location, with 0 through 1 representing the percentage distance along the edge or line. If you enter a value greater than or lesser than this, the point is located off the edge or line. Points you specify that are not related to curves can not be dragged, and do not appear with dynamic input boxes.

Point on Curve

This method lets you create a datum plane tangent to, normal or binormal to a point on a curve.


2. Choose the Point on Curve option.3. Select a point on a curve or edge. A preview of the datum plane is displayed, with the

point on curve marked with a handle.

You can alter the datum plane by dragging the handle of the point to change its position along the curve.

Point on Curve Method

You can also adjust the point location by entering a parameter value or expression in the dynamic input box, with the arc length value representing the distance along the curve.

To optionally switch the mode between Arclength and % Arclength, position the cursor over the point on curve handle, click MB3 and select Arclength or % Arclength.

5. Use the Alternate Solution option to get other possible datum planes that can be created with the selected point.

6. If, in addition to the curve, you select another face or linear edge, the direction of the datum plane is defined based on this second object as follows:

for a planar face or linear edge, the datum plane is made parallel to the object.

for a non-planar face, the datum plane is made parallel to the tangent plane at the closest point on the surface.


Fixed Datum Planes

Fixed datum planes do not reference, and are not constrained by other geometric objects, except when used in a user defined feature. They are created along the lines of the WCS.

The following options are available to create a fixed datum:

3 Planes of WCS Creates XY, YZ and XZ planes in the current WCS

XC-YC Creates an XY plane in the current WCS

YC-ZC Creates a YZ plane in the current WCS

XC-ZC Creates an XZ plane in the current WCS

If you open the Datum Plane function in a part that contains no geometry, the datum plane method is automatically set to Fixed.

Following is an example of this method:1. Open the full Datum Plane dialog by clicking its button on the Datum Plane icon options.2. Choose the Fixed Datum option. A preview of the datum plane is displayed.3. Use the Fixed Datum option menu to specify XC-YC, YC-ZC, or XC-ZC. The previewed

fixed datum plane changes to the current setting.4. Click OK or Apply to create the fixed datum plane.

The Three Types of Fixed Datum Planes: XC-YC, YC-ZC and XC-ZC

Converting Relative Datum Planes to Fixed

In addition to creating fixed datum planes that are coincident with the coordinate planes (as shown above), you can also create or convert a fixed datum plane from relative datum planes.

At creation time after the datum plane is previewed, or during edit, you can convert a relative datum plane to a fixed datum plane by changing the datum method to fixed and not selecting any of the options available from the fixed datum pull-down menu.

The constraints that define the datum plane are then removed and the fixed datum is defined by the datum plane 뭩 current point and direction.



Datum Plane - Example Procedures Using ConstraintsThis section shows simple examples for each of the datum plane constraints.

Coincident

Constrains the datum plane to be coincident to a point, or the center of a sphere, linear geometry (a linear edge, line, datum axis or the axis of a cylinder, cone, or torus), and planar geometry (a planar face, datum plane or a NX plane).

1. Select a point, linear edge, line, or axis. In the example, a linear edge on the forward, lower portion of a solid is selected (highlighted in red).

2. Select a second linear edge, line, or axis. In the following figure, an edge on the backside of the solid is highlighted before it is selected.

On selecting the edge on the backside of the solid, a preview of the datum plane is displayed.

3. Click OK or Apply to create the datum plane using coincident constraints.

Parallel

Constrains the datum so it is parallel to another planar geometry.

1. Set the constraint type to Parallel.2. Select a planar face (highlighted in red in the following figure).

3. Select a second planar face (pre-highlighted in magenta in the following figure).

A datum plane is previewed that is parallel with and centered to the selected faces.

4. Click OK or Apply to get a datum plane that uses the Parallel and Center constraints.

Perpendicular

Constrains the datum to be perpendicular to a datum plane or linear geometry.

1. Select a linear edge (highlighted in red in the following figure).

2. Set the constraint type to Perpendicular.3. Select a second linear edge. A preview of a datum plane displays.

4. Click OK or Apply to create the datum plane that uses the Perpendicular and Coincident constraints.

Center

Constrains the datum so it is centered between planar geometries.

1. Select a planar face. A preview of an offset datum plane displays.

2. Highlight a second planar face.

Selecting the second face causes a datum plane using the Center constraint to be previewed. (The constraints used for this example are Parallel and Center.)


Tangent

Constrains the datum so it is tangent to a cylindrical, spherical, conical, or toroidal face.

1. Select an edge (highlighted in red in the following figure).

2. Select a cylindrical, spherical, or conical face. A preview of the datum plane displays.

3. Use Alternate Solution to cycle through the different datum planes that can be constructed using these objects.


Offset

Constrains the datum so it is at a specified distance from planar geometries.

1. Select a planar face. A preview of the datum plane displays, with an offset handle.

2. Drag the offset handle so the datum plane is at the desired distance (offset) from the face, or you can enter an offset value or expression in the data field.


Angle

Angle constrains the datum so it is at an angle to planar geometries, and its axis of rotation is through a line, linear edge, datum axis, or the axis of a cylindrical, conical, or toroidal face.

1. Select an edge (highlighted in red in the following figure).

2. Select a coincident face. A preview of a datum displays at 90 degrees to the face.

3. Drag the angle handle to the desired value, or enter a value in the data field. Click OK or Apply to create the datum plane at the specified angle. (The constraints used for this example are Angle and Coincident.)

Below is one method you can use to create a datum plane at an angle to a second datum plane.

1. Select a datum plane. A new offset datum plane is previewed.

2. Select a line, linear edge, datum axis, or the axis of a cylindrical, conical, or toroidal face to serve as an axis of rotation. In this case, the axis of a cylinder is pre-highlighted for selection.

On selecting the axis, the angle constraint is used to preview a datum plane.

3. Drag the round angle handle to change the angle parameter, or enter a value in the text box. Click OK or Apply to create the datum plane at the specified angle.

Point on Curve Constraints

The Point on Curve method uses a constraint of the same name to create a datum plane.

1. Select a curve or an edge. A preview of the datum plane displays. The point on the curve or edge closest to where you selected the geometry determines its position and direction.

2. You can edit the parameter of the point on the curve or edge by dragging the curve parameter handle, or by entering a value or expression in the data field. You can also enter the parameter in the Arclength data field in the dialog. By default, the curve

parameter is defined by the curve arc length. The % Arclength toggle in the dialog allows you to change the parameter from arc length to percentage of arc length. This affects both the point and the normal vector.

3. You can cycle three possible directions for the plane normal using the Alternate Solution option. If you do not specify a direction, the default normal vector tangent to the curve at the point is used. Additionally, if you select another planar face or linear edge, the datum plane is made parallel to the selected object. If you select any non-planar face, the datum plane is made parallel to the plane tangent to the surface at the closest point. If you select a second object for this purpose, on deselecting it, the previous solution based solely on the point on curve is restored.


Edit Feature ParametersThis option lets you edit a feature based on the method and parameter values used when it was created. The user interaction depends on the type of feature you select.

The parameters of most features can be edited with the Edit Parameters options.

You can edit the expressions and references of more than one feature at a time by using multiple-selection in the Edit Parameters list box followed by OK, or by using the Part Navigator-> MB3-> Edit Parameters option on multiply-selected features. An expression/reference dialog displays to let you change the values of feature expressions and resolve feature references. This dialog is similar to the create and edit dialogs used in User Defined Feature.

To edit parameters for single features, follow these steps:

Select the feature to be edited, either from the graphics area or from the Feature Selection dialog. The values of the feature's parameters are displayed in the graphics area. A dialog with the appropriate Edit Parameters options also appears.

Select a dimension in the graphics area, then enter a new value in the Enter New Expression dialog.

or,

Choose an option from the dialog with the Edit Parameters options, enter new values, and choose OK.

When you choose Edit Parameters and select a feature to be edited, the options on the dialog that appears may vary, depending on which feature you select:

Feature Dialog Lists the names and values of the parameters of the selected feature, and lets you enter new values. This option appears for all features.

Reattach Lets you change the location or orientation of a feature by redefining its feature references. This option appears only for features that can be reattached.

Change Type Lets you change holes (including sheet metal holes) or slots to other types of holes or slots, respectively.

Swept Features Lets you edit a swept feature (Extruded Body, Body of Revolution, or Sweep Along a Guide)

Datum Planes and Datum Axes

Lets you edit both datum planes and datum axes.

Booleans Lets you select a new target body and/or a new tool body when editing a

boolean feature

Patch Bodies Edits that you can make to a Patch Body feature include changing the target or tool bodies, reversing the direction of the patch, or change the setting of the Create Hole Patch toggle

Blends Lets you edit pre-V15.0 blend feature.

Instances Lets you edit instances.

Features with Parent Curves

For a feature that has parent curves that were blanked or were placed on a non-visible layer, the parent curves become temporarily selectable when you edit the feature with Edit Parameters. When you exit the edit dialog, the original display status is restored, either to its original non-visible layer, or to its original blank or suppress status. If you delete such a curve from the feature, it is restored to its original layer and blank status, but it is not suppressed.

Feature Dialog OptionLists the names and values of the parameters of the selected feature, and lets you enter new values.

For example, when you select a block feature, a menu is displayed allowing you to edit the X Length, Y Length, and/or Z Length by choosing the item from the menu and entering the new value.

Suppose you have a block with a slot and want to edit the width of the slot.

After you select the slot, its dimensions are displayed in the graphics area. Select the dimension of the width, then enter a new value in the dialog.

Once you enter a dimension value and choose OK or <Return>, you have changed the feature, even though the graphics display has not yet updated. If you want to cancel the change, you must complete the function and then use the Undo function.

Reattach OptionMost of the features discussed in the previous section, besides allowing you to change parameters with the Feature Dialog option, also have the Reattach option on their Edit Parameters menu. You can use this option to change the location or orientation of the feature by redefining feature references.

A feature reference can be an attachment face, a thru face, an edge or a datum axis, and so on. Features that you can redefine references for include most features (holes, pockets, grooves, pads, slots, and bosses), linear instance sets of these features, trim faces of extruded and revolved features, and user defined features (UDFs).

In the figure below, a slot feature was reattached to a new face and a new horizontal reference was specified.

The Reattach dialog appears when you choose Reattach.

Reattach Dialog Options

Selection Steps

Specify Target Placement Face - Lets you select a new attachment face for the feature being edited.

Specify Reference Direction - Lets you select the new reference direction for the feature being edited.

Redefine Positioning Dimensions - Lets you select a positioning dimension and redefine its location.

Specify First Thru Face - Lets you redefine the first through/trim face of the feature being edited.

Specify Second Thru Face - Lets you redefine the second through/trim face of the feature being edited.

Specify Tool Placement Face - Lets you redefine the tool face of a user defined feature (UDF).

Other Options

Filter Helps you in selecting geometry by allowing you to limit the types of objects that are selectable. Which options are available is dependent on which selection step is active.

list window Displays the types of positioning dimensions currently on the selected feature. Single-clicking MB1 on a dimension in this list highlights its available references in the graphics window. If you double-click MB1 on a dimension in this list, you can redefine it.

Direction Reference

Horizontal

Vertical

Let you choose whether you want to define a new horizontal or vertical feature reference. (The default is always set for the existing reference.)

Reverse Direction

Lets you reverse the feature's reference direction.

Reverse Side Lets you reverse the feature's normal direction when reattaching that feature to a datum plane.

Specify Origin Lets you quickly relocate the reattached feature by moving it to a specified origin.

Delete Positioning Dimension

Lets you delete a positioning dimension that you select. If a feature does not have any positioning dimensions, this option is grayed out.

Specify Origin is useful when reattaching features to datum planes. Since features are initially placed at the center of a plane, the update may fail since the plane's center may not be near the feature's actual position. You can use this option with all features.

The Reattach dialog only enables the options pertaining to redefining the selected feature. For example, the model must include a thru feature for either of the Specify Thru Face options to be enabled, or include a UDF for the Specify Tool Placement Face option to be enabled.

When you choose each option icon, the system highlights the existing references of that type. For example, if you choose the Specify First Thru Face icon, the current thru face is highlighted for the selected feature.

Change Type OptionThis option lets you edit features as follows:

Holes - the dialog that appears when you choose Change Type and select a hole feature lets you:

Modify the hole from one type to another: Simple, Counterbore, or Countersink without losing associativity.

Use the Thru Hole toggle to change a nonthru hole to a thru hole, or vice versa.

Use the Sheet Metal hole to change a non-sheet metal hole to a sheet metal hole, or vice versa.

Slots - the dialog that appears when you choose Change Type and select a slot feature lets you:

Modify the slot from one type to another: Rectangular, Ball-End, U-Slot, T-Slot, or Dove-Tail without losing associativity.

Use the Thru Slot toggle to change a nonthru slot to a thru slot, or vice versa.

Use the Sheet Metal Slot toggle to change a non-sheet metal slot to a sheet metal slot, or vice versa.

When you change the type of a hole or slot, the retention of positioning dimensions is dependent on topological changes caused by the change of type. The positioning dimension references may be lost.

Procedure

After choosing the Change Type option:

1. Select a hole or slot feature. A dialog with the options available for that feature will appear.

2. If you want to change the feature's overall shape (e.g., from a simple hole to a countersink hole, or from a dove-tail slot to a ball-end slot), choose the new type from the radio buttons.

3. If desired, you can change the position of the Thru Hole or Thru Slot toggle.4. If you are modifying a hole feature, you can change the position of the Sheet Metal Hole

toggle if you wish.5. Choose OK (or Back or Cancel if you have changed your mind).6. Define new thru face(s) if requested. This happens if you are changing a nonthru feature

to a thru one.7. Modify the parameters as desired in the dialog that appears, and choose OK.8. Choose OK until the feature is modified.

Reattach OptionMost of the features discussed in the previous section, besides allowing you to change parameters with the Feature Dialog option, also have the Reattach option on their Edit Parameters menu. You can use this option to change the location or orientation of the feature by redefining feature references.

A feature reference can be an attachment face, a thru face, an edge or a datum axis, and so on. Features that you can redefine references for include most features (holes, pockets, grooves, pads, slots, and bosses), linear instance sets of these features, trim faces of extruded and revolved features, and user defined features (UDFs).

In the figure below, a slot feature was reattached to a new face and a new horizontal reference was specified.

The Reattach dialog appears when you choose Reattach.

Reattach Dialog Options

Selection Steps

Specify Target Placement Face - Lets you select a new attachment face for the feature being edited.

Specify Reference Direction - Lets you select the new reference direction for the feature being edited.

Redefine Positioning Dimensions - Lets you select a positioning dimension and redefine its location.

Specify First Thru Face - Lets you redefine the first through/trim face of the feature being edited.

Specify Second Thru Face - Lets you redefine the second through/trim face of the feature being edited.

Specify Tool Placement Face - Lets you redefine the tool face of a user defined feature (UDF).

Other Options

Filter Helps you in selecting geometry by allowing you to limit the types of objects that are selectable. Which options are available is dependent on which selection step is active.

list window Displays the types of positioning dimensions currently on the selected feature. Single-clicking MB1 on a dimension in this list highlights its available references in the graphics window. If you double-click MB1 on a dimension in this list, you can redefine it.

Direction Reference

Horizontal

Vertical

Let you choose whether you want to define a new horizontal or vertical feature reference. (The default is always set for the existing reference.)

Reverse Direction

Lets you reverse the feature's reference direction.

Reverse Side Lets you reverse the feature's normal direction when reattaching that feature to a datum plane.

Specify Origin Lets you quickly relocate the reattached feature by moving it to a specified origin.

Delete Positioning Dimension

Lets you delete a positioning dimension that you select. If a feature does not have any positioning dimensions, this option is grayed out.

Specify Origin is useful when reattaching features to datum planes. Since features are initially placed at the center of a plane, the update may fail since the plane's center may not be near the feature's actual position. You can use this option with all features.

The Reattach dialog only enables the options pertaining to redefining the selected feature. For example, the model must include a thru feature for either of the Specify Thru Face options to be enabled, or include a UDF for the Specify Tool Placement Face option to be enabled.

When you choose each option icon, the system highlights the existing references of that type. For example, if you choose the Specify First Thru Face icon, the current thru face is highlighted for the selected feature.

Change Type OptionThis option lets you edit features as follows:

Holes - the dialog that appears when you choose Change Type and select a hole feature lets you:

Modify the hole from one type to another: Simple, Counterbore, or Countersink without losing associativity.

Use the Thru Hole toggle to change a nonthru hole to a thru hole, or vice versa.

Use the Sheet Metal hole to change a non-sheet metal hole to a sheet metal hole, or vice versa.

Slots - the dialog that appears when you choose Change Type and select a slot feature lets you:

Modify the slot from one type to another: Rectangular, Ball-End, U-Slot, T-Slot, or Dove-Tail without losing associativity.

Use the Thru Slot toggle to change a nonthru slot to a thru slot, or vice versa.

Use the Sheet Metal Slot toggle to change a non-sheet metal slot to a sheet metal slot, or vice versa.

When you change the type of a hole or slot, the retention of positioning dimensions is dependent on topological changes caused by the change of type. The positioning dimension references may be lost.

Procedure

After choosing the Change Type option:

1. Select a hole or slot feature. A dialog with the options available for that feature will appear.

2. If you want to change the feature's overall shape (e.g., from a simple hole to a countersink hole, or from a dove-tail slot to a ball-end slot), choose the new type from the radio buttons.

3. If desired, you can change the position of the Thru Hole or Thru Slot toggle.4. If you are modifying a hole feature, you can change the position of the Sheet Metal Hole

toggle if you wish.5. Choose OK (or Back or Cancel if you have changed your mind).6. Define new thru face(s) if requested. This happens if you are changing a nonthru feature

to a thru one.7. Modify the parameters as desired in the dialog that appears, and choose OK.8. Choose OK until the feature is modified.

Editing Swept FeaturesYou can edit a swept feature (Extruded Body, Revolved Body, or Sweep Along Guide) using Edit Parameters. Swept features are created with associative geometry (that is, sketches, curves, faces, and edges of curves). If you change any associative geometry of a swept feature, the system changes the feature accordingly. You can change swept features using the following options:

Feature Parameters

Lets you edit the Start Distance, End Distance, and Taper Angle values.

Edit Tolerances Lets you change the Chaining Tolerance and Distance Tolerance values.

Edit Direction Opens the Vector Constructor to let you change the direction of a swept feature, where applicable. You can use this option to change the direction of any Extruded Body or Revolved Body feature.

Edit Curve Lets you use the Edit Curve dialog to edit any curves associated with the selected swept feature, where applicable.

Edit Defining String

Lets you redefine the content of a sketch used to define a swept feature by adding objects to or removing objects from an existing string.

Replace Defining String

Lets you replace all or part of the defining string of a swept feature with a completely new string.

Edit Sketch Dimension

Lets you edit dimensions on the sketch used to create a swept feature.

Reattach Lets you move a sketch, and therefore its associated swept body, to another face or datum plane.

Edit Defining String

When you choose Edit Defining String, the Edit String dialog is displayed. Select objects with MB1 to add them to the string; select them with <Shift>MB1 to remove them from the string. You can use the selection Filter options (All, Curve, Edge, Face and Sketch) to aid selection and deselection.

The figure below is an example of how you can redefine a sketch by removing and adding curves. If you want to delete a curve that has been used to define a swept feature, first you must remove it from the string by selecting it with <Shift>MB1, as described above. After you remove the curve from the string, you must update the body. You can then delete the curve using Edit-> Delete.

When you are selecting objects to be extruded, the system assigns the "entire" status to a sketch when it is selected in the graphics window. The system assigns a "partial" status if, prior to selecting a sketch, you choose the Curve and/or Chain Curves options from the selection dialog. This concept becomes important when adding or removing curves from a swept sketch. In this example, during the model update, the hole had to be suppressed, since the face it was attached to (the removed curve) no longer existed. The Reattach function was then used to define a new attachment face for the hole.

If you use this option to edit a defining string it is possible that you could break associativity with dependent objects. This is because identifying face tags that NX uses internally to track face objects are replaced when using the Edit Defining String option. The Replace Defining String option does not have this problem because it preserves and attempts to reuse the original identifying face tags.

Replace Defining String

When you choose this option, the objects in the defining string (curves and/or edges) are highlighted. Deselect (using <Shift>MB1) a contiguous string of highlighted objects to be replaced, then select a contiguous string of unhighlighted curves for the new string.

Using this option instead of Edit Defining String should preserve associativity with dependent objects.

Editing Datum Planes and Datum AxesIf you selected a datum plane or datum axis, Edit Parameters brings up the dialog you used to create the datum feature (either the Datum Planes or Datum Axes dialog). The feature's creation method determines which options are active.

You also have the ability to change the feature's direction vector. This can be very useful when you need to correct a datum feature's direction vector that has inadvertently flipped, as sometimes happens during updating.

You can replace the geometric objects of a constraint by selecting the constraint from the Constraints list, and then selecting the new objects.

You can edit both fixed and relative datum features.

Datum Planes

For all datum planes except those created through curves, Cycle Plane Normal Dir flips the selected plane's direction vector 180 degrees every time this button is pushed. The Status line tells you whether the vector is pointing in the original or the opposite datum direction.

If the datum plane was created through a curve, Cycle Plane Normal Dir cycles the direction vector through the six choices that were available when the datum plane was created.

You can also edit the datum plane with the other active options on the Datum Planes dialog.

When you have finished defining the edits that you want to make to a datum plane, choose OK or Apply to initiate the changes.

The Edit option at the top of the Datum Planes dialog also activates Datum Planes dialog options that can be used to edit relative datum planes. However, Cycle Plane Normal Dir can only change the direction vectors of datum planes created through curves.

Datum Axes

Cycle Axis Direction behaves the same way for datum axes as Cycle Plane Normal Dir does for datum planes. When Cycle Axis Direction is pushed, the direction vector of a datum axis created through a curve cycles through the six choices that were available during creation. For all other datum axes, the direction vector alternates between its original and opposite directions.

When you have finished defining the edits that you want to make to a datum axis, choose OK or Apply to initiate the changes.

Like datum planes, the Edit option on the Datum Axes dialog cannot be used to change the direction vector of a datum axis unless it was created through a curve.

Editing BooleansYou can select a new target body and/or a new tool body when editing a boolean feature with Edit Parameters. When you select a SUBTRACT, UNITE, or INTERSECT feature from the Feature Selection dialog, the Edit Boolean dialog appears.

If you want to modify the Target Body, select the new target when its selection step is active. If you do not want to change the target body, choose OK or the next selection step.

If you want to modify the Tool Body, select the new tool when its selection step is active.

You can set the Filter to All, Sheet Body, or Solid Body to help select the target and tool bodies.

Knitting Tolerance

Lets you change the tolerance used to create a boolean sheet body feature. A tighter (smaller value) tolerance creates a more precise model. A looser (larger value) tolerance permits objects to be joined more easily, but the model may not

be as precise.

Convert to Sew Feature

Lets you convert a boolean to a boolean sheet body feature. Conversion may be useful, because there are more editing options available for sew features. Conversion to a sew feature may be necessary when a boolean fails.

In order to change the target body of a subtraction, any children of either the target body or the tool body must first be ordered before the subtraction feature. You can reorder child features using Reorder Feature, or by opening the Part Navigator and using either the Reorder Before or Reorder After option.

When you have finished selecting new objects, choose OK until the modification occurs.

Editing Patch BodiesEdits that you can make to a Patch Body feature include changing the target or tool bodies, reversing the direction of the patch, or change the setting of the Create Hole Patch toggle.

When this step is active, you can redefine the Target Body. You must deselect the original target body before you can select the new one.

You can redefine the Tool Sheet when this step is active. Choose Remove Tool to deselect the original tool sheet, and then select the new tool sheet.

This step lets you reselect the Tool Face (when you want to use a single face of a tool sheet with multiple faces). Choose Remove Tool to deselect the original tool face, and then select the new tool face.

You can change the setting of the Create Hole Patch toggle. When it is toggled ON, you can create a hole by patching a tool sheet to the target body.

If you want to change the direction in which the patch was applied, choose Reverse Removal Direction.

When you have finished, choose OK until the modification occurs.

Overview How To Options Related Topics

Editing Pre-V15.0 Edge BlendsWhen you select a blend feature under Edit Parameters that was created prior to Unigraphics NX V15.0, a dialog with the following options displays:

Add Point Lets you change a constant radius blend to a variable radius blend by adding at least two points, and vice versa.

Edit Default Radius

Lets you edit the default radius used to create the blend.

VRB Tolerance Lets you edit the tolerance.

Overflow Options

Lets you edit the overflow options.

Edit Edges Lets you add or remove edges from a blend. (See below for details.)

In addition, for a variable radius blend, the radius values are displayed in the graphics area at the specified points. To edit the radius, select it from the graphics area. You can then enter a new value or delete the radius value at that point.

If you delete the point radius at the endpoint of an edge, the default radius is applied to the endpoint.

Result of Increasing Selected Edge Radius (1)

You can change a constant radius blend to a variable radius blend and vice versa. This can be done by using the Add Point option, as shown in the figure below. You must add at least two points to successfully convert a constant radius blend to one that is variable.

Using Add Point to Convert Constant Radius Blend to Variable

If you perform an edit on the base solid body containing a blend, and the blend cannot be reapplied due to the changes in the body, the specified edit is performed and the following error message is displayed:

Blend Cannot Be Reapplied Due To This Edit

If the terminated edit is needed, try deleting the blend, performing the desired edit on the base solid body, and recreating the blend to fit the body.

Edit Edges

The Edit Edges option lets you add or remove edges from a blend. If you remove edges, at least one must remain.

Edges that are added must be selected from the same body, but do not have to be connected to the original blend. To add an edge, choose the Edit Edges option, select the edges that you want to add, and choose OK from the dialogs that appear. The editing will occur after you choose OK or Apply in the Feature Selection dialog.

To remove an edge:

1. Suppress any dependent features of the blend.2. Suppress the blend.3. Choose the Edit Edges option4. Deselect the edges that you want to remove (hold the Shift key down while selecting

them with the cursor), and choose OK or Apply from the dialogs. The editing will occur after the Feature Selection dialog. See the NX Gateway Help for more information about selection and deselection.

5. Unsuppress the blend.6. Unsuppress any child features, and reorder if necessary.

Another way to remove an edge is with the Playback option, which does not require that the feature be suppressed.

Editing InstancesWhen you select an instance, you have additional options available:

You can edit the dimensions of the feature(s) using Feature Dialog or by selecting the desired dimension from the graphics screen. When you modify a feature in this way, it modifies all instances of it in the entire array.

You can edit the parameters of the instance array itself using Instance Array Dialog.

For a circular instance array, you can change:

The array methodThe total number of instancesThe angle between the instancesThe radius of the arrayThe rotation axis

If the Point & Dir option was used to define the rotation axis, you can change to a datum axis. However, the reverse is not true.

For a rectangular instance array, you can change:

The array methodThe total number of instances in the XC or YC directionThe offset between the instances in the XC or YC direction

In addition, you can use the following options:

You can return an entire instance array back to its original parameters using Unclock Instance Set. This is only available when one or more instances other than the one selected are clocked.

You can modify the position of a single instance within an instance array by using Clock Instance. You can position an instance of a rectangular array using a X and Y offset. You can also position an instance of a circular array using a Radius and Angle value.(See examples in the figures below.)

You can return the selected instance back to its original position using Unclock Instance. This is only available if the selected instance is already clocked.

The system temporarily repositions the work coordinate system to the proper orientation of the plane of the instance set, to aid you in properly modifying the position of the instance.

If you choose to reposition an instance of a circular instance set of UDFs or swept features, the Radius option is not available. You can only modify the Angle value.

You cannot clock an instance of a Feature Set.

You cannot clock the original feature of an instance set unless it is also a member of another instance set. If the parent of an instance set (which is also a child of another set) is clocked, the children will also reflect the clock. (The "parent" of the instance set is the original feature of a set, and the other instance features of the set are the "children".) See the figure below.


Expressions Editor OverviewExpressions are arithmetic or conditional formulas that define the characteristics of features. You can use the Expressions Editor to define the formula strings for the expressions in your part. By editing the formulas, you can edit your model parameters. You do not have to type complex text strings to define the formulas.

You can use expressions to parametrically control the relationships between the features of a part, or between parts in an assembly. For example, you can express the thickness of a bracket in terms of its length. If the length of the bracket is altered, the thickness is automatically updated. You can use expressions to define and control many dimensions of a model, such as the dimensions of a feature or a sketch.

You can easily create many types of intelligent expressions based on measurements and interpart references.

Understanding ExpressionsAll expressions have a single, unique name and a string or formula that can contain a combination of variables, functions, numbers, operators, and symbols.

Expression names are variables that you can insert in the formula strings of other expressions. This can be helpful in breaking up lengthy formulas as well as defining relationships that can be used in place of numbers.

Expression formulas are evaluated for values.

Here are some examples of expressions, their formulas and their resulting values:

Expression Name Formula Value

length 5*width 20

p39 (FLANGE(6) Bend Allowance Formula) (p26+(p64*0.44))*rad((-p24)) -18.84955592

p16 (EXTRACT_REGION(7) Angle Toler) 45.0 45

Expression names are case sensitive and must be referenced exactly when used in other expressions.

System ExpressionsExpressions created automatically by the system are named with a number, preceded with a lower case "p", as with "p53".

The Expressions Editor displays additional text for system expression names, but it is not part of the actual name. This additional text follows the name and describes the feature and parameter option it is associated with. For example, the system expression p5, shown below, is for the diameter of a simple hole feature with a timestamp of 4:

p5 (SIMPLE_HOLE(4) Diameter)

System expression are automatically created during many Modeling operations. For example:

Sketch Creation - Two expressions are created defining the XC and YC coordinates of the sketch datum (that is, p1_YDATUM_V1=0).

Sketch Dimensioning - An expression is created for each dimension (i.e., p2=3.5436).

Positioning of a Feature or Sketch - An expression is created for each positioning dimension.

Feature Creation - Expressions are created for the creation parameters of many features (such as extrusion start and end limits, revolution angle, and hole depth).

Mating Condition Creation.

Here are some examples of system expressions:

Expression Name Formula

p28 (EXTRUDE(14) Start Limit) 15

p3 (BRIDGE_CURVE)(6) Match Point 2) 21

p54 (SKETCH_001:SKETCH(25) Parallel Dimension between Line5 and Line5) 2.55

p6 (STUDIO_SURFACE_2X2(11) Angular Tolerance) 0.5

When viewed in the Information window, all expressions are shown in simple equation format. For example, the three expressions shown above would appear in the Information window as:

p28=15

p3=21

p54=2.55

p6=0.5

You can rename system expressions.

User-Defined ExpressionsUser-defined expressions are any expression that you create yourself with the Expressions Editor.

For example, you could create an expression named "width" with a formula string of "5.0". You could then use this expression to define the dimensions of a block by entering "width" in the appropriate parameter entry field.

Here is a sample of some user-defined expressions:

Expression Name Formula

width 22

length 5*width

diameter width/3

position if (width<=2)(0.5*width) else (2)

base_block_height 16

base_block_length 1

base_block_multiple 8

base_block_width base_block_height*block_multiple

block_heighta (base_block_length/2)*a_multiple

block_length a_multiple/2

block_multiple base_block_width*block_multiple

BLOCK(6):Size X block_length

div 3+sqrt(aln)

aln 5.4

railwidth 2*aln // forechain

Where Do I Find It?You can find the Expressions Editor in the following places:

Tools-> Expressions

Part Navigator-> Details Panel-> MB3-> Edit in Expression Editor on a selected expression

Part Navigator-> Main Panel-> User Expressions-> MB3-> Edit in Expression Editor on a selected expression

From supported Modeling dialogs-> Parameter Entry Options-> Formula


Parameter Entry Options OverviewParameter entry options let you easily define your model parametrically as you specify values during feature creation.

Parameter entry options are visible as icon buttons with down-arrows located next to many parameter data entry fields in Modeling dialogs.

Clicking a parameter entry option icon next to a parameter entry field lets you specify a value based on a formula, a reference to an existing value, or a derived value from a measurement.

You can use parameter entry options to easily lookup functions and use them to construct relationships for your features. You can use values that already exist in your model, making downstream changes easier and in agreement with your design intent.

Instead of cutting and pasting values into a parameter entry field, simply click the parameter entry option icon next to the field. You can insert the following in parameter entry fields:

Measured values,

Formulas,

Recently used values that you want to use again,

Mathematical and knowledge-based functions.

Where do I find it?Most modeling features have the parameter entry option pull-down menu wherever parameter entry fields take expression parameters.

Boolean Overview Unite Subtract Intersect

Dialog Options Basic Procedure Error Messages

UniteThe Unite boolean function let you combine the volume of two or more bodies into a single body. You have the option to save and retain unmodified copies of the target and tool bodies. This option creates a UNITE feature.

You can unite solids with solids. You cannot unite a solid body and a sheet body, or a sheet body and a sheet body. The table below contains an overview of which Unite Boolean operations are allowed.

Target Tool Allowed?

Solid body Solid body Yes

Solid body Sheet body No

Sheet body Solid body No

Sheet body Sheet body No

To unite sheet bodies, we recommend that you use the Sew option. You can also use Sew to unite solid bodies if they have coincident faces. Sewing gives better performance than Unite.

Dialog Options

Unite Dialog Options

Selection Steps

Target Body - Use this step to select a target solid body that you want to modify (that is, unite) with one or more tool solid bodies. The target body is

united with, and becomes part of the tool bodies.

Tool Body - Lets you select one or more tool solid bodies to use to modify the selected target body. The tool bodies are untied with, and become part of the target body.

Retain Tool Saves the specified tool bodies for the unite operation. Use this option if you want to save a copy of the tool bodies in an unmodified state.

The Retain Tool option is not available when editing a UNITE feature.

Retain Target

Saves the target body for the unite operation. Use this option if you want to save a copy of the target body in an unmodified state. If more than one tool body is selected, the boolean operation copies the target of the first boolean feature, but consumes the target bodies for the rest.

The Retain Target option is not available when editing a UNITE feature.

Confirm Upon Apply

Opens the Confirm Upon Apply dialog after you choose Apply, letting you preview the results, and accept, reject or analyze them. This option is common to Selection Steps dialogs.

Unite Basic Procedure

To use Unite, perform these steps:

1. Select the target body.

Selected Target Body (Red)

2. Select one or more tool bodies.

Selected Tool Bodies (Red)

3. If you wish to save an unmodified copy of the original target body, turn on Retain Target.4. If you wish to save an unmodified copy of the original tool bodies, turn on Retain Tool.

5. Choose OK. The target body is modified by the creation of four UNITE features, and a new solid body is created that contains the combined volumes of all the selected bodies.

New Solid Body

Unite Error Messages

When using Unite, the tool body must come in contact with the target body. Otherwise, the following error message is displayed:

Tool Solid Completely Outside Target Solid

If Copy Target is not used, and one or more features cannot be created, the following message is displayed:

Only (number) features created for (number) tool bodies selected

If Copy Target is used, and one or more features cannot be created, the following message is displayed:

Cannot create any feature

If not all features can be created, the following message is displayed:




Subtract

The Subtract option creates SUBTRACT features that let you use tool bodies to remove volume from a target body. This operation can leave empty space where the subtracted target body existed. You have the option to save and retain unmodified copies of the target and tool bodies.

If you use Subtract in such a way that the target solid would be split in two, the resulting bodies are UNPARAMETERIZED_FEATURE(s). This is illustrated in the figure below.

If you subtract a sheet body from a solid body, the resulting geometry is unparameterized.

Dialog Options

Subtract Dialog Options

Selection Steps

Target Body - Use this step to select a target sheet or solid body from which you want to subtract one or more tool bodies.

Tool Body - Lets you select one or more tool sheet or solid bodies to subtract from the selected target body.

If the Copy Tool option is off, the subtraction consumes the selected tool bodies.

Filter Use the Filter to restrict selectable objects. Options are All, Sheet Body and Solid Body.

Retain Tool Saves the specified tool bodies for the subtract operation. Use this option if you want to save a copy of the selected tool bodies, which will remain unmodified.

The Retain Tool option is not available when editing a SUBTRACT feature.

Retain Target

Saves the target body for the subtract operation. Use this option if you want to save a copy of the target body, which remains unmodified. If more than one tool body is selected, the boolean operation copies the target of the first boolean feature, but consumes the target bodies for the rest.

The Retain Target option is not available when editing a SUBTRACT feature.

Confirm Upon Apply


Basic Subtract Procedure

To use Subtract, perform these steps:

1. Select the target body.


2. Select one or more tool bodies. In the following example figure, four cylinders are selected for the tool bodies.

Selected Tool Bodies (Red)

3. If you wish to save an unmodified copy of the original target body, turn on Retain Target.4. If you wish to save an unmodified copy of the original tool bodies, turn on Retain Tool.5. Choose OK. The target body is modified, and volume is removed by the creation of four

SUBTRACT features.

Modified Target Body

Subtract Error Messages

When using Subtract, the vertices or edges of the tool body may not touch the vertices or edges of the target body such that any part of the resulting body would have zero thickness (See the figure below). If there is a zero thickness, the following error message is issued:

Non-Manifold Solid

When using the Subtract Boolean operation, the tool body must come in contact with the target body. If it does not, the following error message is displayed:










IntersectThis option lets you create a body containing the volume shared by two different bodies. You can intersect solids with solids, sheets with sheets, and a sheet with a solid, but not a solid with a sheet. An INTERSECT feature is created by this option. Intersect can leave empty space where the intersected target and tool bodies existed. You have the option to save and retain unmodified copies of the target and tool bodies.

To intersect a sheet body with a solid body, select the sheet as the target and the solid as the tool.

You can intersect a sheet with another sheet, as long as they have coincident faces. The result is that which is common to both sheets (see the figure below).

If the intersection of two sheets would result in a curve, or in the creation of two separate sheets (see the figure below), the operation is not performed and an error message is displayed.

The table below contains an overview of the Intersect Boolean operations allowed.




Sheet body Solid body Yes

Sheet body Sheet body Yes

Dialog Options

Intersect Dialog Options

Selection Steps

Target Body - Use this step to select a target sheet or solid body that you want to intersect with one or more tool bodies.

Tool Body - Lets you select one or more tool sheet or solid bodies to intersect with the selected target body.

If the target body is a solid body, you can only select solid bodies for the tool body.

If the target body is a sheet body, you can select either sheet or solid bodies for the tool bodies.


Retain Tool Saves the specified tool bodies for the intersect operation. Use this option if you want to save a copy of the selected tool bodies, which remain unmodified. If the Retain Tool option is off, the intersect operation leaves empty space where the tool bodies fail to intersect the target bodies.

The Retain Tool option is not available when editing an INTERSECT feature.

Retain Target

Saves the target body for the intersect operation. Use this option if you want to save a copy of the target body, which remain unmodified. If the Retain Target option is off, the intersect operation leaves empty space where the target body fails to intersect the tool body. If more than one tool body is selected, the boolean operation copies the target of the first boolean feature, but consumes the target

bodies for the rest.

The Retain Target option is not available when editing an INTERSECT feature.

Confirm Upon Apply


Intersect Basic Procedure

To use Intersect, follow these steps:

1. Select the target body. An example is shown below in red.


2. Select the tool body. The example is shown below in red.

Selected Tool Body (Red)

3. If you wish to save an unmodified copy of the original target body, turn on Retain Target.4. If you wish to save an unmodified copy of the original tool bodies, turn on Retain Tool.5. Choose OK. The target body is modified, and volume is changed by creation of an

INTERSECT feature. See below.

New Solid Body

Intersect Error Messages

If you try to perform an intersection of a sheet with another sheet where the intersection would result in a curve, the following error message is displayed:


If you try to perform an intersection of a sheet with another sheet where the result would be two separate sheets, the following error message is displayed:

Unable To Perform Boolean

When using the Intersect Boolean operation, the tool body must come in contact with the target body. If it does not, the following error message is displayed:




















Dialog Options


Selection Steps








Retain Target

Saves the target body for the intersect operation. Use this option if you want to save a copy of the target body, which remain unmodified. If the Retain Target option is off, the intersect operation leaves empty space where the target body fails to intersect the tool body. If more than one tool body is selected, the boolean operation copies the target of the first boolean feature, but consumes the target bodies for the rest.


Confirm Upon Apply





New Solid Body






















Dialog Options


Selection Steps








Retain Target

Saves the target body for the intersect operation. Use this option if you want to save a copy of the target body, which remain unmodified. If the Retain Target option is off, the intersect operation leaves empty space where the target body fails to intersect the tool body. If more than one tool body is selected, the boolean operation copies the target of the first boolean feature, but consumes the target

bodies for the rest.


Confirm Upon Apply










New Solid Body














Updating Models

A model can be updated either automatically or manually.

Automatic updates are performed only on those features affected by an appropriate change (an edit operation or the creation of certain types of features). If you wish, you can delay the automatic update for edit operations by using the Delayed Update on Edit option.

You can manually trigger an update of the entire model. You might, for example, want to use a net null update to check whether an existing model will successfully update in a new version of NX before you put a lot of additional work into modifying the model. (A net null update mechanism forces a complete update of a model, without changing it.)

The manual methods include:

The NX Open C and C++ Runtime function, UF_MODL_update_all_features, which logs all the features in the current work part to the NX update list, and then performs an update.

See the NX Open C and C++ Runtime Reference Help for more information.

The Playback option on the Edit Feature dialog, which recreates the model, starting at its first feature.

You can step through the model as it is created one feature at a time, move forward or backward to any feature, or trigger an update that continues until a failure occurs or the model is complete.

The Edit during Update dialog, which appears when you choose Playback, also includes options for analyzing and editing features of the model as it is recreated (especially useful for fixing problems that caused update failures).

Methods that users have tried in the past that have led to some problems or are tricky to use:

One method uses the Edit Feature dialog to change the value of a parameter in each root feature of a part, and then change it back before leaving the Edit Feature dialog.

This method produces a genuine net null update if used correctly, but you should ensure that you changed a parameter in every root feature (and that you returned all the parameters to their original values) before you trigger the update.

Another method, attempting to suppress all of the features in a part and then unsuppress them, can cause updates that are not net null and that will fail.

The failures occur because not all features are suppressible; they are left in the model when you try to suppress all features. As the update advances, when it reaches the point where most features were suppressed, it will try to update the features that remain (this is like updating a modified version of the model). Some of the "modifications" may cause the remaining features to fail.

For these reasons, we highly recommend that you do not attempt to update models by suppressing all or unsuppressing all features. Use the other options described here, instead.

PlaybackThis option lets you review how the model is created, feature by feature. You can also edit the model as it updates. You can move forward or backward to any feature, then edit it. Then you can move to a different feature. Or, at any time, you can trigger an updating of the model that starts at the current feature and continues until the model is complete, or until a feature fails to update. Playback gives you more control over the update process than the other update methods.

Edit During Update DialogThe Edit During Update (EDU) facility appears if a failure or a warning occurs during an Update of your model. Your model can be updated during a number of operations, including feature update, suppression and deletion. If a problem occurs during the update, the EDU displays. Playback also starts the EDU, beginning an update with the first feature.

Edit During Update Dialog Options

message window Shows any applicable error or warning messages, as well as whether the current feature updated successfully or failed.

Show Failure Area

Temporarily displays failed geometry. This option is available only if an object involved in the failure, such as a tool body, is available for display.

Show Current Model

Displays the part of the model that has been successfully rebuilt. Some features, such as instances in an array, may not appear in the current model until the last related feature is rebuilt.

Post Recovery Update Status

Lets you specify what should happen when the icon option you choose is completed .

Continue restarts the automatic update process from where it left off.

Pause lets you choose other Edit during Update options, rather than automatically resuming update.

Icon Options The review and edit options that are available for your model.

Icon Options

The Edit during Update dialog contains icons for the review and edit options that are available for your model. The first row of icons (the first six described below) always appear, but are grayed out if not applicable. The remaining icons may or may not appear, depending on the circumstances.

The possible options are:

Undo - Undoes the last modification you made to the model before updating began.

Go Back To - Lets you move backward through the model to a selected feature that you choose from the Update Selection dialog. (The dialog contains a list of the features created before the current one, in order of creation.)

Step Back - Lets you move backward through the model one feature at a time.

Step - Advances one feature at a time through the model.

Go To - Lets you move forward through the model to a selected feature. In this case, the Update Selection dialog lists the features that have not yet been rebuilt.

Continue - Triggers the update process, which continues until the model is completely rebuilt or until a feature fails. If you choose Continue when a failure occurs, that feature is skipped.

Accept - Marks the current feature that failed and halted the update process as "out of date," letting you ignore the problem and allowing the system to continue with and complete the update process. The feature is listed on the Information->Feature Browser->Update Status Report as "out of date," with either update or dependent failure reasons. After the update completes you can check the status of the feature on the Update Status Report and its reason for failure. Editing the feature to correct the problem automatically removes the "out of date" mark from the Update Status Report.

Accept Remaining - Marks all features that fail to update and their dependents as "out of date," letting you ignore the problem and allowing the system to continue with and complete the update process. The failed features are listed on the Information->Feature Browser->Update Status Report as "out of date," with either update or dependent failure reasons. After the update completes you can check the status of features that failed to update on the Update Status Report. Editing the features to correct the problems automatically removes the "out of date" marks from the Update Status Report.

Delete - Lets you delete the feature that failed to update

Delete Dependents - Lets you delete the dependents of a feature that failed to update.

Note that this function is only available if the Delete Child Features customer default is not selected.

See the Note under Deleting Features for further details.

Suppress - Suppresses the feature currently being updated.

Suppress Remaining - Suppresses the feature currently being updated and all subsequent features.

Review the Model - Lets you analyze, but not edit, the rebuilt model with options from the menu bar or the MB3 popup menu. (The options available are the same as those in the Gateway application.) Review the Model cannot be used to review features that failed during update or that have not yet been rebuilt.

Edit Parameters - Lets you change the parameters of the feature currently being updated. When the update process halts and the EDU appears, with this button enabled, clicking it opens the original dialog used to create or place the problem feature, giving you an opportunity to fix it.

Delayed Delete - A special feature known as "Delayed Delete" can let you edit child features whose parents have been deleted. Normally the children of deleted parents are automatically deleted during update. To enable Delayed Delete set the following customer defaults in your ug_english.def or ug_metric.def file:

Interrupt Update on Missing References:onDelete Child Features:off

When Delayed Delete is enabled, the update process halts when it encounters a child feature whose parent has been deleted. The EDU displays with the following message:

Cannot recreate feature because a parent has been deleted.

When you see this message, click the Edit Parameters button. If applicable, a sub-menu will display with the Edit Parameters, Remove Unused References and Edit Positioning Dimension options. If none of these options are applicable for the child feature the sub-menu will not display. Instead, other choices will be presented to let you reattach the child feature with another parent.

See the Note under Delete Feature for further details.

Depending on the conditions that caused the Edit During Update dialog to appear, selecting the Edit Parameters option may first display a sub-dialog with Edit, Remove Unused References and Edit Position icons. Clicking the Edit icon takes you on to the feature dialog. Appearance of this sub dialog is controlled by a customer default.

Edit Positioning Dimension - Lets you reposition the selected or failed feature.

You must select an editing option before you can do anything outside the Edit during Update dialog. If a failure occurs, the options that let you advance through the model (such as Step, Go To, and Continue) are grayed out until the failure is resolved and the feature successfully updates.

Edits are not permanent until the model is completely rebuilt. If you edit a feature, and then make a choice that takes you back to the beginning of that feature's rebuilding, or to the rebuilding of an earlier feature, your edits are lost. This may happen if you choose Undo, Step Back, Go Back To, Edit Parameters, or Edit Positioning Dimension on the same or an earlier feature.

Graphics Window Display

When you choose Playback, all of the solids in the model that will be updated disappear from the graphics window. If you choose Step to re-create the model one feature at a time, the display updates each time a feature is rebuilt.

The display does not update if you choose other options, such as Go Back To, Step Back, Go To, or Continue. If you are using these options and want to see what the model looks like at this stage of its rebuilding, choose Show Current Model.

For performance reasons, the display does not change during update when using one of the other update methods. After the model update has finished, the display is updated.

PlaybackThis option lets you review how the model is created, feature by feature. You can also edit the model as it updates. You can move forward or backward to any feature, then edit it. Then you can

move to a different feature. Or, at any time, you can trigger an updating of the model that starts at the current feature and continues until the model is complete, or until a feature fails to update. Playback gives you more control over the update process than the other update methods.

Edit During Update DialogThe Edit During Update (EDU) facility appears if a failure or a warning occurs during an Update of your model. Your model can be updated during a number of operations, including feature update, suppression and deletion. If a problem occurs during the update, the EDU displays. Playback also starts the EDU, beginning an update with the first feature.

Edit During Update Dialog Options

message window Shows any applicable error or warning messages, as well as whether the current feature updated successfully or failed.

Show Failure Area

Temporarily displays failed geometry. This option is available only if an object involved in the failure, such as a tool body, is available for display.

Show Current Model

Displays the part of the model that has been successfully rebuilt. Some features, such as instances in an array, may not appear in the current model until the last related feature is rebuilt.

Post Recovery Update Status

Lets you specify what should happen when the icon option you choose is completed .

Continue restarts the automatic update process from where it left off.

Pause lets you choose other Edit during Update options, rather than automatically resuming update.

Icon Options The review and edit options that are available for your model.

Icon Options

The Edit during Update dialog contains icons for the review and edit options that are available for your model. The first row of icons (the first six described below) always appear, but are grayed out if not applicable. The remaining icons may or may not appear, depending on the circumstances.

The possible options are:

Undo - Undoes the last modification you made to the model before updating began.

Go Back To - Lets you move backward through the model to a selected feature that you choose from the Update Selection dialog. (The dialog contains a list of the features created before the current one, in order of creation.)

Step Back - Lets you move backward through the model one feature at a time.

Step - Advances one feature at a time through the model.

Go To - Lets you move forward through the model to a selected feature. In this case, the Update Selection dialog lists the features that have not yet been rebuilt.

Continue - Triggers the update process, which continues until the model is completely rebuilt or until a feature fails. If you choose Continue when a failure occurs, that feature is skipped.

Accept - Marks the current feature that failed and halted the update process as "out of date," letting you ignore the problem and allowing the system to continue with and complete the update process. The feature is listed on the Information->Feature Browser->Update Status Report as "out of date," with either update or dependent failure reasons. After the update completes you can check the status of the feature on the Update Status Report and its reason for failure. Editing the feature to correct the problem automatically removes the "out of date" mark from the Update Status Report.

Accept Remaining - Marks all features that fail to update and their dependents as "out of date," letting you ignore the problem and allowing the system to continue with and complete the update process. The failed features are listed on the Information->Feature Browser->Update Status Report as "out of date," with either update or dependent failure reasons. After the update completes you can check the status of features that failed to update on the Update Status Report. Editing the features to correct the problems automatically removes the "out of date" marks from the Update Status Report.

Delete - Lets you delete the feature that failed to update

Delete Dependents - Lets you delete the dependents of a feature that failed to update.

Note that this function is only available if the Delete Child Features customer default is not selected.

See the Note under Deleting Features for further details.

Suppress - Suppresses the feature currently being updated.

Suppress Remaining - Suppresses the feature currently being updated and all subsequent features.

Review the Model - Lets you analyze, but not edit, the rebuilt model with options from the menu bar or the MB3 popup menu. (The options available are the same as those in the Gateway application.) Review the Model cannot be used to review features that failed during update or that have not yet been rebuilt.

Edit Parameters - Lets you change the parameters of the feature currently being updated. When the update process halts and the EDU appears, with this button enabled, clicking it opens the original dialog used to create or place the problem feature, giving you an opportunity to fix it.

Delayed Delete - A special feature known as "Delayed Delete" can let you edit child features whose parents have been deleted. Normally the children of deleted parents are automatically deleted during update. To enable Delayed Delete set the following customer defaults in your ug_english.def or ug_metric.def file:

Interrupt Update on Missing References:onDelete Child Features:off

When Delayed Delete is enabled, the update process halts when it encounters a child feature whose parent has been deleted. The EDU displays with the following message:

Cannot recreate feature because a parent has been deleted.

When you see this message, click the Edit Parameters button. If applicable, a sub-menu will display with the Edit Parameters, Remove Unused References and Edit Positioning Dimension options. If none of these options are applicable for the child feature the sub-menu will not display. Instead, other choices will be presented to let you reattach the child feature with another parent.

See the Note under Delete Feature for further details.

Depending on the conditions that caused the Edit During Update dialog to appear, selecting the Edit Parameters option may first display a sub-dialog with Edit, Remove Unused References and Edit Position icons. Clicking the Edit icon takes you on to the feature dialog. Appearance of this sub dialog is controlled by a customer default.

Edit Positioning Dimension - Lets you reposition the selected or failed feature.

You must select an editing option before you can do anything outside the Edit during Update dialog. If a failure occurs, the options that let you advance through the model (such as Step, Go To, and Continue) are grayed out until the failure is resolved and the feature successfully updates.

Edits are not permanent until the model is completely rebuilt. If you edit a feature, and then make a choice that takes you back to the beginning of that feature's rebuilding, or to the rebuilding of an earlier feature, your edits are lost. This may happen if you choose Undo, Step Back, Go Back To, Edit Parameters, or Edit Positioning Dimension on the same or an earlier feature.

Graphics Window Display

When you choose Playback, all of the solids in the model that will be updated disappear from the graphics window. If you choose Step to re-create the model one feature at a time, the display updates each time a feature is rebuilt.

The display does not update if you choose other options, such as Go Back To, Step Back, Go To, or Continue. If you are using these options and want to see what the model looks like at this stage of its rebuilding, choose Show Current Model.

For performance reasons, the display does not change during update when using one of the other update methods. After the model update has finished, the display is updated.

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