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NX 5, Part 2 (Cadalyst Labs Review)
1 Dec, 2007 By: Jeffrey RoweEnhancements in software architecture enable major improvements in assemblies, visualization, and drawings.
With more than 400 enhancements, there is no doubt that NX 5 is a major release for Siemens PLM Software (formerly UGS). In fact, it was so major that Cadalyst chose to split the review into two parts.
In Part 1 last month, I covered some of the basic aspects of NX 5 with regard to what makes this release so significant, getting started with sketching and part modeling, as well as using collaborative design practices. In Part 2, I'll cover assemblies, visualization, and drawings. Even though I was given the opportunity to review NX 5 in two parts, its many enhancements make it difficult to cover much beyond the highlights of this release.
 Siemens NX 5 |
So, let's get started with assemblies and move on other significant aspects of NX 5.
Handling Assemblies
For many MCAD packages, large-assembly (thousands of parts) performance is what separates the men from the boys. NX 5's significant architectural enhancements are the basis for major improvements in large-assembly modeling. To further improve assembly performance, the Siemens JT data format was integrated into NX 5. JT simplifies the pervasive multi-CAD environment that most manufacturers now deal with and offers lightweight assembly design functions for faceted assembly representations that improve performance when precise solid geometry isn't required, such as in design reviews (figure 1). To a large extent, it is the JT format that improves NX 5's large-assembly capacity and performance while reducing memory usage and rendering time. Siemens PLM Software claims that test cases with NX 5 have demonstrated at least a 60% reduction in memory usage and at least a 65% increase in display-frame rates for typical large assemblies. All in all, these represent pretty significant performance gains.
 Figure 1. NX 5 introduces major architectural changes that dramatically improve design functions and performance for large assemblies. NX assembly modeling uses Siemens PLM Software s JT data format and Direct Modeling technology for lightweight, high-performance visualization and multi-CAD collaboration. |
In NX 5, assembly part files point to geometry and features in the subordinate parts, rather than creating duplicate copies of those objects at each level in the assembly. This technique not only minimizes the size of assembly parts files but also provides high levels of associativity. This enables users to modify the geometry of one component so that all assemblies that use the same component automatically reflect the change. These relationships affect assemblies and other associated objects such as drawings, tool paths, and CAE meshes.
It's common practice in assemblies for a particular part to be used in many places. Each usage is referred to as an instance, and the file containing the actual geometry for the component is called the component part. For example, a car assembly may have two axle subassemblies, each of which has two wheel parts. In this example, we have four wheel instances and two axle subassembly instances but only two component parts (one wheel and one axle).
There are several approaches to assembly modeling, and with NX designers aren't limited to any one style. They can create individual part models and then later add them to assemblies (bottom-up), or they can create parts directly at the assembly level (top-down assembly creation). Additionally, users can start by using a top-down method and then switch back and forth between bottom-up and top-down modeling, depending on their specific needs. This versatile approach helps NX fit into a wide variety of workflows.
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AutoCAD Tips!
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