Lectures

Quizzes

CAST Files

CAST files can be found at

c://Program Files/UGS/NX 4.0/nxcast/parts/

I strongly suggest that you go through the reccommended CAST tutorials. They are very good and go into a lot more detail than the text.

UTEP Drawing Blanks

The UTEP drawing blanks, patterns and icons can be found at

c://Program Files/

We will use these when we cover drafting.


Week 1

Lecture:

We will give an introduction to the class, go over the policies and grading, and start to give an introduction to NX.

Lab 1: Holiday (MLK)

Lab 2: Introduction to NX

We will give an overview to CAD, Solid Modeling and a brief demonstration of NX. For this class we will not be using the assigned text rather we will follow the a preliminary chapter in the text by Felix and Lee.

NX Lessons:

  1. Felix and Lee introduction
  2. Read Chapter 1 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi
  3. Read and go through in front of NX, Chapter 2 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi

Things you should be able to do and know:


Week 2

Lecture:

This week we will

Lab 1: Fundamental Curves

In this Lab we learn how to use NX to draw basic curves on the screen. This is useful for basic layout work as well as for later on when we discuss sketch based operations

NX Lessons:

  1. Read and go through in front of NX, Chapter 3 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi
  2. Read and go through in front of NX, Chapter 4 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi
  3. CAST: Design -> Curves -> Basic Curves (90 minutes)

Things you should be able to do:

Exercises:

Lab 2: Sketches

In this Lab we will introduce the NX sketcher. This will be used to create solid features by extruding and revolving. Also, we will start to learn about capturing design intent using sketchs and constraining them.

NX Lessons:

  1. Read and go through in front of NX, Chapter 5 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi
  2. CAST: Design -> Sketcher -> Sketcher Basics (1 hrs)

Things you should be able to do:


Week 3

Lecture:

This week we will

Lab 1: Sketching and Design Intent

In this Lab further use the sketch feature and discuss the concept of design intent and how it can be implemented in Sketch.

NX Lessons:

  1. CAST: Design -> Sketcher -> Working with Sketches (2-3 hrs)
  2. CAST: Design -> Sketcher -> Constraining Sketches (1 hrs)

Things you should be able to do:

Exercise:

Project I: Hex bolt sketch

Lab 2: Design Features

In this Lab start to cover design features. These are basic methods for creating solid models. They can be used as a base or as features that can be added to existing models.

NX Lessons:

  1. Chapter 6 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi

Things you should be able to do:


Week 4

Lecture:

This week we will

Lab 1: Advanced Design Features

In this Lab we will focus some CAST tutoriasl to go a bit more in depth into some more advanced Design Features. Also we will discuss the various Positioning methods used in locating Design Features in NX.

NX Lessons:

  1. If you have not yet do it do Practice 6.7 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi!
  2. CAST: Design -> Feature Modeling -> Extrude, Slot, Pocket (60 minutes)
  3. CAST: Design -> Feature Modeling -> Boss, Circular Array, Mirror Feature (60 minutes)
  4. CAST: Design -> Feature Modeling -> Combine Bodies, Pad, Detail Features (80 minutes)

Things you should be able to do:

  • Know the Three basic steps in defining a Design Feature
    1. Locate the face on which to construct the design feature (or pick the sketch)
    2. Define the Design Feature geometry
    3. Position the Design Feature on the face or plane.
  • Know how to use Circular Arrays
  • Know the difference between a counter bore hole, a counter sink hole and a straight hole.
  • Create a Block, and Cylinder primitive
  • Perform boolean operations on solids
  • Create a Pad Design Feature
  • Create a Boss Design Feature
  • Create a Chamfer, and Edge Blend
  • Create a Slot
  • Know how to fully position a Pad and Slot feature by 1) Horizontal, 2) Vertical, 3) Parallel, 4) Perpendicular, 5) Parallel at a Distance, 6) Angular, 7) Point onto Point, 8) Point onto Line and 9) Line onto Line.

    Lab 2: Detail Features

    This Lab we will cover some Detail Features in NX such as Edge Blends, Face Belnds, Chamfer, and Shell commands

    NX Lessons:

    1. Chapter 7 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi (Section 7.5 is optional)
    2. CAST: Design -> Feature Modeling -> Draft, Face/Surface Operations -> Draft (30 minutes)
    3. CAST: Design -> Feature Modeling -> Draft, Face/Surface Operations -> Body Taper (30 minutes)

    Things you should be able to do:

    Exercises:

    You should be able to do the following simple parts in NX.


    Week 5

    Lecture:

    This week we will

    Lab 1: Quiz No 1

    No labs today we will have the first quiz. Good luck!

    Here is a list of some things that you might expect to see on the quiz

    Lab 2: Expressions

    In this lab we will look at hw expressions can be used to parametrically drive models and capture design intent.

    NX Lessons:

    1. Chapter 11 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi
    2. CAST: Design -> Expressions -> Creating Expressions (90 minutes)
    3. CAST: Design -> Expressions -> Using Expressions (30 minutes)
    4. CAST: Design -> Expressions -> Expressions Projects (60 minutes)

    Things you should be able to do:


    Week 6

    Lecture:

    This week we will

    Lab 1: Reference Entities aned Layers

    In this lab we will cover Dataum Axis, Points and Planes

    NX Lessons:

    1. Chapter 12 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi
    2. Chapter 14 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi
    3. CAST: Design-> Feature Modeling -> Datum CS
    4. CAST: Design-> Feature Modeling -> Datums, Trim Body, Hole, Shell (there is some review here as well)

    Things you should be able to do:

    Exercises:

    Try to model the following part. You will need to construct datum planes to sketch the slotted cuts shown in Section B-B. If you get on slot correct you can use a circular instance array to make the other three.

    Lab 2: Feature Editing

    We will look at how to edit features in your models

    NX Lessons:

    1. Chapter 13 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi
    2. CAST: Design-> Feature Modeling -> Editing Features

    Things you should be able to do:

    Exercises:

    Download the following part (do a right click "save as", it is a part file) and do the following modifications
  • Modify the c'bore hole to be a c'sink hole.
  • Change the distance that the hole is fromthe center of the part to 2". Modify the rest of the part accordingly.
  • Use a circular array to create 6 equally spaced c'sink holes around the centerline of the part. They should all be c'sink holes identical to the origional one.
  • Add a R .25 edge blend to the top inner and outer diameter edges. Add this in such a manner that the wall thickness is constant at the edge blend. Your final part should look as follows


    Week 7

    Lecture:

    This week we will

    Lab 1: Practice Projects

    This lab we will do some projects in CAST to give you more experience in using the various modeling techniques we have covered in NX in preparation for Wednesdays Quiz.

    NX Lessons:

    1. CAST: Design -> Feature Modeling -> Feature Modeling Projects -> Creating a Mounting Bar (20 minutes)
    2. CAST: Design -> Feature Modeling -> Feature Modeling Projects -> Creating a Simple Collet (15 minutes)
    3. CAST: Design -> Feature Modeling -> Feature Modeling Projects -> Creating a Pivot Plate (40 minutes)
    4. Using approximate dimensions create a solid model that has all the features and basic shape of the parts shown below.

    Lab 2: Modeling Projects I

    In this lab we will do more of what we did last time

    NX Lessons:

    Work on practice model parts

    Things you should be able to do:


    Week 8

    Lecture:

    This week we will

    Lab 1: Modeling Projects II

    We will practice modeling some parts without step-by step instructions. The trick here is to try and plan how your model will be constructed before you start to make it.

    NX Lessons:

    1. None

    Things you should be able to do:

    Lab 2: Modeling Projects III

    Keep on practicing!

    NX Lessons:

    1. None

    Things you should be able to do:


    Week 9

    Lecture:

    This week we will

    Lab 1: Quiz No 2

    No labs today we will have the second quiz. Good luck! Here is a list of some things that you might expect to see on the quiz

    Lab 2: Assembly Basics I

    In this lab we will start to look at how to construct assemblies of parts in NX.

    NX Lessons:

    1. Chapter 17 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi

    Review Questions:

    1. What is bottom-up assembly?
    2. What is a Reference Set?
    3. What is the Assembly Navigator?
    4. What is top-down assembly?

    Things you should be able to do:


    Week 10

    Lecture:

    This week we will

    Lab 1: Assembly Basics II

    Today we will consider design in-place modeling or top-down assemblies where we will create parts in existing assemblies. This approach is typicall of the way more complex designs are engineered.

    NX Lessons:

    1. Assembly Modeling -> Assemblies -> Basic Assembly Concepts (90 minutes)
    2. Assembly Modeling -> Assemblies -> Creating Assemblies -> Top-down Assemblies (60 minutes)

    Review Questions:

    1. Understand how to use Angle, Perpendicular and Tangent contraints in Assembly

    Things you should be able to do:

    Exercises:

    Download the shaft assembly parts from WebCT and perform the following
  • Add a flat and step in shaft.prt so that the gear.prt is located exactly as we did in class. Model a set screw to fit here and add it to the assembly.
  • Add a c'bore hole in the pillow_block.prt so that teh bearing.prt fits inside. Assume that the bearing is held by a slight interferance fit.

    Lab 2: Assembly Basics I (con't)

    In this lab finish the previous CAST tutorials and start the assembly project

    Exercises:

    Continuing with the shaft assembly parts perform the following
  • Figure out some way to attach the pillow blocks to the base plate.
  • Make the design modifications to the pillow block and base plate parts so that this can be done. When finished all the parts needed in the assembly must be there. Including screws, nuts and thread features. All fasteners must be standard fasteners and proper clearance should be given.
  • Add all the parts for your final assembly to shaft_assembly.prt and have them constrained.

    Week 11

    Lecture:

    This week we will

    Lab 1: Assembly Projects I

    Today we will do some projects using assemblies in CAST. Again if you feel confident please try to do the major steps on the tutorials will on your own. If you get stuck you can refer to the detailed steps in CAST. Also, we will get you started on an open ended assembly project that will be continued in the next lab.

    NX Lessons:

    1. Assembly Modeling -> Assemblies -> Positioning Assembly Components (60 minutes)
    2. Assembly Modeling -> Assemblies -> Assembly Projects -> Creating a Clamp Assembly (15 minutes)
    3. Assembly Modeling -> Assemblies -> Assembly Projects -> Creating a Phone Assembly (10 minutes)
    4. Assembly Modeling -> Assemblies -> Assembly Projects -> Working with an Automotive Assembly (15 minutes)
    5. Assembly Modeling -> Assemblies -> Assembly Projects -> Creating an Assembly Sequence (15 minutes)

    Review Questions:

    Things you should be able to do:

    Lab 2: Assembly Tricks I

    In this lab we will cover some more advanced engineering inquiries that can be done with Assemblies in NX

    NX Lessons:

    1. Assembly Modeling -> Assemblies -> Creating Assemblies -> Bottom-up Assemblies (30 minutes)
    2. Assembly Modeling -> Advanced Assemblies -> Assemblies Weight Management (60 minutes)
    3. Assembly Modeling -> Assemblies -> Clearance and Analysis (60 minutes)
    4. Assembly Modeling -> Assemblies -> Sequencing and Motion (60 minutes)

    Review Questions:

    Things you should be able to do:

    Lab 2: Assembly Projects II

    In this lab we will continue the assembly project from the previous lab.

    Review Questions:


    Week 12

    Lecture:

    This week we will

    Lab 1: Introduction to Drafting

    In this lab we will do some tutorials in NX Drafting.

    NX Lessons:

    1. Chapter 18 in Samuel, Pragada and Baksi

    Things you should be able to do:

    Lab 2: Dimensioning Basics

    Here we will cover some basics of dimensioning. Again CAST assumes that you know this already and many of you may. We will not go into all the details of the dimensioning standards since NX (and most modern CAD systems) will automate this process. As an engineering it is not essential that you are and expert in all the drafting standards but more what is a fully dimensioned drawing and how the dimensioning and tolerancing affects the design and the part manufacture.

    Lecture Notes:

    1. Dimensioning and tolerancing

    NX Lessons:

    1. Drafting -> Linear Dimensions (90 minutes)
    2. Drafting -> Radial Dimensions (90 minutes)

    Review Questions:

    1. How is a linear dimension specified in a drawing?; how is an angular, radial and diametric dimension sepcified in a drawing?
    2. What is a center line, dimension line, object line, and hidden line?
    3. What information does the number of decimal places in a dimension convey?
    4. How do you specify explicitly specify a tolerance in a dimension?

    Things you should be able to do:


    Week 13

    Lecture:

    This week we will

    Lab 1: Title Blocks and Tolerencing

    In this lab we will look at some CAST tutorials on some finishing details of creating an engineering drawing. Also please look at how to insert the UTEP title blocks, text and notes into your Drawing Sheets

    NX Lessons:

    1. Drafting -> Additional Drafting Symbols -> Thread Symbols (30 minutes)
    2. Drafting -> Additional Drafting Symbols -> Weld Symbols (30 minutes)
    3. Drafting -> Notes and Labels -> Creating Notes (30 minutes)
    4. Drafting -> Notes and Labels -> Creating Labels (30 minutes)
    5. Drafting -> Plotting Drawings (60 minutes)

    Things you should be able to do:

    Lab 2: Drafting Projects I

    This week we will give you a little more experience in producing engineering drawings in NX.

    NX Lessons:

    1. Drafting -> Drafting Projects (90 minutes)
    2. Start with dimensioning the following parts. This will be submitted and graded as another project for this class.

    Week 14

    Lecture:

    This week we will

    Lab 1: Drafting Projects II

    In this lab we continue with the practice parts from the prior class. Tolerance your drawing so that it is functional. Use the title blocks in C://

    Lab 2: Final Project

    In this lab we will work on the final projects

    Week 15

    Lecture:

    This week we will

    Lab 1: Final Project

    In this lab we will work on the final projects

    Lab 2: Quiz 3

    This quiz will be in class and consist of two parts a short answer section based on the Review Questions from prior Lectures.

    Finals

    Final Exam: Quiz 4

    In lieu of a final exam we will have a fourth quiz which is optional. The three highest quiz grades will be taken to form your final grade. If you feel that you did "good enough" on the prior three quizzes you do not need to take this. It will be cumulative.
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