Sketcher Fundamentals

Workbook
February 2006
MT10028 — NX 4

Publication Number
mt10028_w NX 4
Manual History

Manual Unigraphics Publication

Revision Version Date
Version 16.0 May 2000
Version 17.0 December 2000
Version 18.0 November 2001
Unigraphics NX October 2002
Unigraphics NX 2 December 2003
NX 3 January 2005
NX 4 February 2006

This edition obsoletes all previous editions.

Proprietary and Restricted Rights Notices

This software and related documentation are proprietary to UGS Corp.

© 2006 UGS Corp. All Rights Reserved.
All trademarks belong to their respective holders.

©2006 UGS Corporation

All Rights Reserved.
Produced in the United States of America.

2 Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook mt10028_w NX 4

Contents

Sketching on Your Own . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Project 1: Sketch a Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1- 2
Project 2: Sketch a Symmetrical Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1- 4
Project 3: Sketch a Blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1- 6

Sketching Discontinuous Strings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Design Intent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2- 1

Sketch Operations-Mirror Sketch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Designing in Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 3

 1
Lesson

1 Sketching on Your Own

This section is optional.

Now that you have learned how to create sketches and why consideration
of the Design Intent is important, try one or more of the projects in this
workbook.
Things to keep in mind:
• Design Intent of the sketch

• Maintenance of the design (easy editing characteristics)

• Methods of parametric control of the curves

• Techniques you have learned

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 1-1

 Sketching on Your Own

1
Project 1: Sketch a Profile
Step 1: Open seedpart_in and save it as ***_project_1, where ***
represent your initials.

Step 2: Create a sketch on layer 21. Define the sketch plane by the XC-YC.

Step 3: Sketch the profile as illustrated in configuration A.

Step 4: Constrain the sketch so that when the 3.50 value is changed to
1.5 or 5.25, the sketch (curves only) will update as illustrated in
configurations B and C.

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1
 Sketching on Your Own

1
Project 2: Sketch a Symmetrical Profile
Step 1: Open seedpart_in and save it as ***_project_2, where ***
represent your initials.

Step 2: Create a sketch on layer 21. Use the default sketch plane of XC-YC

Step 3: Sketch and constrain the symmetrical profile as illustrated below.

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1
 Sketching on Your Own

1
Project 3: Sketch a Blade
Step 1: Open seedpart_in and save it as ***_project_3, where ***
represent your initials.

Step 2: Create a sketch on layer 21. Define a sketch plane other then the
default of XC-YC.

Step 3: Sketch the profile as illustrated below. Note, the sketch does not
have to be fully constrained when finished.

1-6 Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook ©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved mt10028_w NX 4
Lesson

2 Sketching Discontinuous Strings

2

Design Intent
In this activity, you will create a sketch consisting of lines and fillets that is
attached to a previously created revolved feature. You will also position the
sketch using constraints. The final operation will be an intersected boolean
feature.
Step 1: Open the part file handle_1.prt and save it as ***_handle_1, where
*** represent your initials.
Create and fully constrain the sketch below, the thickness of each
of the legs should be equal, as should the radii between them.

Step 2: Create a new sketch on layer 22.

Name the sketch S22_EXTRUDE.

Use the bottom planar face of the existing solid as the planar
placement face of the sketch.

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 2-1

 Sketching Discontinuous Strings

Select the datum axis that is collinear with the bottom line
from sketch SKETCH_000 as the horizontal reference.

Make layers 1, 21, and 61 invisible.

2
Step 3: Create Lines 1 & 2.
Create the two construction lines shown, with the intersection
of lines 1 and 2 approximately in the center of the graphics
window.

Step 4: Sketch Lines 3 through 14 as a separate contiguous profile starting

with the lower end of Line 3.
Indicate a cursor location below the right end of Line 1 as the
start of Line3.

Working counterclockwise, continue to indicate cursor locations

for the ends of each line, closing the string by selecting the
endpoint at the start of Line3 as the end of Line 14.

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 Sketching Discontinuous Strings

Step 5: Use the 2 Curve Fillet function to create Arcs 1 through 4.

Step 6: Use the Show/Remove Constraints option to review all of the

current constraints applied during the sketch creation.
If any Horizontal, Vertical or Tangent constraints are missing,
add them now.

Step 7: Temporarily locate the sketch to ease the constraining process.

Select the point at the center of sketch S22_EXTRUDE and
Apply a Fix constraint. The point is denoted by (1).

Step 8: Fully constrain the sketch to the geometric configuration shown.

Link the parameters where appropriate and use the construction
sketch curves for assistance when necessary.

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 2-3

 Sketching Discontinuous Strings

Step 9: Position the new sketch using Geometric Constraints.

Make layer 21 selectable.

Replace the view with the TFR-TRI view.

Choose the Show/Remove Constraints icon.

Remove the Fixed constraint that you created at the beginning

of the section.
The temporary Fix constraint aided in solving the geometric
configuration, but now this sketch should be related to the one
that is controlling the initial revolved feature. Note that a
sketch may have the geometric configuration fully defined yet
still be underconstrained due to lack of location definition.

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 Sketching Discontinuous Strings

Select the point at the center of sketch S22_EXTRUDE, to

constrain to the bottom left of sketch SKETCH_000. The point
is denoted by (1).

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 2-5

 Sketching Discontinuous Strings

Select the point at the bottom left of the existing sketch. The
point is denoted by (2).

Use a Coincident constraint.

The status line now states that the sketch is fully constrained.

Orient View to Sketch.

Step 10: Convert Sketch Lines 1 and 2 to reference curves and Finish the
Sketch.

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 Sketching Discontinuous Strings

In order to sweep the sketch, curves not being swept must be

converted to reference.

Step 11: Extrude the sketch and intersect it with the existing solid on layer
1 to complete the model of the handle.
Use Reverse Direction if necessary to ensure that the
reference direction is pointing to the top of the model.
Select the top face of the model. Choose Intersect as the
boolean type from the drop down menu.

Step 12: Save the part.

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 2-7

2
Lesson

3 Sketch Operations-Mirror Sketch

Challenge: For more information on Mirroring a sketch, go to Help→On

Context... and study the Mirror Constraint.
3
Create a sketch that represents the quarter-section of a watch.
Step 1: Open seedpart_in.prt and save it as ***_watch_1, where ***
represent your initials.

Step 2: Create and fully constrain a sketch representing the

quarter-section of a watch.

Step 3: Create the top half of the watch profile.

Choose the Mirror icon.

The Cue line prompts to select a mirror centerline. This is the
line of symmetry.

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 3-1

 Sketch Operations-Mirror Sketch

Select the main vertical line in the sketch and choose MB2.
The cue line now prompts to select mirror geometry.

Select all curves except the bottom horizontal line and choose
OK.

Because the sketch was fully constrained before mirroring, it

will be fully constrained afterwards. In order to fully constrain
the sketch, the system converts the centerline to a reference
line and creates mirror constraints for each of the mirrored
objects.

Step 4: Mirror the sketch geometry again to obtain the full profile.

Choose the Mirror icon.

Select the horizontal line as the mirror centerline and choose

MB2.

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 Sketch Operations-Mirror Sketch

Select all of the remaining curves except the previously defined

centerline, and choose MB2 to complete the profile.

Step 5: Save the part.

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 3-3

3
Lesson

4 Designing in Context

Challenge: This activity requires assembly knowledge which is outside the

scope of this class. Try this activity if you have assemblies experience or
challenge yourself. Go to Help→On Context... to learn more about the
functionality.
In this activity, you will design a Geneva mechanism. This Geneva
mechanism consists of three parts: the base, the drive, and the follower. 4

You will be given the base of the assembly and shall create the other two
parts using the Top-down approach. This means that you will initially create
solid geometry for the driver and follower parts within the assembly file, then
save them as individual components prior to detail design. The location and
size of the follower and driver will be defined relative to the base.
For the purposes of this activity you may omit the hardware necessary to
attach parts to the base.
Step 1: Create the assembly part file.
For this project, work in units of inches.

Close all parts and open seedpart_in.prtand save it as

***_geneva_assy.
• Set your work layer to 3.

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 4-1

 Designing in Context

• Start the Assemblies application

• Add the geneva base component to the assembly using

Assemblies→Components→Add Existing.

• Select Choose Part File.

• Select the part file geneva_base.prt from the parts

directory.

• Use the following criteria when adding the existing

component:
Multiple Add: OFF

4 Component Name: base

Ref. Set: Entire Part

Positioning: Absolute

Layer options: Work

• Locate the component at the Absolute Csys origin and

cancel out of the dialog.

Step 2: Begin the design of the driver.

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 Designing in Context

The driver consists of stepped cylindrical shapes with a boss and

three holes.

The profile can be defined by curves representing a half-section

located as shown. 4

Note that you are still working in the assembly part file and layer
3 is selectable.

Create a sketch of the profile of the driver on layer 21.

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 4-3

 Designing in Context

Constrain the sketch as shown. The lower right hand corner

of the sketch should be located at the center point of the hole
in the base with which the driver mates.

Revolve the sketch to create the solid body on layer (1) one.

Step 3: Begin the design of the follower.

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 Designing in Context

The shape of the follower can be generated from a sketch

representing one segment of the part.

4
Place the origin of the WCS at the top, center of the hole closest
to the front of the Base.

Make layers 1 and 21 invisible. Create a sketch on layer 22

using the XC-YC plane of the WCS, using the diagram below.
Constrain the sketch.

Any clearances required between the parts can be applied at a

later time, following a thorough tolerance analysis.

Change your work layer to layer 2, and extrude the sketch to

create the solid body.
Initially, the thickness of the extrusion is the same as the
height of the midsection of the driver. Check the first sketch to
find the Start and End Distances for the extrusion.

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 4-5

 Designing in Context

Instance the extruded body to create the basic follower model.

Step 4: Create the Follower component part.

Verify that the WCS is still at the origin of the follower model.
4
With the Assemblies application enabled, choose
Assemblies→Components→Create New and select the Follower
model. Make sure to select the Solid Body, Sketch, and any
Datums used to define this part. Use the following inputs for
creating the component:
Component Part Name: ***_geneva_follower

Component Name: follower

Ref. Set name: (leave blank)

Layer options: Original

Component Origin: WCS

Delete Originals: ON
Graphically, you may not notice much of a difference, but
you can easily verify the change in your assembly structure
if you have the Assembly Navigator open.

Step 5: Create the Driver component part.

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 Designing in Context

Move the WCS to the origin of the driver.

Repeat the process for the Driver on Layer 1, and select

the Driver model. Use the following inputs for creating the
component:
Component Part Name: ***_geneva_driver
4
Component Name: driver

Ref. Set name: (leave blank)

Layer options: Original

Component Origin: WCS

Delete Originals: On

Step 6: Generate a component listing to verify your work.

(Assemblies→Reports→List Components.) Your assembly should
consist of three components:

Component Report
Components of ./geneva_assy.prt :
Part Name Ref Set Component Count
Name Name
adm_geneva_base None BASE 1
***_geneva_driver None DRIVER 1
***_geneva_follower None FOLLOWER 1
All components are positioned as: ABSOLUTE

Step 7: You can now complete the modeling of the driver and the follower
either in context (Displayed Part set to the assembly, Work Part
set to the Component), or individually (Displayed Part and Work
Part set to Component).

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 4-7

 Designing in Context

In the figures on the next two pages, some of the dimensions for the
parts are given for you to use in your design. Other values were
previously given to you in the sketches. You should determine the
remaining values needed to complete the models from the existing
geometry.

Design tasks for the Driver:

• Determine the center of the 1.250 rad. clearance cutaway.

• Determine the height and location of the .124 dia. pin.

• Determine the location for the set screw hole.

4-8 Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook ©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved mt10028_w NX 4
 Designing in Context

Design tasks for the Follower:

• Determine the length and location of the engagement slots.

• Determine the height of the bosses.

• Determine the location of the set screw hole.

©UGS Corporation, All Rights Reserved Sketcher Fundamentals – Workbook 4-9

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