Lesson

10 Model Construction Query

Purpose
This lesson demonstrates different methods to query a part to determine
creation method, design intent, and physical properties.

Objectives

Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Retrieve layer information.

• Access the Part Navigato r.

• Access feature and expression information.

• Playback the model construction.

• Suppress and Unsuppress features.

• Identify where expressions are used.

• Measure the distance between objects.

• Assign a material and calculate mass properties.

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Visually Inspect the Part

Visual inspection of the solid model may be accomplished by rotating the
model to view the different features. At times this is very bene ficial in order
to clearly see what is displayed in the graphics window. The model may be
rotated by using the middle mouse button or the Rotate icon in the View
toolbar.
Different renderi ng styles are available in the MB 3 pop-up menu or View
toolbar to display the part. You can choose from Shaded or Wireframe modes,
with or without edges displayed.

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Layers
Layers are used to organize a part. They work like invisible containers to
house the different objects used to create an NX solid model. A layer is a
system-defined attribute that all objects must have.
There are 256 layers in NX, one of which is always the Work Layer. Any of
the layers can be assigned to one of four classifications of status:
• Work

• Selectable (on)

• Visible Only

• Invisible (off)

The Work Layer is the layer that objects are created on and is always visible
and selectable while it remains the Work Layer. Layer 1 is the default Work
Layer when a new part is created. When the Work Layer is changed, the
previous Work Layer automatically becomes Selectable and could then be
assigned a diffe rent status.
The number of objects on one layer is not limited. You may choose which
layers to create objects on and what the status will be. Howeve r, employing
company standards for the use of layers is recommended.

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To assign a status to a layer or layers, choose the Layer Settings icon from the
Utility toolbar or choose Format→Layer Settings from the menu bar.

Select a layer from the Layer/Status list area and choose one of the four
options below the list (Selectable, Invisible, Make Work, or Visible Only).

Double-clicking on a layer (other than the work layer) toggles it

9 between Selectable and Invisible.

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Things to look for in the Layer Settings dialog:

• Object Count — Enabling Show Object Count using the checkbox
will change the display in the Layer/Status listing window to a
Layer/Status/Count listing window that shows the number of objects
contained on each layer.

• Category Names — Layers or groups of layers can be named using

Categories. These names are listed in the Category listing window on the
Layer Settings dialog as well as in the Layer/Status listing window next
to assigned layers when Show Category Names is enabled.

• Layer Listing — The filtering option menu at the bottom of the dialog
allows the Layer/Status listing window to display All Layers, Layers with
Objects, or All Selectable Layers.

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Layer Categories

The following layer and category standards will be followed in this class.

Model Geometry

Object Geometry Layer Assignment Category Name

Solid Geometry 1–20 SOLIDS
Inter-part Modeling 15–20 LINKED_OBJECTS
Sketch Geometry 21–40 SKETCHES
Curve Geometry 41–60 CURVES
Reference Geometry 61–80 DATUMS
Sheet Bodies 81–100 SHEETS

Drafting Objects

Object Geometry Layer Assignment Category Name

Drawing Borders 101 –110 FORMATS

Engineering Disciplines

Object Geometry Layer Assignment Category Name

Mechanism Tools 121 –130 MECH
Finite Element Meshes 131 –150 CAE
and Engineering Tools
Manufacturing 151 –180 MFG
Quality Tools 181 –190 QA

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Moving Objects Between Layers

While creating a model, it may be necessary to move an object to a different

layer. This can be accomplished by choosing Format? Move to Layer. The
objects which need to be moved are selected using the Class Selection menu
and the Layer Move dialog appears.

The destination layer may be spec ified by keying it in the Destination Layer
or Category field or by selecting it from the layer list. Choosing OK or Apply
will move the object(s). If Apply is chosen, additional objects may be selected
to move by choosing the Select New Objects button.

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Part Navigator
The Part Navigator is useful to identify the features of the model. Selecting
a feature in the Part Navigator window will highlight that feature in the
graphics window and will also highlight its parent and/or child features in
the Part Navigator. Conversely, selecting a feature in the graphics window
will highlight that feature and its parents/children in the Part Navigator.
To access the Part Navigato r, choose the Part Navigator icon on the resource
bar located vertically to the right of the graphics window.

If the resource is bar is not visible, choose View→Show Resource

Bar to turn it on.

Suppress and Unsuppress

The display of features can be temporarily removed (suppressed) from the
graphics window by selecting the check box next to the feature name. When a
check is present, the feature is displayed in the graphics window.
The Suppress and Unsuppress options are also in the MB3 pop-up menu of
the Part Navigato r, the Edit→Feature menu, and the Edit Feature toolbar.
They can be used to help investigate how a model was created and how it
would be affected if the feature was removed.

Feature Playback
The Playback option (Edit? Feature? Playback) can also be used to
investigate a model. It temporarily hides features and allows you to step
9 through the construction of the model, one feature at a time.
Playback does not suppress reference features or sketches. It does allow
editi ng of features during the update.

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Information
The Information pull-down menu offers a number of options to obtain
information about the model.

Information? Feature

This provides another interface to identify Parent/Child relationships

between the selected feature and the other features in the model. In addition,
expressions that control the feature may be displayed in the graphics window
by toggling on the Display Dimensions option. Choosing OK or Apply will
display the Information window with the geometric data and associated
expression s.

Feature information may also be accessed by selecting the feature in

the Part Navigator and choosing MB3→Information or, by selecting
the feature in the graphics window and choosing MB3→Properties.

Information? Object
This is used to display information about selected objects in an Information
window. Any type of geometric object may be selected including curves, edge s,
faces, and bodies. The Information window will display information such as
name, layer, colo r, object type, and geometric properties (length, diameter,
start and end coordinates, etc.).

Information? Expression? List All

This lists all expressions in the part in the Information window. From the
Information window, the list can be printed or saved to a text file.

Information? Expression? List All by Reference

This is used to identify expressions that reference other expressions and the
features that they define. The Edit→Find option within the Information
window can be used to search for a speci fic expression.

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Referenced Expressions
If an expression defines a feature directly, the feature name is listed with it in
the Expressions dialog. However, an expression may also be included in the
formula of other expressions. The refe rencing expressions and features may
be identified by using the List References option in the Expressions dialog.
To use this option:
• Choose Tools? Expression.

• If necessar y, change the Listed Expressions filter to list the expression to

interrogate.

• Select the expression and choose List References in the MB3 pop-up menu.

An Information window will list the features and other expressions that
are referencing the selected expression.

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Distance
This Distance option is used to obtain the minimum distance between any
two objects such as points, curves, planes, bodies, edges, and/or faces.
This can be accessed by choosing Analysis? Distance or the Distance icon in
the Analysis toolbar. An icon option bar appears in the upper left corner of
the graphics window with options to select the first point or object (1) and
the second point or object (2).

After selecting the two objects, a temporary ruler and measurement result
are displayed in the graphics window. The resulting units for the distance
are determined by the setting in Analysis? Units.

Choosing the Information option will display the results in an Information

window along with the closest points on each object and the delta distances
relative to the absolute and work coordinate systems.

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Mass Properties
Basic mass properties data can be calculated by choosing
Analysis? Mass Properties and selecting the solid body.
The units for the results are determined by the setting in Analysis? Units.

A density may be assigned to the solid body by

choosing Edit→Feature→Solid Density or by
choosing
Tools→Material Properties and creating a new material or selecting
a material from the existing library.

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Activity — Model Construction Query

In this activity, you will identify feature relationships and design intent.
Although detailed instructions are provided, it may be beneficial to attempt
to navigate through the interface without using them.
Step 1: Open the inspect_arm_1 part.

Step 2: Start the Modeling application.

Step 3: Visually inspect the model.

Choose the Shaded with Edges icon.

(MB3→Rendering Style→Shaded with Edges)

Rotate the model (MB2).

Choose the Trimetric icon to orient the view back to the

trimetric orientation. (MB3→Orient View→Trimetric)

Step 4: Inspect the layers.

Viewing the layers may help gain an understanding of the
complexity of the model. If there is only one object on a “solids”
layer and several objects on a “sketches” layer, the model is likely
an extrusion.

Choose the Layer Settings icon. 9

(Format→Layer Settings)

Verify the Show Object Count option is turned on.

Turn the Show Category Names option on.

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Review the listing for category names and object count.

Notice that there are objects on a SOL IDS layer, a SKETCHES
layer, and a DATUMS layer.

Choose the Static Wireframe icon to better view interior

features. (MB3→Rendering Style→Static Wireframe)

Make layers 21 and 61 selectable so that the construction

geometry may be seen.

Choose OK in the Layer Settings dialog.

Choose the Fit icon. (MB3→Fit)

Step 5: Identify the features using the Part Navigato r.

Choose the Part Navigator icon from the resource bar on

the right side of the graphics window.

Choose the push pin icon in the upper right corner of

the Part Navigator to permanently display it. If the graphics
window is maximized, the display will be adjusted to fit the
9 part within the viewing area.

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Choose Tools? Part Navigator and ensure the Timestamp

Order option is turned on. This will list all features in the
Model History tree of the Part Navigato r.

Select Extrude(5) “large knuckle extrusion” in the Part

Navigator Model History.
The corresponding feature will be highlighted in the graphics
window. The parent feature (Sketch(3) “S21”) and child (Simple
Hole(7) “large thru hole”) will highlight in the Part Navigator.

Select a few other features in the Part Navigator to identify

them and their parent/child relationships.

Step 6: Review the model construction using Playback.

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Choose Edit? Feature? Playback.

All of the solid features are suppressed except the reference
features and the sketch. The Edit During Update dialog
informs you that the Fixed Datum Plane(0) feature has been
updated, this is the first feature in the model history.

9 Choose the Step option.

The next feature, Fixed Datum Axis(1), is updated. You may

have to move the slider to read the entire message displayed in
the Edit During Update dialog.

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Choose the Step option again.

The next feature (Fixed Datum Axis(2)) is updated.

Continue to Step through the model until all features have

been updated.

Step 7: Review the model construction using Suppress and Unsuppress.

Starting at the top of the Part Navigator Model History list,
select the check box in front of the first feature (Fixed Datum
Plane(0)) to suppress it.
Notice that many of the other features are also suppressed.
This is because all of the features except for the two fixed
datum axes are children of the suppressed datum plane.

Select Fixed_Datum_Plane(0) in the Part Navigato r.

Choose the Dependencies option at the bottom of the Part

Navigator

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In the Dependencies area, expand SKETCH(3) ”S21”.

Now you can see how the various features are dependent on
the datum plane.

Choose the Dependencies option to close the area.

Starting at the top of the Part Navigator Model History list,

select the "empty" checkbox in front of the first feature with
MB1 to unsuppress the feature.

Continue down the list and unsuppress the remaining features,

one at a time, by selecting each of the empty check boxes with
MB1.

Step 8: Find the values that control the thickness of the web extrusion.
In the Part Navigator, place the cursor on
Extrude(4) “web extrusion”, press MB3, and choose
Information.

Scroll through the Information window to see the parameters

and controlling expressions.
The expression p4 is identified as the Both Side Distance.
This expression controls the start and end distances from the
section geometry for the extrusion. A value of .125 on both
sides produces a web thickness of .25.
Note that the parent of this feature is the sketch S21:Sketch(3).

Close the Information window.

9
Step 9: Identify the expression that controls the distance from the large
hole center to the small hole center.
Since the web feature was generated from the sketch geometry, the
obvious place to look for the expression that controls the hole to
hole dista nce is in the sketch.

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In the Part Navigator, place the cursor on Sketch(3) “S21”,

press MB3, and choose Edit Parameters.

Orient the view to the Front using the View toolbar.

The expression in question can clearly be identified as

arm_length=8.500.

Orient the view back to the Trimetric orientation.

Choose Cancel in the Edit Sketch Dimensions dialog.

Step 10: Close the Part Navigator.

Select the push pin icon again and drag the cursor off the
Part Navigator to hide it.

Step 11: Determine how the large thru hole is positioned.

You will select a feature directly from the graphics window rather
than from a list which will take less time if you do not know the
name of the feature.

Choose Information? Feature.

Select the Large Thru Hole feature in the graphics window and
accept it if necessary. You can zoom, pan or rotate the part to
get a better view of the feature.

Turn the Display Dimensions option on in the Feature

Browser dialog.
The diameter and positioning dimension appear in the graphics
9
window.

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Choose OK. (MB2)

The Information window appears and shows that p18 is a
parallel positioning dimension with a value of 0 (zero). The
logical assumption can be made that the hole is located Point
to Point relative to the Large Knuckle extrusion.

Close the Information window.

Step 12: Identify where an expression is referenced.

Choose Tools? Expression.

Cha nge the Listed Expressions filter to Named.

Select the small_dia expression.

This expression is listed as defining
(S21:Sketch(3) Diameter Dimension on Arc2)

Choose MB3? List References.

The Information window appears and also shows that another
expression is referencing it (large_dia=2.5*small_dia).

Close the Information window.

Cancel the Expressions dialog.

Step 13: Identify the arc in the sketch that is referencing the expression.
Choose Information? Feature.

Select S21:Sketch(3).

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Choose the Object Dependency Browser option.

The child objects of the sketch are listed. Notice that Arc2 is
present.

Select Arc - Arc2.

The arc is highlighted in the graphics window. The feature and
object associated with the expression have now been identi fied.

Cancel the Object Dependency Browser dialog.

Step 14: Measure a distance.

Choose the Layer Settings icon.

(Format→Layer Settings)

Make layers 21 and 61 invisible and choose OK.

9
Choose the Distance icon in the Analysis toolbar.
(Analysis→Distance)

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For the first object, select one of the upper edges of the web.

For the second object, select one of the lower edges of the web.

The shortest distance between the edges is displayed.

Step 15: Assign a material to the solid bod y.

Choose Tools? Material Properties.

Select the solid body in the graphics window.

Choose Library in the Materials dialog.

Choose OK to accept the default search criteria. (MB2)

Choose Steel and OK.

9 Choose OK in the Materials dialog. (MB2)

Step 16: Determine the mass properties of the solid body in units of
kilograms and meters.
Choose Analysis? Units? kg -m

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Choose Analysis? Mass Properties.

Select the solid body.

Individual mass properties may be selected from the list in
the graphics window or all of the properties may be listed in
an Information window.

Choose the Information icon in the upper left corner of

the graphics window.

Step 17: Choose File? Close? All Parts.

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Summary
In this lesson, you queried a model to determine the creation method and
design intent. These skills are important to review parts created by other
users.
In this lesson you:
• Accessed the Part Navigato r.

• Examined layer settings.

• Identified expressions.

• Reviewed the model construction using Playback, Suppress, and

Unsuppress.

• Measured a distance.

• Calculated mass properties.

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