Knowledge Fusion for Designers

Student Guide
September 2008
MT15130 — NX 6

Publication Number
mt15130_s NX 6
Proprietary and restricted rights notice

This software and related documentation are proprietary to Siemens Product

Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
© 2008 Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All Rights
Reserved.
All trademarks belong to their respective holders.

2 Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide mt15130_s NX 6

Contents

Course overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Course description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Intended audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Course objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
How to use this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Lesson format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Activity format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Learning tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
NX Help Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The Learning Advantage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Class standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Student responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Part naming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Classroom system information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Overview of Knowledge Based Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
What is Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE)? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Key technological features of a KBE system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Why use KBE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Difference between KBE and parametric modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
KBE example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Knowledge Fusion overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Who will use Knowledge Fusion (KF)? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
What is Knowledge Fusion? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Why use Knowledge Fusion? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
What is a DFA file? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
The Knowledge Fusion application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
KF toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
KF Applications dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
DFA Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Activity — The remote controlled airplane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26

Knowledge Fusion Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

KF Navigator overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Access the KF Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

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KF Navigator tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

Shortcut menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Common shortcut menu options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Attribute shortcut menu options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Background shortcut menu options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
KF Navigator properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Activity — Knowledge Fusion Navigator tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Add Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Add Attributes dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Attribute data types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Edit Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Activity — Add Attributes in the KF Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
Add Child Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Add Child List Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27
Copy Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
Edit Child and Edit Child List Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-29
Activity — Add and edit Child Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-30
Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-36
Activity — Instantiate a User class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-37
Activity — Instantiate a System class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-40
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-45

Design Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Control design topology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Specify Rule for Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Procedure: Use Specify Rule for Class method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Activity — Control the door to have a dynamic window . . . . . . . . 3-5
Color, Layer, Suppression status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Mass properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Activity — Examine the Mass properties of the door . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Interactive Edits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Activity — Interactive edits of the door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Activity — Use an expression to control a block . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23

Adoption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
The Adoption concept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Adopt Existing Object . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Procedure: Adopt existing objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Activity — Adopt existing objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Activity — Adopt blends and control the blended edges . . . . . . . 4-11
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16

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User Defined Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

User Defined Feature overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Export User Defined Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Activity — Create a knowledge enabled boss UDF . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
UDF positioning strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Reference Frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Procedure: Position a UDF using Reference Frames . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Reference geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Procedure: Position UDF using reference geometry . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Activity — Position a UDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Customize the UDF dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Activity — Customize a UDF dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Swap User Defined Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Activity — Swap User Defined Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35

Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Knowledge Fusion Assemblies concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Activity — Create a simple chassis assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Activity — Create a KF driven assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-26

Optimization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Optimization concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
General Optimization process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Activity — Optimize the volume of a squeeze bottle . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index-1

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 5

Course overview

Course description
Knowledge Fusion for Designers is an overview of the NX Knowledge
Fusion application. Knowledge Fusion enables you to develop applications
and control NX objects via engineering rules that extend beyond a purely
geometric nature. With the power of Knowledge Fusion, you can construct
reusable and associated knowledge driven components that are easy to control
and manipulate, so that the design intent or design goal can be achieved.

Intended audience
• Designers

• Engineers

• End users of Knowledge Fusion applications

• High-end NX users

• Knowledge Fusion core application developers

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Course overview

Course objectives
This is an introductory course for Knowledge Fusion. After successfully
completing this course, you should understand and be able to use the
following Knowledge Fusion supported functions:
• Basic concepts of Knowledge Fusion

• Knowledge Fusion Navigator

• KF Design Control

• Adoption

• User Defined Features

• KF Assemblies

• KF Optimization.

Prerequisites
• Essentials for NX Designers or self paced equivalent

• Basic understanding of modeling and NX assembly concepts

How to use this manual

The following guidelines describe how you can get the most benefit from
your use of the course guide.

Lesson format

The general format for lesson content is:

• Instructor presentation

• One or more activities

• Summary

8 Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide mt15130_s NX 6

 Course overview

Activity format

Activities have the following format:

Step 1: This is an example of a step. Numbered steps specify the actions
you will perform.
Action bullets detail how to complete the step.

Always read the Cue and Status information while working through
activities and as you perform your regular duties.

As you gain skills you may need only to read the step text to complete
the step.

Learning tips

• Ask questions.

• Confirm important facts by restating them in your own words.

It is important to use your Student Guide in the sequence it is written.

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Course overview

NX Help Library

The NX Help Library is available online any time you need more
information about a function. To access the NX Help Library; choose
Help→Documentation from the menu bar or, from the Resource bar of your
NX window, click the Help tab.

Throughout this course specific online help paths will be displayed to help
you locate additional information. The path names will be displayed in the
following manner.
See Also: Getting Started®Customizing NX®Customer Defaults.

The Learning Advantage

Siemens PLM Software Education Services offers a blend of training solutions
for all of our product lifecycle management products. The Online Store,
Learning Advantage, was developed to provide our customers with just in
time training for the latest in application developments.
Here are some of the Learning Advantages:
• Direct access to the training material

• Presented in a self-paced learning environment

• Online assessments to measure your success

• Just in time training for the latest software releases

For more information about the Learning Advantage visit our web site
http://training.ugs.com or send e-mail to training @ugs.com.

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 Course overview

Class standards

Student responsibilities

• Be on time.

• Be considerate of the needs of other students.

• Listen attentively and take notes.

• Ask questions.

• Practice what you learn.

• Have fun!

Part naming

You will occasionally be asked to enter a new part name for projects that
should be saved for later use. Use your initials as a prefix to the existing part
name and save the part in your home directory

Classroom system information

Your instructor will provide you with the following items for working in the
classroom:

User name:

Password:

Work Directory:

Parts Directory:

Instructor:

Date:

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 1
Lesson

1 Introduction

Purpose

Introduce the basic concepts of Knowledge Based Engineering and Knowledge

Fusion.

Objective

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

• Gain an initial understanding of Knowledge Based Engineering.

• Exhibit a basic understanding of Knowledge Fusion.

• Open and instantiate an existing Knowledge Fusion design using an Open

User Interface Styler dialog box.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 1-1

 Introduction

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Overview of Knowledge Based Engineering
The concept of Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE) is broad. The basic
idea is to find ways of recording different kinds of knowledge about how to
engineer, design, and configure a product in a way that allows it to be easily
found, understood, reused, and maintained.
This section answers the following questions:
• What is Knowledge Based Engineering?

• Why use KBE?

• What is the difference between KBE and parametric modeling?

• KBE example

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What is Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE)?

Knowledge Based Engineering is fundamentally about re-use. It involves

being able to take advantage of any experience, expertise and other
information relevant to each phase of the engineering life cycle of an end
user product.
These knowledge bases can exist in many forms, such as:
• Spreadsheets

• Handbooks

• Engineering formulas

• Proprietary software

• Human judgement, such as rules of thumb

Being able to create and reference such knowledge bases and make them
readily available as an aid to the engineering process constitutes Knowledge
Based Engineering. KBE is the key to being able to answer questions that
traditional CAD systems have not been capable of addressing, such as:
• What was the rationale behind this design?

• Have any design constraints been violated?

• How much will this product cost?

• Can this part be manufactured?

• Will this part meet its performance goals?

• Is this design optimum or are there better alternatives?

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 Introduction

1
Key technological features of a KBE system

In order for KBE to become central to the engineering process, it must be

capable of being applied to all relevant disciplines such as Design, Analysis,
and Manufacturing. This places on the technology the demands of flexibility,
openness, and reusability.
An integrated KBE technology must posses the following features:
• Knowledge base access - Knowledge bases exist in various forms, either
persistently such as in a database or spreadsheet, or as the result of the
execution of some external process. The KBE system must be able to take
advantage of these knowledge bases and thus their accessibility and the
corresponding openness of the KBE system become important factors.

• Knowledge rules - The fundamental KBE construct that must be

introduced into the CAD system is a rule, which is a textual description of
an action to be performed based on some inputs. The result of a rule could
be a modeling feature, a computed set of parameter values, the selection
of a component that meets a specification, or a message warning that
some critical constraint such as cost or weight has been violated.

• Knowledge rule applicability - The knowledge rules must be made easily

available to all processes in the engineering life cycle.

• Knowledge extension - Knowledge based engineering can be viewed as

the technology by which a system can be extended. It must be possible
for the rules to complement and enhance the various system-provided
objects and applications.

• Knowledge rule associativity - It is of the utmost importance that the

knowledge rules remain associated to the objects that they stand in
relation to.

• Knowledge deployment - The KBE systems should be integrated into

existing engineering processes and associated with existing applications.

See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help

and Best Practices®KBE and Generative Modeling®Introduction to
KBE.

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 Introduction

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Why use KBE?

Knowledge Based Engineering is intended for use in building engineering

automation solutions. This implies that there is a repetitive problem
which requires automation. It is most useful when the solution requires a
combination of the following elements:
• Configuration - The selection and assembling of components to make
a coherent whole product.

• Engineering - The decision-making process about the validity and

applicability of the components.

• Geometry - The physical organization of the components.

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 Introduction

1
Difference between KBE and parametric modeling

In KBE, knowledge is the driving force and geometry is driven by

configuration and engineering rules.
While in Parametric methodology, geometry and dimension driven
relationships are the driving force.
Another significant difference is that KBE is non procedural whereas
Parametric modeling is procedural.

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 Introduction

1
KBE example
In this example, there are three types of drive couplings available.
1. Flanged face coupling that allows the input and output shafts to have
different diameters.

2. Keyed clamp coupling to support higher torque.

3. Keyless compression coupling for low torque applications.

You can set up the automated layout of the coupling using standard
engineering inputs. The following are the engineering and configuration
rules that control the coupling type:
- torque
(33000*horsepower)/(2π*rpm)

- coupling type
If (input_radius != output_radius)
Then Flanged Face Coupling
Else If (torque < 100.0)
Then Keyless Compression Coupling
Else Keyed Clamp Coupling

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 Introduction

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Knowledge Fusion overview
Knowledge Fusion (KF) is a fully integrated Knowledge Based Engineering
(KBE) technology within NX. As a next-generation CAD/CAM/CAE tool, the
Knowledge Fusion product has the potential to revolutionize the way an
organization solves and automates repetitive engineering problems.
This section will answer the following questions:
• Who will use Knowledge Fusion?

• What is Knowledge Fusion?

• Why Use Knowledge Fusion?

• Knowledge Fusion, parametric modeling and WAVE

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 Introduction

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Who will use Knowledge Fusion (KF)?

Knowledge Fusion is typically used by three groups of people:

• Designers who use collections of rules for defining objects, called class
files, likely created by software developers.

• End users who create and update parts with instances of class files using
the Knowledge Fusion Navigator or Open User Interface Styler interface.

• Design Engineers who create or edit files using the Knowledge Fusion
Navigator interface, and then use instances of these files in a part.

This class is also a prerequisite for the Knowledge Fusion for

Programmers class.

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 Introduction

1
What is Knowledge Fusion?

By incorporating a KBE technology, Knowledge Fusion permits NX to take

advantage of engineering knowledge bases in conjunction with rules to
deliver powerful applications. It permits the knowledge based extension
of NX by an end user.
Through these supplied applications and wizards, end users can realize the
value of the underlying KF technology. They do not need to understand how
the underlying KF technology functions.
The NX Knowledge Fusion application provides a graphical user interface
that lets you apply engineering knowledge driven rules and design intent
to geometric models and assemblies.
Rules can also create geometric modeling features and expressions, utilize
User Define Features, and build assemblies. Knowledge Fusion supplies a rich
set of UG and NX class libraries. You can write rules that create instances of
particular classes or create your own classes to extend the NX data model.

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 Introduction

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Why use Knowledge Fusion?

With the integration of Knowledge Fusion, a single data model can be used to
manage both parametric and knowledge based part information. It can also
capture rules and requirements from the engineering community and convey
this information smoothly into design definitions through the instantiation of
class files within an NX part.
With this capability, NX is raised to the status of a design automation
or Predictive Engineering product. This is because Knowledge Fusion
is a knowledge based language, and can capture both geometric and
non-geometric attributes of a given part or assembly, and write the rules
which describe the process to create it. This gives you the ability to capture
intelligence and engineering know-how within the CAD/CAM/CAE part.

Knowledge Fusion, parametric modeling and WAVE

Knowledge Fusion takes the concept of associativity to its next logical

step. With Knowledge Fusion, you can access outside applications such as
databases and spreadsheets. You can also use this to drive a WAVE control
structure which then drives the parametric product model.

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 Introduction

1
What is a DFA file?

A DFA file is ASCII code; the letters DFA mean DefClass/Defun File ASCII.
The .dfa extension should only be used for class and function definitions
within the Knowledge Fusion application.
This language is used to develop the rules used by the Knowledge Fusion
application. You will be using the end product of this source code throughout
this course.
See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help
and Best Practices®KBE and Generative Modeling®DFA file overview

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The Knowledge Fusion application
To access the Knowledge Fusion application, choose Start→All
Applications→Knowledge Fusion from the menu bar in NX.
There are two ways to display the Knowledge Fusion toolbar:
• Right-click in the toolbar area of the NX window and choose Knowledge
Fusion.

• Choose Tools→Customize and select the Knowledge Fusion check box.

You can add or remove icons from the toolbar by clicking the small
arrow near the right side of the toolbar.

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 Introduction

1
KF toolbar

Applications opens the KF Applications dialog box to access

applications created with Open User Interface Styler.

Adopt Existing Object opens the KF Applications dialog box and lets
you to access any user-created interface dialog boxes that have already
been made and stored.

Reference by Select obtains the identifier for an NX object by

selecting it from the graphics window.

Class Editor opens a text editor that has enhanced features for
working with classes.

DFA Manager controls the DFA search path precedence and checks
the syntax of one or more classes.

Delayed Update on Edit lets you create and edit rules but not update
your part until you issue a command to do so.

Update Now lets you update your part with KF rules when you have
the Delayed Update on Edit option enabled.

Part Inspector lets you expand and collapse tree nodes to look at
rules and their values and formulas in the specified parts.

KF Debug lets you perform debugging operations.

Remove All Rules removes all KF rules from the current part
without affecting the part geometry.

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 Introduction

1
KF Applications dialog box

To open the KF Applications dialog box, click Applications on the Knowledge

Fusion toolbar or choose Tools→Knowledge Fusion→Applications.
This is the interface to dialog boxes created using the User Interface Styler
application. From this dialog box you can access any user-created interface
dialog boxes that have already been made and stored.
The dialog box features two options, Create and Update, with which to choose
to either create a new instance of a class (child rule), or edit an existing child
rule.
A list contains the available classes having matching Open User Interface
Styler dialog files. In Create mode the list contains all possible classes for
which Knowledge Fusion can find a dialog file. In Update mode the list
contains only those entries that could match at some level of the reference
chain. OK brings up the custom dialog box created in Open User Interface
Styler.
See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help
and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion fundamentals®Dialogs and
menus help®Applications.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 1-15

 Introduction

1
DFA Manager

The DFA Manager dialog box allows you to manage the .dfa files you use.
To display the DFA Manager dialog box, click DFA Manager on the Knowledge
Fusion toolbar or choose Tools→Knowledge Fusion→DFA Manager.
The DFA Manager lets you:
• View all of the DFA files in the current search path for user classes.

• Add or remove DFA search directories.

• Order search directory precedence.

• Check DFA file syntax.

See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help

and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion fundamentals®Dialogs and
menus help®DFA Manager.

Define DFA search directories

You must first define search directories to load dfa files into an NX session.
You can define multiple search directories and specify their order.
To view the .dfa files within a directory, select the directory location from the
list, the .dfa parts will display in the Choose Files For Syntax Check box.
1. Start the Knowledge Fusion application.

2. On the Knowledge Fusion toolbar, click DFA Manager .

3. In the DFA Manager dialog box, click Browse, navigate to the appropriate
directory, and click OK.

4. Click OK.

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1
Check DFA syntax

You can use the DFA Syntax Check to verify the contents of dfa files located
in a search directory.
1. Start the Knowledge Fusion application.

2. On the Knowledge Fusion toolbar, click DFA Manager .

3. From the Search Directories list, select a directory containing the dfa
file to check.

4. From the Choose Files for Syntax Check list, select one or more DFA files.

5. Click Add to Collection .

6. If you wish to load the DFA files into your NX session after a successful
check, select the Load on Successful Check check box.

7. Click OK.

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 Introduction

1
Activity — The remote controlled airplane
In this activity, you will instantiate a design of a remote controlled airplane,
examine the performance characteristics of the default design, and then
change the design to achieve better performance. This activity is an example
to show the capabilities of Knowledge Fusion.
Step 1: Start NX.

Step 2: Create a new part.

Click New .

From the Units list, select Inches.

From the Templates list, select Blank.

In the Name box, type ***_plane, where *** represents your

initials.

Click OK.

Step 3: Start the Knowledge Fusion application and display the Knowledge
Fusion Navigator.
Choose Start®All Applications®Knowledge Fusion.

In the Resource bar, click the Knowledge Fusion Navigator tab

and pin the Navigator open.

Step 4: Specify the Knowledge Fusion search directories.

In the toolbar area of the NX window, right-click and choose
Knowledge Fusion to display the Knowledge Fusion toolbar.

On the Knowledge Fusion toolbar, click DFA Manager .

In the DFA Manager dialog box, click Browse and navigate to

the dfa_files/airplane directory.

Click OK twice.
You can also specify Knowledge Fusion search directories by
choosing Preferences®Knowledge Fusion.

Step 5: Create the initial aircraft design.

On the RC_DESIGN toolbar, click RC Aircraft Design .

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 Introduction

1
If you do not see the toolbar, right-click in the toolbar area
and choose RC_DESIGN.

The information in the Aircraft Design dialog box contains

question marks (???) instead of analysis results. This is
because you have not yet created an instance of the design.

Click Apply. The entire design will take several seconds to

generate. Do not cancel the dialog box.

After the plane appears, rotate the view as desired.

The dialog box now contains the analysis results.

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 Introduction

1
Step 6: Examine the rules that were created and modify the design.
In the Knowledge Fusion Navigator, expand the rules for the
rc_plane (aircraft_design) by clicking the "+" sign.

Expand a few of the child rules below rc_plane such as body

and lateral_area.
The Knowledge Fusion Navigator is useful for debugging
designs and checking all the rules However, the Open User
Interface Styler interface provides a better interactive
environment for end users because it can be customized to
display only the required parameters.

Step 7: Edit the Engine Design parameters.

If the Aircraft Design dialog box is not displayed, click RC

Aircraft Design on the RC_DESIGN toolbar.

In the Aircraft Design dialog box, click the Systems tab.

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 Introduction

Click Engine.

Notice the values such as RPM and Top Speed at the bottom
of the dialog box. These labels monitor the KF calculated

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 Introduction

1
values for the current configuration and report any changes
to the design.

In the Engine Design dialog box, move the slider to change

the Prop Diameter to 8.

The Top Speed increases to 73, but RPM is now at the

maximum.

Move the slider to change the Prop Diameter to 11.

Select the Has Tuned Pipe? check box.

The Top Speed is now 72 but RPM is only 14538.

Click OK.

Step 8: Edit the Aerodynamics parameters.

In the Aircraft Design dialog box, click Aerodynamics.
Notice the Level Flight AOA (Angle of Attack) value. Due
to the high lift of the airfoil type, the plane would be
flying nose up. To produce a level flight, the value should
be close to zero on the positive side.

From the Airfoil list, select NACA 2412.

Click OK.

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1
Step 9: Edit the Wing parameters and update the design.
In the Aircraft Design dialog box, click Wing.

In the Wash Out box, type 2.

In the Dihedral box, type 2.

In the Ribs box, type 12.

Click OK.

In the Aircraft Design dialog box, click Apply to update the

model.

In the graphics window, right-click and choose Refresh.

You can change the Rendering Style to Static Wireframe

to verify the number of ribs.

Step 10: Evaluate the new design criteria.

In the Aircraft Design dialog box, click the Design tab.

The H. Tail Efficiency is low. The downwash from the

wing is interfering with the tail. You need to change the
design to correct this.

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 Introduction

1
Step 11: Edit the Tail Efficiency
Click the Systems tab.

Click Tail.

Select the Use "T" Tail Configuration check box.

Move the slider to change the Taper Ratio to .70.

From the Aspect Ratio list, select Med High.

Move the slider to change the Sweep Angle to 2.

Click OK.

Click Apply to update the model.

In the graphics window, right-click and choose Refresh.

The tail changes to a "T" style.

In the Aircraft Design dialog box, click the Design tab.

The H. Tail Efficiency is now 90 percent.

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1
Step 12: Edit the Landing Gear design configuration.
Click the Systems tab.

Click Landing Gear.

Clear the Tricycle Gear check box.

Click OK.

In the Aircraft Design dialog box, click OK.

In the graphics window, right-click and choose Refresh.

Step 13: Save and close the part.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 1-25

 Introduction

1
Summary
In this lesson you:
• Learned definitions and terms related to KBE and Knowledge Fusion.

• Instantiated an existing Knowledge Fusion design using an Open User

Interface Styler dialog box.

• Viewed the Knowledge Fusion Navigator.

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Lesson

2 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

2

Purpose

Explore the Knowledge Fusion Navigator and Child Rules used in the
Knowledge Fusion application.

Objective

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

• Examine the Knowledge Fusion Navigator

• Instantiate an existing class

• Examine the Add Attributes dialog box

• Examine the Add Child Rule dialog box

• Examine the Edit Child Rule dialog box

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-1

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

KF Navigator overview
The Knowledge Fusion Navigator displays the object tree which depicts the
KF language view for a single instance of a parametric part or assembly.
Each object node in the tree represents either an instance of a class or an
2 attribute of a single instance of a class.
For the end user of a Knowledge Fusion application, the Knowledge Fusion
Navigator allows:
• Graphical instantiation of a Knowledge Fusion design.

• Simple modification of rule values.

• Graphical representation of instantiated designs.

For the power user or developer of a Knowledge Fusion application, the

Knowledge Fusion Navigator allows for the following additional capabilities:
• An interactive location for rules creation.

• Referencing ability.

• The ability to add rules to adopted objects.

• The ability to reload current designs to account for changes.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Access the KF Navigator

Once you start the KF application by choosing Start→All

Applications→Knowledge Fusion the KF Navigator is accessible from the
NX Resource bar.
2
Like the other navigators in NX, you can also pin the KF Navigator so that
it remains open.
See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help
and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion fundamentals®Dialogs and
menus help®Knowledge Fusion Navigator (KFNT).

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-3

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

KF Navigator tree

The Knowledge Fusion Navigator displays an object tree which depicts the
KF language view for a single instance of a parametric part or "assembly".
2 Each object node in the tree represents either an instance of a class or an
attribute of a single instance of a class.
The KF Navigator acts as the visual and functional doorway for maintaining
parametric relationships within the KF application.
There are several types of nodes:
• Root Node (1) is the base of the tree and has no parent. All Instances
within the part will branch off of the Root.

• Instance Node (2) identifies all Instances within the part.

• Child Node (3) defines the parameters or structure of an instance.

• Attribute Node appears at each level of the KF Navigator. Each root,

instance, and child node has an Attribute node that further defining the
parameters of the object.

See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion help

and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion Fundamentals®Dialogs and
menus help®Knowledge Fusion Navigator (KFNT)®Root Attributes.

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In addition, the object tree offers the following usability aids:

• If you click a rule in the tree that defines a specific object, the object is
highlighted in the graphics window.

• Highlight selection on rollover is available. As you move the cursor over a 2

rule that defines a specific object, the object is temporarily highlighted in
the graphics window.

• Rules that display in blue are dynamic rules. Dynamic rules are those
that you create explicitly in the current part and can be edited.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-5

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Shortcut menus
You can use shortcut menus in the Knowledge Fusion Navigator to manage
your data efficiently.
2 There are different shortcut menu options available when you right-click
an instance or child node, right-click an attribute node, or right-click in the
background of the Knowledge Fusion Navigator.

root
Attributes
Instance
Attributes
Child Node

See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion

Help and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion fundamentals®Dialogs
and menus help®Knowledge Fusion Navigator (KFNT)®Right-click
shortcut menus.

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Common shortcut menu options

The following options are commonly available in shortcut menus in the KF
Navigator:
• Edit lets you edit the parameters of an instance. 2
• Add Attribute lets you add a user defined attribute to an instance.

• Add Child Rule lets you add a child rule at the root level.

• Add Child List Rule lets you add a child list rule at the root level.

• List Rules lists the dynamic rules of a part in a window. This window
is your mechanism for saving these dynamic rules as a .dfa file by
completing a File®Save operation.

• Display Class Rules displays the current rules of a class in an Information

window.

• Reload Selected Classes reloads single or multiple selected classes. Use

Ctrl+click to select multiple classes.

• Reload All updates your file if you edit one or more DFA files while in
an NX session.

• Regenerate All recompiles all of the DFA files in your search path.

• Rebuild Tree updates the Object Tree display. This option can be useful
when you are tracking down an error or have performed edits.

• Class Documentation will display all of the documentation for the

instance node under the cursor when you right-click. The customer
defines the content of this class documentation.

• Evaluate Temporary Rule lets you evaluate a rule before you actually
create the rule in the part.

• Delete Rule and Object remove the currently selected child rule from your
part. Any associated geometry is also deleted.

• Remove Rule Only removes an already established rule, or rules, from

your part. In this case, any associated geometry is not deleted.

• Browse Dependencies displays the dependency relationships for the

selected object.

• Inspect Instance lets you use the Instance Inspector dialog box to view
the rules of an object in an object tree.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

• Rename lets you modify the names of instances and attributes that are
not referenced as values.

• Copy Rule copies a child rule or attribute rule.

2

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Attribute shortcut menu options

These shortcut menu options are unique to objects under the Attribute Node:
• Edit appears in the menu if the attribute is available for editing.
Otherwise, the View option appears. The View option displays the View 2
Attribute dialog box.

• Show Value immediately evaluates a rule. The value is shown in a

column. This option does not propagate the value to the places where
it is referenced.

• Reference causes the correct reference chain for the selected rule to be
inserted at the current text cursor position within the text for the rule
currently being edited.

• Delete deletes selected items. To delete multiple items, select the items,
right-click one of the selected items, and choose Delete.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-9

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Background shortcut menu options

The background shortcut menu options are available when you right-click in
the background area of the KF Navigator or right-click a column title.
2 • Export to Browser will export an HTML file of the Knowledge Fusion
Navigator.

• Export to Spreadsheet will export the current display of the Knowledge

Fusion Navigator tree hierarchy to a spreadsheet.

• Inspect Rules in Other Parts lets you view rules and their values and
formulas for parts that you specify from a list of parts loaded in the
current session.

• Find will start the Find Rules dialog box which lets you locate child rules
and attributes that contain a specified string.

• Reference by Select this option lets you interactively obtain the identifier
for an NX object and paste a reference to it in a KF dialog box by selecting
it from the graphics window. This option is available when the Add
Attribute or Add Child Rule dialog boxes are displayed. If the selected
object has a corresponding instance node in the KF Navigator, an instance
reference is pasted, otherwise a host pointer reference is pasted.

• Columns will let you edit the KF Navigator display.

• Properties will display the Knowledge Fusion Navigator Properties dialog

box.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

KF Navigator properties

The KF Navigator allows you to determine the display and behavior of the
objects within the navigator by using the Properties dialog box. Use the
Background right-click option to access the Properties dialog box. 2
See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help
and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion fundamentals®Dialogs and
menus help®Knowledge Fusion Navigator (KFNT)®Properties.

General tab
Under the General tab, the Show Attributes menu gives you the option of
showing None, or no attributes, All attributes or enabling existingFilters.
Listed below are the Filtering options available:
• Dynamic Attributes shows only attributes created interactively.

• Local Attributesshows only attributes that belong to the class of the

object, not attributes that have been inherited.

• Parameters shows only attributes with the parameter behavior.

• Method Rules shows only attributes with methods.

• Group Rules shows only attributes with the group behavior.

The other options under General tab are:

• Ignore in Tree? Attribute when turned on (default is OFF) allows you to
make visible objects in the tree that you have previously made invisible.

• Preselection Highlight when this is turned on, objects will highlight in the
graphics window when you pass your cursor over an instance attribute in
the Knowledge Fusion Navigator.

• Keystroke Filtering will let you filter class and function names as you
type characters.

• Enable NX Classes this option should remain to the default ON at all

times in order to create the classes necessary to use Knowledge Fusion.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Columns Tab
The Columns tab will let you adjust the information displayed in the KF
navigator. Although the Name column is always on you can change the
display for the Value and Object Name columns.
2
Sorting Tab
Under the Sorting tab, you can set preferences for how the display of
Attributes and Child Rules are sorted in the Knowledge Fusion Navigator.
There are three options available:
• Order from Class — Lists attributes in the order defined in the DFA file.

• By Name — Sorts alphabetically by name.

• By Datatype — Sorts alphabetically by the type of data. This option is

only available with the Sort Attributes type.

What is a Class?
A class is a named collection of rules which provides the master definition
for an entity. The class might be geometrical such as a line or a block. The
class can be non-geometric such as properties of mass. Knowledge Fusion
offers many "system" classes whose names begin with the prefix "ug_". For
example, ug_block and ug_mass_properties. A class has attributes that
receive values (parameters). Some of the attributes for ug_block are length,
width, height, and origin.
See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help
and Best Practices®Programming elements®KF classes and methods.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Activity — Knowledge Fusion Navigator tour

In this activity, you will familiarize yourself with the Knowledge Fusion
Navigator by examining the unit cost of various design options for a coupling.
2

Step 1: Create a new part.

Click New .

From the Units list, select Inches.

Select the Blank template.

In the Name box, type ***_coupling where *** are your initials.

Click OK.

Step 2: Start the Knowledge Fusion application and access the KF toolbar.
Choose Start®All Applications®Knowledge Fusion.

Right-click in the toolbar area of the NX window and select

Knowledge Fusion.

Step 3: Specify the Knowledge Fusion search directories.

Click DFA Manager .

Click Browse and navigate to the dfa_files/drive_coupling

directory.

Click OK twice.

Step 4: Add the drive coupling child rule in the KF Navigator.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-13

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Display the KF Navigator .

Right-click the root node and choose Add Child Rule.

2 In the Name box, type dc.

From the Class list, select drive_coupling.

Click OK.

Step 5: Show the unit cost attribute of flange_1.

In the KF Navigator, expand the dc (drive_coupling) instance
node until you expose the flanges child node.
root
Attributes
dc (drive_coupling)
Attributes

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

coupling (flanged_face_coupling)
Attributes
bolts (radial_bolt_group)
flanges (coupling_flange)
2
Expand the flanges node.

flanges (coupling_flange)
flanges_1 (coupling_flange)
flanges_2 (coupling_flange)

Expand flanges_1 and the Attributes node below it.

Right-click the unit_cost (Number) attribute and choose Show

Value.
The unit_cost attribute is near the end of the list and the
current value is 6.8.

Step 6: Edit the drive_coupling child rule.

In the KF Navigator, right-click dc (drive_coupling) and
choose Edit.

From the Input Parameters list, select output_shaft_radius

(Number)

In the Rule for Parameter box, remove 0.75 and type 1.0.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Click OK.

By changing the child rule for the dc_coupling you have

changed the input parameters for the overall design of the
part.

Step 7: Show the unit cost of split_half_1.

Expand the split_half node.

Expand split_half_1 and the Attributes node below it.

Right-click the unit_cost (Number) attribute and choose Show

Value.
The unit_cost value changes from 6.8 to 4.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Step 8: Edit the drive_coupling child rule.

Right-click dc and choose Edit.

From the Input Parameters list, select Horsepower (Number). 2

In the Rule for Parameter list, remove 4.0 and type 0.5.

Click OK.

Step 9: Use the Instance Inspector dialog box to show the unit_cost.

Expand the KF Navigator to the flanges_1 level.

Right-click flanges_1 and choose Inspect Instance.

The Inspect Instance option lets you show the values of

attributes of an instance in a separate dialog box while
expanding and editing parameters in other areas of the
KF Navigator.

In the Instance Inspector dialog box, expand the Attributes

node.

Right-click unit_cost and choose Show Value.

The unit_cost value has changed from 4.0 back to 6.8.

Click Close.

Step 10: Save and close the part.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Add Attributes
The Add Attribute dialog box lets you add a Knowledge Fusion attribute to
any child rule in the object tree of the KF Navigator. An attribute in KF is
not the same as an attribute in NX.
2
The KF attribute must have a name (user defined) and has a value of a
designated type. In a programming environment a KF attribute is similar
to a variable.

See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help

and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion fundamentals®Dialogs and
menus help®Knowledge Fusion Navigator (KFNT)®Attributes.

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Add Attributes dialog box

You must provide the following information to create a new attribute.

• Name
2
• Type.

• Formula

Extended Text Entry — Opens a large Extended Text Entry dialog box
where you have more room to compose a rule. This dialog box also assists you
with function, conditional, and loop builders.
See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help
and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion fundamentals®Dialogs and
menus help®Knowledge Fusion Navigator (KFNT)®Extended Text
Entry

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-19

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

The lower portion of the dialog box will let you determine if extra behavioral
actions should take place with the user defined attribute values or if an
additional identifier needs to be added to the attribute.

Input Parameter specifies that the attribute is an input to the class and
might receive a value when the class is instantiated.

Modifiable specifies that the attribute’s value may be set via an external
program or interface.

Uncached specifies that the attribute’s value is not saved in memory. The
attribute recalculates its value every time it is referenced by another
attribute.

Method specifies the attribute is a method.

Evaluate It when turned on, evaluates the attribute after you create it.

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Attribute data types

An attribute’s value has a range which is specified by its type. If you type
the wrong value in the Formula text box you will receive a data type error
message. 2
Attributes can have any one of the following types with the corresponding
formula:
Boolean is either TRUE or FALSE.

Frame defines a local KF coordinate system.

Integer can be a positive whole number, or a negative whole number, or

zero.

List is an ordered set of other types.

Name is a symbolic constant. An unquoted sequence of alphanumeric

characters, the underscore (_), and the question mark (?). It can be a
symbolic constant used to refer to the name of an attribute.

Number is a number that can have a decimal value. Number is a double

precision, floating point number.

Point is a point object.

String is a double-quoted sequence of characters.

Vector is a vector object.

Instance is an instance of a class.

User is a 32-bit value. A value that is not interpreted by the language

system.

Any specifies that an attribute can hold any KF data type.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Edit Attributes

The Edit right-click shortcut menu option lets you edit any Attribute that is
open for editing.
2 If you do not have the correct permissions to edit the attribute the View
right-click menu option is available in the list. This option will allow you to
view the current rules controlling the selected attribute.
The structure below shows two locations of the Attribute node within the
KF Navigator.

root
Attributes
children (List)
onCreate (Any)
dc (drive_coupling)
Attributes
coupling (flanged_face_coupling)
Attributes
children (List)
onDelete? (Boolean)

See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help

and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion fundamentals®Dialogs and
menus help®Knowledge Fusion Navigator (KFNT)®Edit Attribute

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Activity — Add Attributes in the KF Navigator

In this activity, you will create four attributes: height, width, thickness, and
position in the KF Navigator. These attributes will be used in the next activity.

Step 1: Create a new part. 2

Click New .

From the Units list, select Inches.

Select the Blank template.

In the Name box, type ***_door where *** are your initials.

Click OK.

Step 2: Start the Knowledge Fusion application and display the Knowledge
Fusion toolbar.

Choose Start®All Applications®Knowledge Fusion.

Display the Knowledge Fusion toolbar.

Display the KF Navigator .

Step 3: Add the height attribute.

Right-click root and choose Add Attribute.

In the Name box, type height.

From the Type list, select Number.

If necessary select Length from the secondary list.

In the Formula box, type 84.0.

Select the following check boxes. (Clear all other check boxes.)

Input Parameter
Modifiable
Evaluate It

Click Apply.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Step 4: Add the width attribute.

In the Name box, type width.

In the Formula box, type 0.4*

2
In the KF Navigator, right-click the Height attribute and
choose Reference.

The Formula box now contains.

.04*Height:

The attribute name followed by a colon (Height:) indicates

that the value of the attribute is referenced.

Click Apply.

Step 5: Add the thickness attribute.

In the Name box, type thickness.

In the Formula box, type 2.5.

Click Apply.

Step 6: Add the position attribute.

In the Name box, type position.

From the Type list, select Point.

In the Formula box, type point(0,0,0).

Click OK.

The new attributes are displayed as a blue color in the KF

Navigator to indicate that they are user-defined.

Step 7: Save the part.

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Add Child Rule

This KF Navigator option lets you create an instance of a class. The class can
be a system class such as ug_block or a user class that someone previously
defined in a DFA file.
2
See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help
and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion fundamentals®Dialogs and
menus help®Knowledge Fusion Navigator (KFNT)®Add Child Rule

Add Child Rule dialog box

There are two Methods available to create a Child Rule.
• Choose Class from List lets you select an existing class rule from the
Class list.

• Specify Rule for Class lets you specify a class by typing in a formula
and parameter.

You must type a name for the child rule class In the Name box.

You select a class from the list in Class section of the dialog box. Since there
may be many system and user classes available, you can define a filter by
class name or by the class folder to shorten the class list.
• You can click Filter by Folder to define a filter based on selected folders.
Select the check box to enable the filter. If you clear the check box, all
classes are listed.

• You can type portion of a class name in the Name Filter box.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

When you click Filter by Folder, a dialog is displayed to specify which folders
of classes to include in the filter.
• Select all System will select all the system folders. System classes have a
prefix of nx_ or ug_.
2
• Select All User will select all user folders which contain user classes.

See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion

Help and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion fundamentals®Setup
— Defaults and Variables.

When you select a Class for the Child Rule, the Input Parameters section of
the dialog box will list all the input parameters for the class.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Add Child List Rule

This KF Navigator option lets you use a Child List Rule to create a list of
instances in one rule.
2

The Add Child List Rule dialog box is similar to the Add Child Rule dialog
box except that it includes the quantity (Integer) parameter and can use
the child:index: attribute.
The key to the child list is the integer quantity parameter, which specifies
how many child instance objects to create and the index attribute which
indexes each child instance in the list. The index attribute increments by
one for each instance created.
To use the index attribute, you reference the attribute as child:index:. Child:
refers to the current child in the list and index: refers to the value of the index.
For example, you could create a child list rule for ug_arc and set quantity to 3
and radius to child:index: which creates three arcs with radii of 1, 2, and 3.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-27

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Copy Rule

Use this KF Navigator option to copy a Child Rule and all of its attributes or
copy a single attribute rule. Right-click the child rule or attribute rule you
2 want to copy and choose Copy Rule.

Child rules can only be placed under the root, so the parent name for a
child rule is root: and can not be edited.

Copy Rule dialog box options:

• Parent Name displays the name of the parent. If the rule belongs to the
root node, then root: displays.

• New Object Name this box lets you type the name of the rule for your copy.

Copy Rule pastes the copied rule under the parent node when you choose
OK or Apply.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Edit Child and Edit Child List Rule

Use this KF Navigator option to edit an existing Child Rule or Child List Rule.
From the Knowledge Fusion Navigator, right-click a child rule or child list
rule and choose Edit. You can only edit child rules and child list rules at the 2
root level and cannot rename a child rule.
You can edit Knowledge Fusion child rules and application objects by
double-clicking the object in the graphics area. However, you must first
change the lockRule? to TRUE before you can gain access to the Edit dialog
box.
See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help
and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion fundamentals®Dialogs and
menus help®Double-Click Overview.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-29

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Activity — Add and edit Child Rules

In this activity, you will add child rules for a door, a window, and a knob using
an existing class. This activity is a continuation of Add Attributes in the KF
2 Navigator activity and uses the attributes created in that activity.
Step 1: Open the door part and locate the correct Attributes.
Open ***_door if it not already open.

Display the Knowledge Fusion Navigator.

Expand the root Attributes node.

Step 2: Create the door child rule.

Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type door.

Click Filter by Folder.

Select the kf check box.

Click OK.

Step 3: Define the door length parameter.

From the Class list, select ug_block.

From the Input Parameters list, select Length (Number).

In the Rule for Parameter box, remove the 1. Only the

semicolon should remain.

In the KF Navigator, right-click the Thickness attribute and

choose Reference.
Thickness:; appears in the Rule for Parameter box. The
attribute name followed by a colon indicates that the
value of the attribute is referenced.

Click Apply Typing .

The Input Parameters list updates with the new value and the
Rule for Parameter list clears.

You can select another parameter from the Input Parameters

list instead of clicking Apply Typing.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Step 4: Define the door width parameter.

From the Input Parameters list, select Width (Number).

Remove the current value of 1.

2
In the KF Navigator, right-click the Width attribute and choose
Reference.

Click Apply Typing .

Step 5: Define the door height parameter and position the door.
From the Input Parameters list, select Height (Number).

Remove the current value of 1.

In the KF Navigator, right-click the Height attribute and

choose Reference.

From the Input Parameters list, select Origin (Point).

Remove the current value of Point(0,0,0).

In the KF Navigator, right-click the Position attribute and

choose Reference.

Click OK.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-31

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Step 6: Create the window child rule.

Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type window.

2
From the Class list , select ug_block.

Step 7: Define the window parameters.

From the Class list, select ug_block.

From the Input Parameters list, select Length (Number).

Remove the current value of 1.

In the KF Navigator, right-click the Thickness attribute and

choose Reference.

From the Input Parameters list, select Width (Number).

Remove the current value of 1.

In the KF Navigator, right-click the Width attribute and choose

Reference.

Type /4; after Width:

Your Rule for Parameter Rule box should now appear
as shown below:
Width:/4;

From the Input Parameters list, select Height (Number).

Remove the current value of 1.

In the KF Navigator, right-click the Height attribute and

choose Reference.

Type /4; after Height:

Your Rule for Parameter Rule box should now appear
as shown below:
Height:/4;

From the Input Parameters list, select Origin (Point).

Remove the current value of Point(0,0,0);.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Type the following formula:

Position:+vector(0, 3*Width:/8, 5*Height:/8);
This formula will position the window relative to the
original position of the door using a vector method. You
could use the Reference right-click shortcut to help 2
create the formula.

Click Apply Typing .

Step 8: Define the boolean operation.

From the Input Parameters list, select Target (List).

Type door: inside the brackets.

{door:}

From the Input Parameters list, select Operation (Name).

Remove the current value of Unite;.

Type subtract;

Click Apply Typing .

Click OK.
If you receive an Error Message, verify the formula for
Origin child rule.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-33

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Step 9: Create the knob child rule.

Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type knob.

2
From the Class List , select ug_cylinder.

Step 10: Define the knob parameters.

From the Input Parameters list, select Diameter (Number).

Remove the current value of 1;.

Type 2;.

From the Input Parameters list, select Height (Number).

Remove the current value of 1;.

Type 3;.

From the Input Parameters list, select Direction (Vector).

Type Vector(1,0,0);.

From the Input Parameters list, select Origin (Point).

Remove the current value of Point(0,0,0);.

Type the following formula:

Position:+vector(Thickness:, Width:–4, Height:/2);

Click OK.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Save the part.

Your door design should now include the knob rule and your KF
Navigator should be similar to the structure below.

root
Attributes
door (ug_block)
knob (ug_cylinder)
window (ug_block)

Step 11: Edit the design.

In the KF Navigator, expand the root Attributes node.

Right-click Width and choose Edit.

Change the Dynamic Rule Formula to 0.6*Height:;.

Click OK.

All parameters associative to the Height attribute should

update.

Step 12: Save and close the part.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-35

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Classes
Knowledge Fusion classes are the basic building blocks of Knowledge Fusion
programs. Classes are the blue prints of geometric objects such as blocks,
splines, and sketches. Classes provide operations that you can perform on
2 geometrical objects such as booleans, blends, and adding components to
assemblies. Classes can also be non-geometric such as mass properties. There
are also interface classes that allow Knowledge Fusion to carry out operations
such as connecting to external databases or spreadsheets.
A Knowledge Fusion class is a collection of rules that achieves a specific task.
The class can be instantiated using the Add Child Rule dialog box. To view
the contents of the class, you can select the class from the list in the dialog
box and then click Display Class Rules.
See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help
and Best Practices®Programming elements®KF classes and methods

System classes
Basic classes provided by Knowledge Fusion are called system classes. You
can access these classes through the Add Child Rule dialog box. System class
names begin with “ug_” or “nx_”. It should be noted that the classes starting
with “ug_” are the traditional Knowledge Fusion System classes that were
manually written. Classes starting with “nx_” are automatically generated
through a common API.

User classes
While developing Knowledge Fusion applications, you can write your own
Knowledge Fusion classes that are a collection of System classes and/or other
user-defined classes. These classes are called User classes and are written in
the form of dfa files.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Activity — Instantiate a User class

In this activity, you will create an instance of an existing user class mug
which is defined in the mug.dfa file.
Step 1: Create a new part. 2
Click New .

From the Units list, select Inches.

Select the Blank template.

In the Name box, type ***_mug where *** are your initials.

Click OK.

Step 2: Specify the Knowledge Fusion search directories.

Click DFA Manager .

Click Browse and navigate to the dfa_files directory.

Click OK twice.

Step 3: Create an instance of the mug class.

Display the Knowledge Fusion Navigator .

Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

From the Method list, select Choose Class from List.

In the Name box, type my_mug.

Clear the Filter by Folder check box.

In the Name Filter box, type m*.

Only those classes that begin with the letter m are displayed
in the class list. If necessary, clear the Filter by Folder check
box to see the correct display.

From the Class list, select mug.

Click Apply.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-37

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Step 4: View the mug class rules.

Make sure the mug class is selected in the Add Child Rule
dialog box.

Click Display Class Rules .

In the Information window, note the boolean parameter named

Mug. It currently has a value of False.
(boolean parameter) Mug: False;

Close the Information window.

In the Add Child Rule dialog box, click Cancel.

Step 5: Edit the Mug boolean parameter to revise the design of the mug.
In the KF Navigator, right-click my_mug and choose Edit.

From the Input Parameters list, select mug (Boolean).

In the Rule for Parameter box, change the value from False;
to True;

Click OK.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

The boolean parameter controls whether additional handle

and base geometry is included in the design.

Edit other parameters in the list and view the results.

Step 6: Save and close the part.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-39

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Activity — Instantiate a System class

In this activity, you will create an instance of an existing system class that is
provided with the Knowledge Fusion product. You will create your own user
2 class using the Knowledge Fusion Navigator.
Step 1: Create a new part.

Click New .

From the Units list, select Inches.

Select the Blank template.

In the Name box, type ***_cylinder where *** are your initials.

Click OK.

Step 2: Instantiate a ug_cylinder system class.

Display the Knowledge Fusion Navigator .

Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

From the Method list, select Choose Class from List.

In the Name box, type my_cylinder.

Clear the Filter by Folder check box.

In the Name Filter box, type u*.

Only the classes that begin with the letter u are displayed in
the class list. If necessary, clear the Filter by Folder check
box to see the correct display.

From the Class list, select ug_cylinder.

Change Diameter (Number) from 1; to 3;.

Change Height (Number) from 1; to 15;.

Change Direction (Vector) from (0,0,1); to (0,1,0);.

Click OK.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Step 3: Modify my_cylinder input parameters to reflect new values.

Right-click my_cylinder and choose Edit.

Change Diameter (Number) from 3; to 13;.

Change Height (Number) from 15; to 12;.

Change Direction: Vector from (0,1,0); to (1,0,0);.

Click OK.

Step 4: Add a hole child rule using ug_simple_hole and input user defined
specifications.
Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type new_hole.

From the Class list, choose ug_simple_hole.

Change Hole_Diameter (Number) from 1.0; to 12.0;.

Change Hole_Depth (Number) from 1.0; to 8.0;.

Change Hole_Tip_Angle (Number) from 90.0; to 0.0;.

Change Location (Point) from Point(0,0,0); to Point(12,0,0);.

Step 5: Position the simple hole feature new_hole

From the Input Parameters list, select Placement_Face (List).

Leave your cursor inside the braces { | };.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-41

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

On the Knowledge Fusion toolbar, click Reference by Select

.
The Reference by Select option is also available when you
2 right-click in the background area of the KF Navigator.

In the graphics window, select the right planar face (1) of the
cylinder.

In the Class Selection dialog box, click OK.

The Rule for Parameter should be similar to the following:

{ug_refObject("Face:C-9-1","")};

Click OK.

Step 6: Delete the new_hole rule and object.

Right-click new_hole and choose Delete Rule and Object.

Step 7: Create a second cylinder and subtract it from my_cylinder.

Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type sub_cyl.

From the Class list, choose ug_cylinder.

Change Diameter (Number) to 10;.

Change Height (Number) to 12;.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Change Origin (Point) to my_cylinder:origin:+vector(3,0,0);

Change Direction (Vector) to my_cylinder:direction:;.

Change Operation (Name) to Subtract;. 2

Change Target (List) to {my_cylinder:};.

Click OK.

Step 8: Save the design as a new class definition.

Right-click root and choose List Rules.

In the Information window, locate

DefClass: New_Class_Name (ug_base_part); and change
New_Class_Name to ***_mydesign where *** represents your
initials.

In the Information window, choose File→Save As.

Browse to the my_dfa_files directory.

You may need to create this directory within the classroom

home directory.

In the File Name box, type ***_mydesign.dfa.

From the Save As Type list, select All Files (*.*).

Click OK.

In this step, you used the adoptive approach with reusability.

You built a new class using multiple child rules from the
current part. Saving it to a new .dfa file makes available
to other users.

Step 9: Save and close the part.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-43

 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Step 10: Create a new part to test the new class.

Click New .

2 From the Units list, select Inches.

Select the Blank template.

In the Name box, type ***_test where *** are your initials.

Click OK.

Step 11: Add the Knowledge Fusion search path for my_dfa_file directory
that contains your user class.
Click DFA Manager.

Click Browse and navigate to the my_dfa_files directory.

Click OK twice.

Step 12: Reload all classes.

In the KF Navigator, right-click root and choose Reload All.

The changes you make are not automatically recognized in

your current session. You need to choose Reload All to load
the changes into your session.

Step 13: Instantiate ***_mydesign.

Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type test_mydesign.

In the Name Filter box, type my

From the Class list, select ***_mydesign.

Click OK.

Step 14: Save and close the part.

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 Knowledge Fusion Navigator

Summary
In this lesson you:
• Added Attributes using the KF Navigator.
2
• Added Child Rules using the KF Navigator.

• Edited an existing class using the KF Navigator.

• Instantiated classes using the KF Navigator.

• Created your own user class using the KF Navigator.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 2-45

2
Lesson

3 Design Control

Purpose 3
Control objects and the topology of your designs in Knowledge Fusion.

Objective
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Control topology by using rules to define the class.

• Control and examine the feature mass properties.

• Control the impact of interactive edits.

• Use the ug_expression class to create expressions.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 3-1

 Design Control

Control design topology

You can use the Choose Class from List method in the Add Child Rule and
Edit Child Rule dialog boxes to instantiate a system or user class from a list.
You can edit the parameters of the child rule but you cannot change the child
rule name or the class name once it has been instantiated.
You can use the Specify Rule for Class method to control the topology of
the design by using a rule to determine what class will be instantiated and
the name of the class.
3

See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion

Help and Best Practices®Programming elements®KF classes and
methods®Child list rules.

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 Design Control

Specify Rule for Class

When you select the Specify Rule for Class method, you can specify the
functional use for the class in the Rule for Class Name area of the dialog box.

3
For example, the conditional statement rule below uses either the ug_block
and ug_cylinder class depending on the value of the window? attribute.
if (window?:=square) then ug_block
else if (window?:=round) then ug_cylinder
else nulldesign;

The Parameter-Value Pairs will be passed to dynamic children.

For example, when window is edited to equal square the corresponding

parameters in the code below will define the shape of the window.
Length;thickness:;
Width;width:/4;
Diameter;width:/4;
Direction;vector(1,0,0);
Height;if (window?:=square)
then height:/4
else thickness:;
Origin;if (window?:=square)
then position:+vector(0,3*width:/8,5*height:/8)
else position:+vector(0,width:/2,3*height:/4);
Operation;subtract;
Target;{door:};

Those inputs that are not parameters to a class are ignored. For
example, if the ug_cylinder class is used, the length and width
parameters will be ignored. Those inputs that are common but have
different meanings need to use if, then, else, such as the height and
origin parameters in the above example.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 3-3

 Design Control

Procedure: Use Specify Rule for Class method

1. From the Method list, select Specify Rule for Class.

2. In the Name box, type a name for the rule.

3. In the Rule for Class Name box, type a rule that returns a class name,
such as:
if (A:=1) then ug_point
3 else NullDesign;

4. In the Parameter-Value Pairs box, type any required parameters, for

example:
position, Point(1, 1, 1);

5. Click OK.

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 Design Control

Activity — Control the door to have a dynamic window

In this activity, you will use the Specify Rule for Class method to control the
shape of the window for the door part.
Step 1: Open the part.
Open kf_door_2 and save it as ***_door_2 where *** represents
your initials.

Step 2: Add the window? attribute. 3

Display the KF Navigator.

Right-click root and choose Add Attribute.

In the Name box, type window?.

From the Type list, select Name.

In the Formula box, type square;.

Select the following check boxes. (Clear all other check boxes.)
Input Parameter
Modifiable
Evaluate It

Click OK.

Save the part.

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 Design Control

Step 3: Edit the window child rule.

Right-click window and choose Edit.

From the Method list, select Specify Rule for Class.

In the Rule for Class Name box, replace ug_block; with:

if (window?:=square) then ug_block
else if (window?:=round) then ug_cylinder
else nulldesign;
3
Click Parameter-Value Pairs Extended Text Entry .

Replace the existing text with the following rule:

Length;thickness:;
Width;width:/4;
Diameter;width:/4;
Direction;vector(1,0,0);
Height;if (window?:=square)
then height:/4
else thickness:;
Origin;if (window?:=square)
then position:+vector(0,3*width:/8,5*height:/8)
else position:+vector(0,width:/2,3*height:/4);
Operation;subtract;
Target;{door:};

Click OK twice.

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 Design Control

Step 4: Test the design.

Expand the root Attributes.

Right-click the window? (Name) attribute and choose Edit.

In the Dynamic Rule Formula box, change square; to round;.

Click Apply.

Change round; to none;.

Click Apply.

Change none; to square;.

Click OK.

Step 5: Save the part.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 3-7

 Design Control

Color, Layer, Suppression status

You can control the color, layer and suppression status from the Input
Parameters in the Add Child Rule dialog box or the Edit Child Rule dialog box.
The available parameters that you can control vary depending on the type of
class you create or select from the existing class types.
Edit the Input Parameters within the Add/Edit Child Rule dialog box:
• Suppress? — True or False
3
• Color — Integer input

• Layer — Integer input (1 to 256)

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 Design Control

Mass properties
You can control and examine mass properties using the ug_body class for a
single feature, or using the ug_mass_properties class for multiple features.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 3-9

 Design Control

Activity — Examine the Mass properties of the door

In this activity, you will examine the mass properties of the door solid using
the ug_body class.
Step 1: Open your door part.
Open ***_door_2 if it is not already open.

Step 2: Add the door_body child rule.

3 Display the KF Navigator.

Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type door_body.

From the Class list, select ug_body.

From the Input Parameters list, select Feature (List).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type {door:};.

Click OK.

Step 3: Examine the mass of the door solid.

Right-click door_body and choose Inspect Instance.

In the Instance Inspector dialog box, expand the door_body

Attributes.

Right-click the mass (Number) attribute and choose Show

Value.
Adjust the width of the Instance Inspector dialog box
and notice the value of mass (Number).

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 Design Control

Step 4: Change the shape of the window and examine the mass of the
door solid.
In the KF Navigator, expand root Attributes.

Right-click the window? attribute and choose Edit.

Change Dynamic Rule Formula from square; to round;.

Click OK.
3
In the Instance Inspector dialog box, right-click mass
(Number) and choose Show Value.
Compare the new mass value with the previous value.

Step 5: Save and close the part.

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 Design Control

Interactive Edits
You can create the same NX objects interactively or in Knowledge Fusion.
By default, the object information is synchronized. If you edit an object
interactively, such as a modeling feature parameter, that change is shown in
Knowledge Fusion. Likewise, if you edit an object in Knowledge Fusion, the
new information can be accessed interactively in NX.
You can control the impact of interactive edits when an object has a
corresponding Knowledge Fusion rule using the following Input Parameters.
3
onDelete? (Boolean)
When this parameter is TRUE, the instance can be deleted outside of KF.
When used, the onDelete? value is usually defined by a rule that evaluates to
True or False rather than a static value of False.

lockRuleParameters (List)

This is a list of parameter names that need to be locked against changes in

the Modeling application. If lockRule? is TRUE, the lockRuleParameters list
is ignored.)
For example, to prevent a user from changing the Length or Width of an
instance of ug_block in the Modeling application by editing expressions or
feature parameters, set the value of lockRuleParameters in the block instance
to {Length,Width}.

lockRule? (Boolean)
When this parameter is TRUE, the instance cannot be changed outside of KF
(i.e. Modeling) — except for objects not triggered by Modeling update (for
example, displayable objects such as color and layer).
For example, if a ug_block instance is locked with lockRule?, the size of
the block cannot be changed in Modeling by editing expressions or feature
parameters but it can be changed by KF rules or with Edit Child Rule.

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 Design Control

lockObject? (Boolean)
When this parameter is TRUE, the instance cannot be changed by Knowledge
Fusion, even if a KF rule attempts to change a value. However, the instance
can be modified in the Modeling application.
The following two conditions apply for both lockObject? and lockRule?:
• If lockRule? and lockObject? are both TRUE, then the instance cannot be
changed in any way. Its parameter values are frozen everywhere.

• The rules that set the values for lockRule? and lockObject? can be
3
constant values of TRUE or FALSE, or they can be more complex logical
rules that return the value of TRUE or FALSE.

After an Input Parameter is modified, the attribute appears blue in the

Attributes list and red in the Edit Child Rule dialog box.

See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help

and Best Practices®Knowledge Fusion fundamentals®Dialogs and
menus help®Knowledge Fusion Navigator (KFNT)®Root Attributes.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 3-13

 Design Control

Activity — Interactive edits of the door

In this activity, you will use Knowledge Fusion rule to control the impact of
interactive edits in the Modeling application and Expression dialog box.
Step 1: Open your door part.
Open ***_door_2 if it is not already open.

Step 2: Start the Modeling application and change roles.

Choose Start®Modeling.

In the Resource bar, click the Roles tab .

Click Essentials with full menus .

Click OK.

Step 3: Edit the door width in the Modeling application.

In the KF Navigator, expand the door (ug_block) Attributes.

Notice the current value of the Width attribute.

Choose Edit®Feature®Edit Parameters.

Select the Block feature.

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 Design Control

Click OK.

Click Feature Dialog.

In the Y Length box, type 40.

Click OK until the block updates.

In the KF Navigator, right-click the Width attribute for the

door (ug_block) object and choose Delete.
3
The Width attribute changes to the original value and
appears black in the Attributes list. The block also updates
in the graphics window.

Step 4: Lock the door Attribute width and try to edit it in Modeling.
In the KF Navigator, right-click door and choose Edit.

From the Input Parameters list, select lockRuleParameters

(List).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type {Width};.

Click OK.

Choose Edit®Feature®Edit Parameters.

Select the Block feature.

Click OK.

Click Feature Dialog.

The Y Length parameter cannot be edited in the Edit
parameters dialog box and is shown as locked by Knowledge
Fusion.

Cancel the editing dialog boxes

Step 5: Lock the knob feature parameters.

In the KF Navigator, expand the knob Attributes.

Right-click knob and choose Edit.

From the Input Parameters list, select lockObject? (Boolean).

Change FALSE; to TRUE;.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 3-15

 Design Control

Click Apply.

Select Diameter (Number).

Change 2.0; to 1.0;.

Click Apply.

The knob does not update in the graphics window. In the

KF Navigator, the Diameter attribute appears blue but the
3 value is still 2. Once the lockObject? rule is set to TRUE, you
cannot change the instance in Knowledge Fusion.

Click Cancel.

Step 6: Lock the knob so that it can not be deleted outside of KF.
In the KF Navigator, right-click knob and choose Edit.

Select onDelete? (Boolean)

Change TRUE; to FALSE;.

Click OK.

Start the Modeling application.

Choose Edit→Delete.

In the graphics window, select the knob solid body.

You should receive the following Error Message:

Cannot modify object controlled by rule.

Click OK.

Step 7: Close but do not save the part.

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 Design Control

Expressions
In the NX Modeling application, expressions are the mechanism used to
establish parametric relationships. You edit features by modifying their
controlling expressions. You can create a single expression to control multiple
features. If you edit the expression, all of the dependent features update.
In Knowledge Fusion, you can create expressions using the ug_expression
class. The expressions available in Knowledge Fusion are the same
expressions available interactively in the Expression dialog box. This
is a powerful tool because it is easy to embed KF in your existing 3
expression-driven CAD design.
See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help
and Best Practices®Programming elements®Expressions.

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 Design Control

Activity — Use an expression to control a block

In this activity, you will use the ug_expression class to create expressions and
apply them to control the orientation and the length of a block.

Step 1: Create a new part.

Click New .

3 From the Units list, select Inches.

Select the Blank template.

In the Name box, type ***_expression where *** are your

initials.

Click OK.

Step 2: Instantiate a ug_expression class that will control the angular

orientation of a block

In the KF Navigator, right-click root and choose Add Child

Rule.

In the Name box, type angle.

From the Class list, select ug_expression.

From the Input Parameters list, select value (Number).

Change the Rule for Parameter to 10;.

Click Apply.

Step 3: Instantiate a second ug_expression class that will control the

length of a block.

In the Name box, type length.

From the Input Parameters list, select value (Number).

Change the Rule for Parameter to 0.5;.

Click Apply.

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 Design Control

Step 4: Instantiate a ug_csystem class to control the placement (origin)

and orientation of the block.
In the Name box, type block_csys.

From the Class list, select ug_csystem.

From the Input Parameter list, select Origin (Point).

Change the Rule for Parameter to Point(1,1,1);.

3
From the Input Parameter list, select x_axis (Vector).

Change the Rule for Parameter to

Vector(cos(angle:value:),sin(angle:value:),0);.

From the Input Parameter list, select y_axis (Vector).

Change the Rule for Parameter to

Perpendicular(block_csys:x_axis:);.

Click OK.

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 Design Control

Step 5: Instantiate a ug_block child rule.

In the KF Navigator, right-click root and choose Add Child
Rule.

In the Name box, type the_block.

From the Class list select ug_block.

Modify the following Input Parameters:

3
Length (Number) length:value:;
referenceFrame (Frame) block_csys:csystem:;

Click OK.

Step 6: Save the part.

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 Design Control

Step 7: Test the design in the Modeling application.

Choose Start®Modeling.

Choose Tools®Expression.

In the Expressions dialog box, select angle.

In the Formula box, type 30.

Click Apply. 3
In the Expressions dialog box, select length.

In the Formula box, type 2.0.

Click OK.

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 Design Control

Step 8: Test the design in Knowledge Fusion.

In the KF Navigator, right-click angle (ug_expression) child
rule and choose Edit.

Change the value (Number) parameter to 10.

Click OK.

In the KF Navigator, right-click Length (ug_expression) child

3 rule and choose Edit.

Change the value (Number) parameter to 0.5.

Click OK.

Step 9: Close the part.

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 Design Control

Summary
In this lesson you:
• Learned how to control topology by using rules to define the class.

• Learned how to control and examine the feature mass properties.

• Learned how to control the impact of interactive edits.

• Used the ug_expression class to create expressions. 3

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3
Lesson

4 Adoption

Purpose

Introduce the adoptive approach using Knowledge Fusion.

Objective
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to: 4
• Adopt existing objects into the Knowledge Fusion application.

• Add rules to control the Adopted features.

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 Adoption

The Adoption concept

Adoption is the process of capturing some or all of the parameters of an
existing NX object – one not created from KF – for use in a Knowledge Fusion
environment. In this way, the adopted object falls under the control of the
KF language rules. This includes the ability to adopt an NX created User
Defined Feature (UDF).
This is a powerful capability for the Knowledge Fusion application, because
it allows you to bring objects in previously created NX part files under KF
control. Adoption is particularly useful in cases where you might want to
interactively create a feature in Modeling, and then adopt it into a KF part
file.
See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help
and Best Practices®Programming elements®NX Adoption.
4

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 Adoption

Adopt Existing Object

You can access Adopt Existing Object from the Knowledge Fusion toolbar or
by choosing Tools®Knowledge Fusion®Adopt Existing Object from the
main menu.
A common usage of KF is to subject an NX object to engineering rule control.
You can use a process called adoption to automatically creates a rule for an
existing NX object.
The adoptive approach allows you to create geometry using the efficient
graphical techniques in NX and use engineering rules and knowledge bases
for selected parameters of the adopted object. You do not have to textually
describe a complex modeling feature but you can use rules to manipulate
the objects.
4
The Adopt Existing Object option invokes the class selection dialog box. Only
those objects that can be adopted are selectable. Once an object has been
adopted it will list as an instance in the KF Navigator.
There are two basic types of adopted objects:
• A Fully adopted object has its own DFA file defined for it. For example, a
block feature can be fully adopted since ug_block.dfa exists.

• A Partially adopted object does not have a DFA file defined. For example,
a boss feature can only be partially adopted since ug_boss.dfa does not
exist. A boss feature is adopted via ug_feature.dfa.

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 Adoption

Procedure: Adopt existing objects

1. Start the KF application .

2. Click Adopt Existing Object .

3. Select the object(s) to adopt in the graphics window or Part Navigator.

4. Click OK.

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 Adoption

Activity — Adopt existing objects

In this activity, you will interactively create a solid body consisting of several
features in the Modeling application. Then, you will adopt some of these
features and add rules to interrelate them.
You will compare how features that have supported KF classes with the
features that do not have supported classes.

The steps in this activity assume you can interactively create features
such as blocks, bosses, holes, and blends and are not as detailed.

Step 1: Create a new part.

Click New . 4
From the Units list, select Inches.

Select the Blank template.

In the Name box, type ***_boss where *** are your initials.

Click OK.

Step 2: Start the Modeling application and change roles.

Choose Start®Modeling.

In the Resource bar, click the Roles tab .

Click Essentials with full menus .

Click OK.

Step 3: Create a block located at the absolute coordinate system (0,0,0).

Choose Insert®Design Feature®Block.

In the Block dialog box, type the following parameter values:

Length (XC) = 2
Width (YC) = 2
Height (ZC) = 1

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 Adoption

Step 4: Create a boss feature centered on the block.

Choose Insert®Design Feature®Boss.

In the Boss dialog box, type the following parameter values:

Diameter = 1
Height = 1
Taper Angle = 0

Select the top face of the block for the Placement Face.

In the Positioning dialog box, use the Perpendicular

option to center the boss on the block.
4

Step 5: Create a simple hole and an edge blend on the top face of the boss.

Click Hole .

In the Hole dialog box, type the following parameter values:

Diameter = 0.5
Depth = 1
Tip Angle = 0

Select the top face of the boss for the Placement Face.

In the Positioning dialog box, use the Point onto Point

option to center the hole with the boss.

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 Adoption

Click Edge Blend .

Select the top outside edge of the boss and use a radius of .125.

Step 6: Save the part.

Step 7: Adopt the boss, hole, and blend features into Knowledge Fusion.
Start the Knowledge Fusion application.

Display the Knowledge Fusion toolbar.

Click Adopt Existing Object .

Display the Part Navigator .

In the Part Navigator, press the Ctrl key and select the Boss,
Simple Hole, and Edge Blend features.

Click OK.

Display the KF Navigator and view the newly created Child

Rules.

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 Adoption

The blend was adopted into Knowledge Fusion as an

instance of the class ug_edge_blend and the hole was
adopted as an instance of nx_hole but the boss was
adopted as an instance of ug_feature.
Any feature that does not have a corresponding class in
KF is adopted as an instance of ug_feature. (There is no
ug_boss or nx_boss class at this time.)

Step 8: Compare the input parameters of the boss and hole features.
In the KF Navigator, expand the BOSS (ug_feature) child rule.
The control parameters for BOSS (ug_feature) are
expressions.

Right-click BOSS (ug_feature) and choose Edit.

The expression control parameters are not included in
the Input Parameters list.

Click Cancel.

Expand the SIMPLE_HOLE (nx_hole) child rule.

Right-click SIMPLE_HOLE (nx_hole) and choose Edit.

The control parameters are included in the Input
Parameters list so you can edit them in this dialog box.

Click Cancel.

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 Adoption

Step 9: Edit the parameter rule for the hole diameter and relate it to the
boss diameter.

Expand the BOSS (ug_feature) rule.

Right-click Diameter (ug_expression) and choose Inspect

Instance.

In the Instance Inspector dialog box, expand the Attributes

node.

In the KF Navigator, right-click SIMPLE_HOLE (nx_hole) and

choose Edit.

From the Input Parameters list, select Diameter (Number). 4

Change the Rule for Parameter from 0.5; to
0.5*BOSS:Diameter:value:;.

To automatically insert BOSS:Diameter:value: into

the rule, right-click value (Number) in the Instance
Inspector dialog box and choose Reference.

Click OK.

Step 10: Edit the parameter rule for the blend radius and relate it to the
boss diameter.

In the KF Navigator, right-click BLEND (ug_edge_blend) and

choose Edit.

From the Input Parameters list, select Edge_Blend_References

(List).

Change the Rule for Parameter from

{{Chainset_Data,{.125,collector:}}}; to
{{Chainset_Data,{.125*BOSS:Diameter:value:,collector:}}};.

To automatically insert BOSS:Diameter:value: into

the rule, right-click value (Number) in the Instance
Inspector dialog box and choose Reference.

Click OK.

Close the Instance Inspector dialog box.

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 Adoption

Step 11: Test the rules.

In the KF Navigator, expand the BOSS (ug_feature) rule,
right-click Diameter (ug_expression), and choose Edit.

From the Input Parameters list, select value(Number)

Change the value from 1; to 1.5;.

Click OK.

Step 12: Save the part.

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 Adoption

Activity — Adopt blends and control the blended edges

In this activity, you will adopt blends and edges from an existing solid body.
Then you will add rules to control which edges are blended.
Step 1: Open kf_adoption and save it as ***_adoption where ***
represents your initials.

Step 2: Start the Modeling and Knowledge Fusion applications.

Step 3: Adopt the blend features into Knowledge Fusion.

Display the Knowledge Fusion toolbar.

Click Adopt Existing Object .

Display the Part Navigator .

In the Part Navigator, press the Ctrl key and select Edge
Blend(3) and Edge Blend(4).

Click OK.

Step 4: Modify the part so you can adopt additional edge geometry.
In the Part Navigator, clear the check boxes next to Edge
Blend(3), Edge Blend(4) and Shell(5).

This will suppress the features and expose the necessary

edge geometry.

Step 5: Adopt edge geometry from the graphics window.

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 Adoption

Click Adopt Existing Object .

In the Class Selection dialog box, expand the Filters group.

Click Type Filter

From the list in the Select by Type dialog box, select Edge.

Click OK

Select the four edges in the order shown below:

Click OK.

The edges are adopted into Knowledge Fusion in the

order they were selected. They are displayed in the KF
Navigator as SOLID_edge, SOLID_edge_0, SOLID_edge_1
and SOLID_edge_2.

Step 6: Unsuppress the features.

In the Part Navigator, select the check boxes next to the Edge
Blend(3), Edge Blend(4) and Shell(5).

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 Adoption

Step 7: Add an attribute to control the blend position.

In the KF Navigator, right-click root and choose Add
Attribute.

In the Name box, type blend_position.

From the Type lists, select Integer and Constant.

In the Formula box, type 1.

Click Apply.

Step 8: Add an attribute for the first set of edges.

In the Name box, type edge_list_1. 4
From the Type list, select List.

In the Formula box, type

{SOLID_edge:; SOLID_edge_0:};.
You can either type the entire formula or use the
Reference right-click shortcut option to reference the
other rules.

Click Apply.

Step 9: Add an attribute for the second set of edges.

In the Name box, type edge_list_2.

From the Type list, select List.

In the Formula box, type

{SOLID_edge_1:; SOLID_edge_2:};.

Click OK.

Expand the root Attributes node to view the results.

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 Adoption

Step 10: Change the collector for BLEND to reference the edge_list_1 rule.
In the KF Navigator, expand BLEND(ug_edge_blend) and
Helper Objects.

Double-click the collector (ug_collector) rule.

From the Input Parameters list, select Rules (List).

Change the Rule for Parameter to

{Multiseed_Tangent_Edges,
nth(blend_position:,edge_list_1:)};
You can either type the entire formula or use the
Reference right-click shortcut option to reference the
4 other rules.

Click OK.

The nth built-in system function calls references one of the

edges in edge_list_1 using blend_position as an index. The
blend feature now references the edges from the rule instead
of the system defined edge identifier.

Step 11: Change the collector for BLEND_0 to reference the edge_list_2 rule.
In the KF Navigator, expand BLEND_0(ug_edge_blend) and
Helper Objects.

Double-click the Collector_0 (ug_collector) rule.

From the Input Parameters list, select Rules (List).

Change the Rule for Parameter to

{Multiseed_Tangent_Edges,
nth(blend_position:,edge_list_2:)};

Click OK.

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 Adoption

Step 12: Test the design.

Right-click the blend_position root attribute and choose Edit.

Change the Dynamic Rule Formula from 1 to 2.

Click OK.

Step 13: Save and close the part.

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 Adoption

Summary

In this lesson you:

• Used the adoptive approach to add rules to existing NX objects.

• Used the reference option to tie values together.

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Lesson

5 User Defined Features

Purpose

Introduce User Defined Features (UDFs) in Knowledge Fusion.

Objective
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Export User Defined Features.

• Position a UDF by reference frame.

5
• Position a UDF by reference geometry.

• Create a custom dialog for a UDF.

• Use a KF rule to swap UDFs.

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 User Defined Features

User Defined Feature overview

User Defined Features (UDF) allow you to control and use features in
Knowledge Fusion that are not currently supported by system classes. They
also allow you to realize the re-use of Knowledge Fusion rules.
To access the UDF commands, use the Essentials with full menus or
the Advanced with full menus role.

Knowledge Fusion rules in UDF

When you export a User Defined Feature, all relevant Knowledge Fusion rules
in the work part are saved with the UDF and thus become part of the UDF
definition. The Knowledge Fusion rules that are brought into the receiving
part when the UDF is instantiated also become available to the user.

UDF application
A UDF may be applied (instantiated) interactively two different ways:
• In Modeling, use Insert®Design Feature®User Defined Feature.
5
If the UDF contains Knowledge Fusion rules, it is automatically
adopted into Knowledge Fusion.

• In the Knowledge Fusion Navigator, use Add Child Rule to create an

object of the ug_udfs class.
KF provides the system class ug_udfs that allows you to instantiate a
UDF. Input to this class is the UDF name, an optional library, and a list of
parameters and references to be resolved. Additionally, there are also a
number of strategies to choose from by which the UDF can be positioned
in the receiving part.

See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help

and Best Practices®Programming elements®Interactive Head Start
Guide®User Defined Features

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 User Defined Features

Export User Defined Features

You must create and save user defined features in a user defined feature
file. You can access the file in the Modeling application and add the data
as a feature to a target solid.
When you create a UDF, you should define all features with relative
rather than absolute definitions. For example, if you create an Extrude
feature in a UDF and define the direction as +XC, it may not update
correctly when you add it to a target solid having a different orientation.
If you create an Extrude feature in a UDF and define a relative direction
such as a datum axis, it will update regardless of the orientation.

After you create a model that represents the UDF, you can use the User
Defined Feature Wizard to specify the UDF definition, features, expressions,
and references.
To access the wizard, choose File→Export→User Defined Feature or
choose Tools→User Defined Feature→Wizard.

See Also: Design®Modeling®Modeling Tools®User Defined Feature

(UDF) 5

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 User Defined Features

Activity — Create a knowledge enabled boss UDF

In this activity, you will become familiar with creating knowledge enabled
user defined features.
Step 1: Open the part and change roles.
Open kf_boss_2.

In the Resource bar, click the Roles tab .

Click Essentials with full menus .

Step 2: Export the User Defined Feature.

Choose File®Export®User Defined Feature.

Click OK if the following message window appears:

User Defined Feature library not correctly configured. Use
default configuration.
5
In the Definition page Name box, type boss1.

In the Definition page Part Name box, type boss1_udf.

Click Next.

From the Features in Part list, select all of the features.

Click Add Feature .

Click Next.

From the Available Expressions list, select p3 = 1 (This is

below the Boss(1) node.)

Click Add Expression .

Click Finish.

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 User Defined Features

Step 3: Create a new part.

Click New .

From the Units list, select Inches.

Select the Blank template.

In the Name box, type ***_boss_test where *** are your initials.

Click OK.

Step 4: Insert the User Defined Feature.

Start the Modeling application.

Choose Insert®Design Feature®User Defined.

In the User Defined Feature Library Browser dialog box, click

boss1.
5
In the boss1 dialog box, click OK.

Click Cancel.

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 User Defined Features

Step 5: Edit the UDF using Knowledge Fusion.

Start the Knowledge Fusion application and display the KF
Navigator.

In the KF Navigator, double-click boss1 (ug_udfs).

Select Parameters (List)

Change the Diameter from 1 to 1.5.

Click OK.

Step 6: Edit the feature parameters in the Modeling application.

Choose Edit®Feature®Edit Parameters.

Select the boss1 feature.

Click OK.
5 Change the Diameter from 1.5 to 1.

Click OK twice.

Step 7: Edit the UDF using the Expressions dialog box.

Choose Tools®Expression.

Select the Diameter expression. The expression name will have

a unique number appended to it depending on your session and
parts (for example Diameter_4)

Change the Formula from 1 to 1.5.

Click OK.

Step 8: Close all parts.

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 User Defined Features

UDF positioning strategies

There are two UDF positioning strategies:
• Reference Frames.

• Reference Geometry.

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 User Defined Features

Reference Frames

Positioning by reference frame assumes you instantiate the UDF from a

dfa file or through the Add Child Rule option in the Knowledge Fusion
Navigation Tool.
If the positioning geometry is part of the UDF definition, you can use
reference frames to position the UDF. With this strategy, the positioning
geometry is localized inside the UDF definition. Additionally, all the geometry
inside the UDF is dependent directly on the reference frame that positions
the UDF in the receiving part.
The advantage of this strategy is that the UDF itself may be created in the
library, then positioned as though independent of the parent geometry. What
is actually happening is that the parent geometry in the UDF is being made
fully dependent on the reference frame.

Example
If you have a boss on the top face of a block and both the boss and the block in
the UDF definition, then you can position this UDF using the reference frame
5 input parameter to the ug_udfs class.
The resulting position and orientation of the UDF is a concatenation of the
reference frame and the WCS of the UDF. So if the WCS of the UDF was at
(1,2,3) and rotated 30 degrees about the Z axis and you specified a reference
frame at (1,2,3) with a Z rotation of 30 degrees, the final position of the block
(if it was created at the WCS origin) would be (2,4,6) and rotated 60 degrees.

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 User Defined Features

Procedure: Position a UDF using Reference Frames

1. Create the base geometry using the absolute coordinate system.

2. Adopt any geometry you are interested in controlling using rules.

3. At UDF creation time, select all the features you want in the UDF,
excluding the parent geometry.

4. At instantiation time, position by reference frame only.

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 User Defined Features

Reference geometry

If the positioning geometry is not part of the UDF definition, you can use
reference geometry to position your UDF. This method requires resolving
geometric references before the UDF can be instantiated. Positioning of the
UDF is normally, or often exclusively, dependent on the pre-existing geometry
in the reference list. (Assuming the reference geometry is being used for
positioning.)
This is the conventional way to position a UDF. One of the advantages of
using this method is that the same process is used for positioning the UDF
interactively in modeling, programmatically in a dfa file, or when adding a
child rule in the Knowledge Fusion Navigator.
See Also: Design®Modeling®Methods in Feature Modeling
®Positioning Methods

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 User Defined Features

Procedure: Position UDF using reference geometry

1. Create the base geometry using the absolute coordinate system.

2. Adopt any geometry you are interested in controlling using rules.

3. At UDF creation time, select all the features you want in the UDF,
excluding the parent geometry.

4. At instantiation time, position by selecting or referencing pre-existing

geometry.

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 User Defined Features

Activity — Position a UDF

In this activity, you will create a boss UDF that can be positioned using
reference geometry. You will add this UDF to a part using the traditional
modeling method, then you will add it to the part again using the KF method.

Step 1: Open the part and change roles.

Open kf_boss_2.

Make sure you are using one of the roles with full
menus.

Step 2: Export the User Defined Feature.

Choose File®Export®User Defined Feature.

In the Name box, type boss2.

5 In the Part Name box, type boss2_udf.

Click Next.

From the Features In Part list, select Boss, Simple Hole and
Edge Blend.

Click Add Feature .

Click Next.

From the Available Expressions list, select p3 = 1 under the

Boss(1) node.

Click Add Expression .

Click Next.

The References page verifies that the Planar Placement

Face for Boss(1) from the parent feature has not been
included in the UDF structure. The reference is unresolved
and will need to be identified when the UDF is used.

Click Finish.

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 User Defined Features

Step 3: Create a new part.

Click New .

From the Units list, select Inches.

Select the Blank template.

In the Name box, type ***_boss_test2 where *** are your

initials.

Click OK.

Step 4: Create a block as the base feature.

Start the Modeling application.

Create a Block at the absolute coordinate system (0,0,0) and

type the following values:
Length (XC) = 4.0
Width (YC) = 4.0 5
Height (ZC) = 4.0

Step 5: Insert the User Defined Feature in the Modeling application.

Choose Insert®Design Feature®User Defined.

In the User Defined Feature Library Browser dialog box, click

boss2.
There is an unresolved reference (-)_Planar Placement
Face for Boss. The (-) symbol indicates that the
reference needs to be resolved.

Select the right face of the block as the planar placement face.

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 User Defined Features

The (+) symbol indicates that the reference is resolved.

Click OK.

Step 6: Position the boss.

In the Positioning dialog box, click Perpendicular .

Select the front vertical edge of the block.

Type 2.0.

Click OK.

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 User Defined Features

Click Perpendicular .

Select the right horizontal edge.

Type 2.0.

Click OK. 5

Click Cancel.

Step 7: Insert the User Defined Feature in the KF application using a

reference frame.
In the KF Navigator, right-click root and choose Add Child
Rule.

In the Name box, type boss_udf.

From the Class list select ug_udfs.

From the Input Parameters list, select Name (String).

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 User Defined Features

Type “boss2”;.

Select References (List).

Right-click in the background of the KF Navigator and choose

Reference by Select.

In the graphics window, select the front left face of the block.

5
Click OK.

The Rule for Parameter box should be similar to:

{ug_refObject("Face:C-10-1","")};. The unique face
identifier (C-10-1) may be different in your part.
When you use Reference by Select, a KF relationship,
or reference frame, is established for the placement and
positioning of the feature.

From the Input Parameters list, select usePositioningDialog?

(Boolean).

Change False to True.

Click OK.

Step 8: Position the boss.

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 User Defined Features

In the Positioning dialog box, click Perpendicular .

Select the left vertical edge.

Type 2.0.

Click OK. 5
Click Perpendicular .

Select the front horizontal edge.

Type 2.0.

Click OK.

Click Cancel.

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 User Defined Features

Step 9: Save and close the part.

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 User Defined Features

Customize the UDF dialog box

When inserting a UDF using in the Modeling application, a dialog box is
presented based on the input expressions and references required by the
UDF definition. However, with the Knowledge Fusion class you can configure
a customized dialog.
In Knowledge Fusion, each input parameter has a type. The types available
are: Boolean, Integer, Number, Name, Point, String, Vector, List, Instance,
User, and Any. For a UDF custom dialog, only the following types are
supported: Boolean, Integer, Number, Name, Point, String, and Vector.
The input entry dialog for each parameter data type is listed in the following
table.

KF Data Type NX dialog box object

Integer Integer input box, slider, or option menu
Number Number input box, slider, or option menu
Name Name input box or option menu
String String input box, option menu, or file
selection box 5
Boolean Toggle switch
Point Point dialog box
Vector Vector dialog box

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 User Defined Features

Input Parameters
The UDF parameters are identified by a list attribute called
input_parameters. It contains all the parameters that need to be added to
the custom dialog. The order of the list is the order in which the parameters
are presented in the dialog.
The parameter label for each NX dialog widget is specified by a string
attribute, the name of which is the name of the parameter with the extension
_label. For example, if there is a parameter named Integer:, the label is
defined by an attribute named Integer_label:

Output Parameters

Elements in the input_parameters list that are of string type or are references
to string attributes become output parameters in the UDF dialog. In the
example below, the volume entry in the input_parameters list would be an
output parameter since it is an attribute of type string. Notice that length,
width, and height in the input_parameters list are names, and so these
become input parameters in the UDF custom dialog.
5 (list) input_parameters: {Volume:, length, width, height};
(string) Volume: "The block volume is: " + format("%g",
length:*width:*height:);
(number modifiable) length: 1.3;
(string) length_label: "Block Length";
(number modifiable) width: 2.4;
(string) width_label: "Block Width";
(number modifiable) height: 3.5;
(string) height_label: "Block Height";

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 User Defined Features

Activity — Customize a UDF dialog box

In this activity, you will create a custom dialog for a boss UDF.
Step 1: Create a new part.

Click New .

From the Units list, select Inches.

Select the Blank template.

In the Name box, type ***_boss3 where *** are your initials.

Click OK.

Step 2: Create a block.

Start the Modeling application.

Create a Block at the absolute coordinate system (0,0,0) and 5

type the following values:
Length (XC) = 2.0
Width (YC) = 2.0
Height (ZC) = 1.0

Step 3: Create a non-associative point.

Choose Insert®Datum/Point®Point .

In the Point dialog box, expand the Settings group.

Clear the Associative check box.

Type the following values:

X = 1.0
Y = 1.0
Z = 1.0

Click OK.

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 User Defined Features

Step 4: Create a boss and position it on the point.

Choose Insert®Design Feature®Boss.

Select the top face as the Placement Face and type the following
values:
Diameter = 1.0
Height = 1.0
Taper Angle = 0

Use the Point onto Point positioning option to position

the boss on the point.

You can change the Rendering Style to Static Wireframe

so that it is easier to select the point.

Step 5: Create a simple hole and an edge blend centered on the top face
of the Boss.

Create a simple Hole on the top face of the boss and type
the following values:
Diameter = 0.5
Depth = 1.0
Taper Angle = 0.0

Use the Point onto Point positioning option to center the

hole on the boss.

Create an Edge Blend with a .125 radius on the top

outside edge of the boss.

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 User Defined Features

Step 6: Adopt all of the features except the block into Knowledge Fusion.
Start the Knowledge Fusion application.

Display the Knowledge Fusion toolbar.

Click Adopt Existing Object . 5

Select the Boss, Simple Hole, and Edge Blend features.

Click OK.

Click Adopt Existing Object .

In the graphics window, select the Point.

You can change the Rendering Style to Static Wireframe
so that it is easier to select the point.

Click OK.

Display the KF Navigator and view the results.

Step 7: Add UI customization.

Expand the root Attributes.

Right-click root and choose Add Attribute.

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 User Defined Features

In the Name box, type dia.

From the Type list, choose Number and Constant.

In the Formula box, type 1.0.

Click Apply.

in the Name box, type position.

From the Type list, choose Point.

In the Formula box, type point(1,1,1).

Click Apply.

In the Name box, type dia_label.

From the Type list, choose String.

5 In the Formula box, type "Boss Diameter".

Click Apply.

In the Name box, type position_label.

From the Type list, choose String.

In the Formula box, type "Boss Position".

Click Apply.

In the Name box, type input_parameters

From the Type list, choose List.

In the Formula box, type {dia, position}.

Click OK.

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 User Defined Features

Step 8: Edit the existing attributes by referencing the new UI customized

parameters.
Expand the Boss (ug_feature) child rule.

Double-click Diameter (ug_expression).

From the Input Parameters list, select value (Number).

Remove the current value of 1 and reference the dia:; root

attribute.

Click OK.

Double-click nx_point (nx_point).

Select Coordinates (Point).

Remove the current value of Point(1,1,1) and reference the

Position:; root attribute.

Click OK. 5
Save the part.

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 User Defined Features

Step 9: Export a User Defined Feature.

Choose File®Export®User Defined Feature.

Click OK if the following message window appears:

User Defined Feature library not correctly configured. Use
default configuration.

In the Name box, type boss3.

In the Part Name box, type boss3_udf.

Click Next.

From the Features In Part list, select Boss, Simple Hole and
Edge Blend.

Click Add Feature .

Click Next twice to advance to the References page and note

5 the unresolved Planar Placement Face.

Click Finish.

Save the part.

Step 10: Create a new part for the parent geometry.

Click New .

From the Units list, select Inches.

Select the Blank template.

In the Name box, type ***_boss3_dialog where *** are your

initials.

Click OK.

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 User Defined Features

Step 11: Create a block and two non-associative points.

Create a Block at the absolute coordinate system (0,0,0) and
type the following values:
Length (XC) = 4.0
Width (YC) = 4.0
Height (ZC) = 4.0

Create the first non-associative point at the following location:

X = 4.0
Y = 2.0
Z = 2.0

Create the second non-associative point at the following

location:
X = 2.0
Y = 0.0
Z = 2.0

Save the part.

5
Step 12: Insert the UDF.
Choose Insert®Design Feature®User Defined.

Click boss3.
The boss3 UDF dialog box now includes the custom
input parameters you defined earlier.
Boss Diameter 1.0000
Boss Position

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 User Defined Features

Select the right face of the block to resolve the Planar

Placement Face.

Click Apply.

In the Positioning dialog box, click Point onto Point .

5
Select the point on the right face.

Repeat the actions above using the left face and left point to
create a second boss.

Step 13: Save and close all parts.

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 User Defined Features

Swap User Defined Features

You can swap User Defined Features using Knowledge Fusion rules as shown
in the following example.
Name; if type: = 1 then "cup_handle_fancy"
else "cup_handle_standard";

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 User Defined Features

Activity — Swap User Defined Features

In this activity, you will create two User Defined Features from two solid
bodies consisting of several features. You will then use Knowledge Fusion
to swap between these two UDFs.

Step 1: Open udf_1 and save the part as ***_udf_1 where *** represents
your initials.

Step 2: Create the first User Defined Feature.

Choose File®Export®User Defined Feature.
5
In the Name box, type udf1.

In the Part Name box, type udf1_udf.

In the graphics window, right-click and choose Orient

View→Top.

In the User Defined Feature Wizard, click Capture Image .

When you start the wizard, a CGM image of the UDF
model is automatically created. You can zoom, rotate, or
orient the view and click Capture Image to replace the
CGM image.

Click Next.

From the Features In Part list, select all of the features except
Block(0).

Click Add Feature .

Click Next.

From the Available Expressions list, select depth = 0.2. (It is

below the Extruded(2) node.)

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 User Defined Features

Click Add Expression .

Click Finish.

Save the part.

Step 3: Open udf_2 and save the part as ***_udf_2, where *** represents
your initials.

Step 4: Create the second User Defined Feature.

Choose File®Export®User Defined Feature.

In the Name box, type udf2.

In the Part Name box, type udf2_udf.

In the graphics window, right-click and choose Orient

View→Top.
5
In the User Defined Feature Wizard, click Capture Image .

Click Next.

From the Features In Part list, select all of the features except
Block(0).

Click Add Feature .

Click Next.

From the Available Expressions list, select depth = 0.2. (It is

below the Extruded(2) node.)

Click Add Expression .

Click Finish.

Save the part.

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 User Defined Features

Step 5: Create a new part for the parent geometry.

Click New .

From the Units list, select Inches.

Select the Blank template.

In the Name box, type ***_base where *** are your initials.

Click OK.

Step 6: Create a block.

Create a Block at the absolute coordinate system (0,0,0) and
type the following values:
Length (XC) = 2.0
Width (YC) = 2.0
Height (ZC) = 0.5

5 Step 7: Insert the UDF.

Choose Insert®Design Feature®User Defined.

Click udf1.

Resolve the following reference geometry requirements.

1. Planar Placement Face
2. Horizontal Reference
3. Sketch External Reference

Refer to the UDF Definition preview window for the correct

orientation of the new UDF feature. The preview window
updates to indicate the correct direction vector for the next
required reference.

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 User Defined Features

Click OK.

Click Cancel.

Step 8: Adopt the UDF into Knowledge Fusion.

Start the Knowledge Fusion application. 5
Display the Knowledge Fusion toolbar.

Click Adopt Existing Object .

From the Part Navigator, select the udf1 feature.

Click OK.

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 User Defined Features

Step 9: Swap udf1 for udf2 in the KF Navigator.

In the KF Navigator, double-click udf1 (ug_udfs).

Select Name (String).

Change “udf1”; to “udf2”;.

Click OK.

Step 10: Save and close all parts.

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 User Defined Features

Summary
In this lesson you:
• Learned how to export User Defined Features.

• Repositioned a UDF by changing the reference frame.

• Positioned a UDF using reference geometry.

• Created a custom dialog for a UDF.

• Used a KF rule to swap UDFs.

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5
Lesson

6 Assemblies

Purpose

Introduce concepts for working with assemblies in Knowledge Fusion.

Objective

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

• Create an assembly using Knowledge Fusion.

• Apply the ug_child_in_part class.

• Apply the ug_component class.

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 Assemblies

Knowledge Fusion Assemblies concepts

Assemblies and the Knowledge Fusion World

Knowledge Fusion allows you to create an assembly and control the structure
and components with rules. The following sections describe some strategies
on how to approach the construction of assemblies along with the specific
capabilities that NX introduces that enable these strategies to be realized.
It is important to understand that each NX part file has an associated
Knowledge Fusion world bound to it. The Knowledge Fusion world maintains
the rules and relationships that binds the rules to NX objects. When you
enter the Knowledge Fusion Navigator you see the Knowledge Fusion world,
its rules and attributes, for the work part only. With respect to assembly
modeling, there does not exist a single Knowledge Fusion world with rules
that cross part boundaries. For example, you cannot create a rule whose
evaluation resides in another part. However, the same effect is possible with a
messaging scheme that allows the Knowledge Fusion worlds to communicate
with each other.
This messaging scheme is necessary in order for NX to build assemblies
whose structure and content can be controlled by Knowledge Fusion rules.
The scheme enables the creation of rules and access to attributes in parts
identified by name.

See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion ®Knowledge Fusion Help

and Best Practices®Special Topics®Knowledge Fusion and Assemblies

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 Assemblies

KF uses the function ug_evaluateInPart to pass messages between the KF

worlds in different part files. This function sends a message (transmits a
rule) to another part in order to create a rule or to edit that rule if it already
exists. Both assembly structure and component content can be specified and
controlled with this function.
The general format of this function is:
(String) variable: ug_evaluateInpart ( String Part_Name,
String Rule_Name, String Rule_Text );

For example to create geometry in another part:

ug_evaluateInpart ( "component1.prt", "Pt1",
"{class, ug_point; position, point(1,2,3)}" );

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 Assemblies

Reading a KF attribute in another part

Existing attribute values can be read from a component (or any other part)
using the function ug_askKFattrValue. However, ug_askKFattrValue cannot
be used to read the value of an attribute whose value might be changing as a
result of ug_evaluateInPart.
Here is an example of fetching the value of an attribute of a rule in another
part:
(any) my_attribute_value: ug_askKFattrValue(
String Part_Name, String Rule_Name);
(any) color: ug_askKFattrValue("target_part", "body:color");

Evaluating a rule in another part

The class ug_child_in_part has been provided as an alternative to
ug_evaluateInPart. This is generally much easier to use. The class
ug_child_in_part has a syntax similar to the (Child) rule.
Here is an example of using ug_child_in_part:
(Child) wheel:
{ Class, ug_child_in_part;
Target_File_Name, "wheel.prt";
Parameters, { class, ug_cylinder, diameter, 3.0 }
};

By using the class ug_child_in_part, you can execute a child rule in another
6 part. It also supplies the means by which part files can communicate with
each other. Messages will be sent to another part in order to create a rule or
edit that rule if it already exists. The part must already be loaded or locatable
using current load options.

Adding components to an assembly

The class ug_component has been provided to create a new component within
the work assembly based on an existing part. Here is an example of using
ug_component:
(Child) left_wheel:
{ Class, ug_component;
File_Name, "wheel.prt";
Origin, Point(0,0,12);
X_Axis: Vector(1,0,0);
Y_Axis: Vector(0,1,0);
};

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 Assemblies

Activity — Create a simple chassis assembly

In this activity, you will create a simple chassis assembly as shown below
using Knowledge Fusion.

6
Step 1: Create four new parts.
Create four new parts. Create the parts in your student home
folder in the order listed below:

Name Units Model Template

wheel Inches Blank

axle Inches Blank
axle_assm Inches Blank
chassis_assm Inches Blank

You will be working within the top level of chassis_assm

throughout the entire activity.

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 Assemblies

Step 2: In chassis_assm, instantiate a cylinder for the wheel.

Start the Knowledge Fusion application and display the
Knowledge Fusion Navigator.

In the KF Navigator, right-click root and choose Add Child

Rule.

In the Name box, type wheel.

From the Class list, select ug_child_in_part.

From the Input Parameters list, select Target_File_Name

(String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type “wheel.prt”;.

Select Parameters (List).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type

{class, ug_cylinder, diameter, 3.0};.

Click OK.
Although you were working in the chassis_assm part, you
actually instantiated a cylinder in the wheel part by using
6 the ug_child_in_part class.

Choose Window→wheel.

Choose Window→chassis_assm.

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 Assemblies

Step 3: In chassis_assm, instantiate a cylinder for the axle.

Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type axle.

From the Class list, select ug_child_in_part.

From the Input Parameters list, select Target_File_Name

(String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type “axle.prt”;.

Select Parameters (List).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type {class, ug_cylinder,

height, 12.0};.

Click Apply.

Step 4: In chassis_assm, instantiate an axle component.

In the Name box, type center_axle.

From the Class list, select ug_child_in_part.

From the Input Parameters list, select Target_File_Name

(String).
6
In the Rule for Parameter box, type “axle_assm.prt”;.

Select Parameters (List).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type {class, ug_component,

file_name, "axle.prt"};.

Click Apply.

Step 5: In chassis_assm, instantiate the right wheel component for

axle_assm.
In the Name box, type right_wheel.

From the Class list, select ug_child_in_part.

From the Input Parameters list, select Target_File_Name

(String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type “axle_assm.prt”;.

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 Assemblies

Select Parameters (List).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type {class, ug_component,

file_name, "wheel.prt", origin, point(0, 0, -1)};.

Click Apply.

Step 6: In chassis_assm, instantiate the left wheel component for

axle_assm.
In the Name box, type left_wheel.

From the Class list, select ug_child_in_part.

From the Input Parameters list, select Target_File_Name

(String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type “axle_assm.prt”;.

Select Parameters (List).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type {class, ug_component,

file_name, "wheel.prt", origin, point(0,0,12)}; .

Click OK.

6 You can choose Window→axle_assm to view the new

geometry. Be sure to choose Window→chassis_assm before
you continue the next step.

Save all parts.

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 Assemblies

Step 7: In chassis_assm, instantiate rear axle_assm components.

Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type rear_axle_assm.

From the Class list, select ug_component.

From the Input Parameters list, select file_name (String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type “axle_assm.prt”;.

From the Input Parameters list, select x_axis (Vector).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type Vector(0,-1,0);.

From the Input Parameters list, select y_axis (Vector).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type Vector(0,0,1);.

Click Apply.

Step 8: In chassis_assm, instantiate front axle_assm component.

In the Name box, type front_axle_assm.
6
From the Class list, select ug_component.

From the Input Parameters list, select file_name (String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type “axle_assm.prt”;.

From the Input Parameters list, select Origin (Point).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type Point(0,6,0);.

From the Input Parameters list, select x_axis (Vector).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type Vector(0,-1,0);.

From the Input Parameters list, select y_axis (Vector).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type Vector(0,0,1);.

Click OK.

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 Assemblies

View the results in the Assembly Navigator and in the KF

Navigator.

Step 9: Save and close all parts.

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 Assemblies

Activity — Create a KF driven assembly

In this activity, you will use KF classes to create the faucet assembly shown
below.
You will use existing parts as well as parts created from the top level
assembly using KF rules. You will then position the assembly components
using Mating Conditions.

See Also: Design®Assemblies®Function Details®Assemblies

Menu®Components Menu®Mate Component
6
Step 1: Create a new faucet assembly part.

Click New .

From the Units list, select Inches.

From the Templates list, select Blank.

In the Name box, type ***_faucet_assembly, where ***

represents your initials.

Click OK.

Step 2: Add the existing faucet base from the KF Navigator using KF rules.
In the KF Navigator, right-click root and choose Add Child
Rule.

In the Name box, type base.

From the Class list, select ug_component.

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 Assemblies

From the Input Parameters list, select file_name (String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type “parts/faucet_base.prt”;.

From the Input Parameters list, select Reference_Set_Name

(String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type “BODY”;.

From the Input Parameters list, select Color (Integer).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type 0; .

This will allow the component to inherit the color from
the existing part.

Click OK.

6 Step 3: Add the “A” version of the existing faucet spout using KF rules.
Right-click base (ug_component) and choose Copy Rule.
An easy way to create similar children is to use the Copy
Rule option.

In the New Object Name box, type spout.

Click OK.
You will now have two children in the KF Navigator. Since
they both still point to faucet_base part, you will see two
occurrences of the base in the graphics window. However, you
will edit the copied rule and point it to the faucet_spout_A
part.

Right-click spout and choose Edit.

From the Input Parameters list, select file_name (String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type

”parts/faucet_spout_A.prt”;.

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 Assemblies

Click OK.

The only rule that needed to be changed was file_name.

The other rules were copied from the original child.

Step 4: Mate spout_A to the base component.

Even though the ug_component class can control the location
of the component, the component can also be mated using
the standard Assembly Mating functionality.

Choose Start→Assemblies.

The Assemblies toolbar should be displayed.

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 Assemblies

On the Assemblies toolbar, click Mate Component (or

choose Assemblies→Components→Mate Component).

For the Mating Type, click Center .

Set Center Object to 1 to 1.

Select the lower cylindrical face of spout_A as the From

component.

Select the smallest cylindrical face of the hole in the base as

the To component.

Click Preview.

Click Unpreview.

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 Assemblies

For the Mating Type, click Mate .

Select the planar face of spout_A as the From component.

Select the planar face of the base as the To component.

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 Assemblies

Click Preview.

Click OK twice.

Step 5: Add the existing faucet cap using the Copy Rule option.
Right-click base (ug_component) and choose Copy Rule.

In the New Object Name box, type cap.

Click OK.

Right-click cap (ug_component) and choose Edit.

6
From the Input Parameters list, select file_name (String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type ”parts/faucet_cap.prt”;.

Click OK.

Step 6: Mate the cap to the spout.

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 Assemblies

On the Assemblies toolbar, click Mate Component (or

choose Assemblies→Components→Mate Component).

For the Mating Type select Center .

Set Center Object to 1 to 1.

Select the lower cylindrical face of the cap as shown as the

From component.

Select the cylindrical face of the hole in the spout as shown as

the To component.

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 Assemblies

Click Mate .

Select the planar face of the cap as shown as the From

component.

Select the planar face of the spout as shown as the To

component.

6
Click OK twice

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 Assemblies

Step 7: Create a new faucet handle sub-assembly and then add it to the
faucet assembly using Knowledge Fusion rules.
Instead of creating a part interactively, you can use an
attribute with a function to create the new faucet handle
sub-assembly. You can use this function to create parts when
writing a program.

Right-click root and choose Add Attribute.

In the Name box, type createpart.

From the Type list, select Boolean.

Click Extended Text Entry .

Click Insert Function/Method .

From the Or Choose a Category list, select part.

From the Function list, select ug_createNewPart.

Click OK.

In the part name box, type 6

“parts/faucet_handle_sub_assembly.prt”.

In the part units box, type 2 (English).

Click OK twice.

In the Add Attributes dialog box, review the Formula and click
OK.

View the value of the createpart root attribute in the KF

navigator. A value of TRUE means that the function was
successful. The part faucet_handle_sub_assembly was
created in the NX session.

Choose Window→More to verify that new part was created.

Click Cancel.

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 Assemblies

Step 8: Add the existing faucet handle to the newly created faucet handle
sub-assembly.
Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type handle.

From the Class list, select ug_child_in_part.

From the Input Parameters list, select Target_File_Name

(String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type

“parts/faucet_handle_sub_assembly.prt”;

From the Input Parameters list, select Parameters (List).

Click Extended Text Entry .

In the Extended Text Entry dialog box, type:

{class, ug_component,
file_name, “faucet_handle.prt”,
reference_set_name, “MATE”,
color, 0};

6 Click OK twice.
The faucet handle is a component in
faucet_handle_sub_assembly. You can not see it
in your graphics window because you have not yet added
the sub-assembly to the faucet assembly. The MATE
reference set is used so that extra geometry is available
when you mate the handle to the cap.

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 Assemblies

Step 9: Add the faucet handle sub-assembly to the faucet assembly using
KF rules.
Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type handle_sub_assembly.

From the Class list, select ug_component.

From the Input Parameters list, select file_name (String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type

“parts/faucet_handle_sub_assembly.prt”;.

From the Input Parameters list, select Color (Integer).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type 0; (zero).

Click OK.

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 Assemblies

Step 10: Edit the cap reference set using KF rules.

When you created the handle component, you used a

reference set called MATE. In order to properly mate the
handle to the cap, you need to see the MATE reference set
from the cap also.

Right-click cap and choose Edit.

From the Rule for Parameters list, select Reference_Set_Name.

In the Rule for Parameter box, type MATE.

Click OK.

In the graphics window, you should see two datum planes

and a datum axis for the cap component Mate reference set.

Step 11: Mate the handle to the cap.

On the Assemblies toolbar, click Mate Component (or

choose Assemblies→Components→Mate Component).

6 Click Align .

From the Filter list, select Datum Axis.

Select the datum axis at the bottom of the handle as the From
component.

Select the datum axis at the bottom of the cap as the To

component.

Click Align .

Change the Filter to Datum Plane.

Select the datum plane near the handle that is parallel to

YC-ZC as the From component.

Select the datum plane near the cap that is parallel to YC-ZC
as the To component.

6-22 Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide mt15130_s NX 6

 Assemblies

Click Angle .

Select the datum plane near the handle that is parallel to

XC-YC as the From component.

Select the datum plane near the cap that is parallel to XC-YC
as the To component.

In the Angle Expression box, type –12.

Click OK twice.

Edit the cap (ug_component) child rule and change the

reference set to BODY.

Edit the handle (ug_child_in_part) rule and change the

reference set to BODY.

You will need to edit the Parameters (List) rule and change
the appropriate value since the handle is a ug_child_in_part
class.

Save the part.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 6-23

 Assemblies

Step 12: Create the new component, set_screw, for the

faucet_handle_sub_assembly.
Right-click root Attribute createpart and choose Edit.

Edit the Dynamic Rule Formula to read as follows:

ug_createNewPart( “faucet_set_screw.prt”, 2 );

Click OK.

Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type set_screw.

From the Class list, select ug_child_in_part.

From the Input Parameters list, select Target_File_Name

(String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type

“parts/faucet_handle_sub_assembly.prt”;.

From the Input Parameters list, select Parameters (List).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type the following:

6 {class, ug_component,
file_name, “faucet_set_screw.prt”,
color, 0};

Click OK.

View the Assembly Navigator to see the added component.

Save the part.

6-24 Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide mt15130_s NX 6

 Assemblies

Step 13: Change the spout from version “A” to version “B”.
Right-click spout (ug_component) and choose Edit.

From the Input Parameters list, select file_name (String).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type

"parts/faucet_spout_A.prt";.

Click OK.

Step 14: Save and close all parts.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 6-25

 Assemblies

Summary
In this lesson you:
• Created a chassis assembly using Knowledge Fusion.

• Applied the ug_child_in_part class.

• Applied the ug_component class.

6-26 Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide mt15130_s NX 6

Lesson

7 Optimization

Purpose

Introduce the optimization concepts in Knowledge Fusion.

Objective
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Apply the ug_optimize class in Knowledge Fusion to optimize the volume
of a solid body.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 7-1

 Optimization

Optimization concepts
Optimization is an automatic method of improving your product based
on engineering constraints. It’s an iterative method to find the best
configuration possible by varying parameters to meet a particular objective
without violating constraints. NX uses a third party optimizer from Altair
Engineering called HyperOpt.
During the optimization process, the system attempts to drive the output of
the model toward a given goal by iterating the values of one or more Design
Variables and avoiding violation of given constraints.
An optimization problem consists of the following attributes:
• Objective: This describes what you’re trying to achieve. The objective
consists of the Objective Rule to be measured at each iteration and the
type of goal to be reached. The objective rule is a KF reference chain
to a number attribute. You may choose to Minimize the objective rule,
Maximize the objective rule, or drive the object rule toward a target value.

• Design Variables: This identifies the parameters to be varied during the

iteration process. One or more design variables can be specified. They
should be chosen so that varying their values makes a difference in the
objective or constraint measurements. Each design variable consists of
the name of the KF attribute to be modified and reasonable upper and
lower limits of its value.
Since the optimization is an iterative solution, adding more design
variables increases the number of iterations required to achieve
convergence.

• Constraints: This describes other limits of the model other than design
7 variable limits. You can specify zero or more constraints. At each
iteration, the optimizer compares the value of each constraint attribute
against its limit. If a constraint value falls outside of its limit, the model
is considered to be in an invalid state. The optimizer backs up to a valid
state and tries different values for the design variables. Each constraint
consists of a reference chain to a number attribute, the type of constraint
(minimum or maximum), and the limit value.

7-2 Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide mt15130_s NX 6

 Optimization

• Convergence Criteria: This tells the optimizer how accurate the solution
needs to be. It consists of three numbers that the optimizer uses to
determine if it is done improving the model.
– Relative: If one minus the ratio of the last 2 objective values is less
than this value, the solution is converged. A smaller value here most
likely increases the number of iterations required.

– Absolute: This value is multiplied by the first objective result, and if

the difference in the last two objective results is less than this, then it
is converged. A smaller value here most likely increases the number
of iterations required.

– Maximum number of iterations: Limit on the number of iterations.

The smaller the convergence criteria values, the more iterations
it may take to converge.

See Also: Automation®Knowledge Fusion®Knowledge Fusion Help

and Best Practices®Programming elements®Interactive Head Start
Guide®Optimization

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 7-3

 Optimization

General Optimization process

How it works

1. NX model updates Design Variable values.

2. Constraints and Objective are calculated based on NX model.

3. Constraints and Objective are sent to the HyperOpt optimizer.

4. If not converged, the optimizer returns new Design Variable values for
next iteration.

Example
An example using the ug_optimize class is shown below:
(child) my_opt: {
class; ug_optimize;
objective; { SOLID_RIGHT:mass:, TARGET, weight: };
design_variables; { { pocket_depth:, Value,2.0,20.0 }, ... };
constraints; { { SOLID_RIGHT:volume:, Lower, 5000.0 }, ... };
optimizer_controls; { 0.05, 0.005, 0.025, 20 };
view_graph; false;
};

7-4 Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide mt15130_s NX 6

 Optimization

Activity — Optimize the volume of a squeeze bottle

In this activity, you will adopt the geometry of a squeeze bottle into
Knowledge Fusion. Then you will use the ug_optimize class to optimize its
volume to a target value.

Step 1: Open the part.

Open kf_bottle and save it as ***_bottle where *** represents
your initials.
The part contains two solid bodies. One solid body
represents the bottle and the other solid body represents
the fluid in the bottle.

Start the Modeling and Knowledge Fusion applications.

7
Step 2: Adopt the geometry into Knowledge Fusion.
On the Knowledge Fusion toolbar, click Adopt Existing Object

In the Part Navigator, press the Ctrl key and select the
Cylinder and the Boss features.

Click OK.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 7-5

 Optimization

Click Adopt Existing Object .

In the Class Selection dialog box, click Type Filter .

Select Face and click OK.

In the graphics window, select the top face (make sure you
select the top face of the outer solid) and bottom face of the
bottle.

7-6 Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide mt15130_s NX 6

 Optimization

Click Type Filter .

Select Solid Body and click OK.

Select the interior solid body contained within the dashed line
shown below.

Click OK.

Review the objects in the KF Navigator.

Step 3: Setup the optimization. 7

Right-click root and choose Add Child Rule.

In the Name box, type bottle_opt.

In the Class list select ug_optimize.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 7-7

 Optimization

From the Input Parameters list, select Design_Variables (List).

Click Extended Text Entry .

In the Extended Text Entry dialog box, type:

{
{CYLINDER:, diameter, 1.5, 5.5},
{CYLINDER:, height, 6.5, 10.5},
{BOSS:Diameter:, value, 0.5, 4.5},
{BOSS:Height:, value, 0.4, 4.5},
{BOSS:Taper_Angle:, value, 2.5, 7.5}
};

Click OK.

From the Input Parameters list, select Constraints (List).

Click Extended Text Entry .

In the Extended Text Entry dialog box, type:

{
{first(ug_askMinimumDistance(SOLID_face:,
SOLID_face_0:)), 11.5, Upper}
};

Click OK.

From the Input Parameters list, select Objective (List).

In the Rule for Parameter box, type:

7 {SOLID_body:Volume:, Target, 60.0};

Click OK.

Save the part.

7-8 Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide mt15130_s NX 6

 Optimization

Step 4: Run the optimization for the original target value.

In the KF Navigator, expand bottle_opt (ug_optimize).

Expand the bottle_opt Attributes.

Right-click Go_Optimize (String) and choose Show Value.

Review then close the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

Review the results in the graphics window.

In the KF Navigator, expand SOLID_body (ug_body).

Expand the Solid_body Attributes.

Right-click volume (Number) and choose Show Value.

Step 5: Change the target value and run the optimization.

Right-click bottle_opt (ug_optimize) and choose Edit

From the Input Parameters list, select Objective (List).

In the Rule for Parameter box, change the Target value from
60.0 to 120.0.

From the Input Parameters list, select View_Graph (Boolean).

In the Rule for Parameter box, change the rule from true to
false.

Click OK.
7
Step 6: Run the optimization for the new target value.
In the KF Navigator, expand bottle_opt.

Expand the bottle_opt Attributes.

Right-click Go_Optimize and choose Show Value.

In the KF Navigator, expand SOLID_body.

Expand the Solid_body Attributes.

Right-click Volume and choose Show Value.

Review the results in the graphics window.

Step 7: Save and close all parts.

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide 7-9

 Optimization

Summary
In this lesson you:
• Applied the ug_optimize class in Knowledge Fusion to optimize the
volume of a solid.

7-10 Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide mt15130_s NX 6

Index

A edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-29
Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12, 2-36
Activity
filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Add and edit child rules . . . . . . . 2-30
system classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-36
Add Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
user classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-36
Adopt blends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Adopt existing objects . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Copy Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
Create a knowledge enabled
Customize
UDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
UDF dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Customize UDF dialog box . . . . . 5-21
Interactive edits . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Knowledge Fusion Navigator D
tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13 DFA files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Mass properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10 syntax check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Optimize volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5 DFA Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Position a UDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12 Check DFA syntax . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Remote controlled airplane . . . . . 1-18 search directories . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Specify Rule for Class . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Swap User Defined Features . . . . 5-30 E
System class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-40
User class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-37 Edit
Add Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18 Child Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-29
dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19 interactive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Add Child Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25 Expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Specify Rule for Class . . . . . . . . . . 3-3 H
Adopt Existing Object . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Help Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Adoption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 I
Attributes Inspect Instance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
data types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22 K
KBE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
C
See also Knowledge Based
Child List Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27 Engineering
Child Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25 KF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28 See also Knowledge Fusion

Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide Index-1

Index

KF Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 objective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

See also Knowledge Fusion Navigator process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Knowledge Based Engineering . . . . . 1-2
example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7 R
knowledge bases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Reference by Select . . . . . . . . 1-14, 2-10
parametric modeling . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Reference Frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Knowledge Fusion
reference geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Reload All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
DFA Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15 S
overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8 Search directories . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
parametric modeling and Show Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
WAVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11 Specify Rule for Class . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9 Suppression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Knowledge Fusion Navigator
Add Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18 T
Add Child Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6 Toolbars
Attribute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9 Knowledge Fusion . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
background . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10 Topology
overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 controlling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Properties dialog box
Attribute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11 U
UDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
L See also User Defined Feature
Layer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8 ug_askKFattrValue . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Learning Advantage . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 ug_body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
lockObject? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13 ug_child_in_part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
lockRule? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12 ug_component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
lockRuleParameters . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12 ug_evaluateInPart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
ug_expression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
M ug_mass_properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
ug_udfs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Mass properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9 User Defined Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
customizing the dialog box . . . . . 5-19
O exporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
onDelete? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12 positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Optimization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2 Reference geometry . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2 swap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
convergence criteria . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3 User Interface Styler . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
design variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

Index-2 Knowledge Fusion for Designers – Student Guide mt15130_s NX 6

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 Course Agenda
Knowledge Fusion for Designers

Day 1 Morning
• Welcome & Course Overview
• Lesson 1. Introduction
• Lesson 2. Knowledge Fusion Navigator (begin)
Afternoon
• Lesson 2. Knowledge Fusion Navigator (continued)
• Lesson 3. Design Control

Day 2 Morning
• Lesson 4. Adoption
• Lesson 5. User Defined Features
Afternoon
• Lesson 6. Assemblies
• Lesson 7. Optimization
• Question and Answer

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Accelerators
The following Accelerators can be listed from within an NX session by choosing
Information→Custom Menubar→Accelerators.

Function Accelerator
File→New... Ctrl+N
File→Open... Ctrl+O
File→Save Ctrl+S
File→Save As... Ctrl+Shift+A
File→Plot... Ctrl+P
File→Execute→Grip... Ctrl+G
File→Execute→Debug Grip... Ctrl+Shift+G
File→Execute→NX Open... Ctrl+U
Edit→Undo Ctrl+Z
Edit→Redo Ctrl+Y
Edit→Cut Ctrl+X
Edit→Copy Ctrl+C
Edit→Paste Ctrl+V
Edit→Delete... Ctrl+D or Delete
Edit→Selection→Top Selection Priority - Feature F
Edit→Selection→Top Selection Priority - Face G
Edit→Selection→Top Selection Priority - Body B
Edit→Selection→Top Selection Priority - Edge E
Edit→Selection→Top Selection Priority - Component C
Edit→Selection-Select All Ctrl+A
Edit→Show and Hide→Show and Hide... (by type) Ctrl+W
Edit→Show and Hide→Hide... Ctrl+B
Edit→Show and Hide→Invert Shown and Hidden Ctrl+Shift+B
Edit→Show and Hide→Immediate Hide… Ctrl+Shift+I
Edit→Show and Hide→Show... Ctrl+Shift+K
Edit→Show and Hide→Show All Ctrl+Shift+U
Edit→Transform... Ctrl+T
Edit→Move Object Ctrl+Shift+M
Edit→Object Display... Ctrl+J
View→Operation→Zoom... Ctrl+Shift+Z
View→Operation→Rotate... Ctrl+R
View→Operation→Section... Ctrl+H
View→Layout→New... Ctrl+Shift+N
View→Layout→Open... Ctrl+Shift+O
View→Layout→Fit All Views (only with multiple views) Ctrl+Shift+F
View→Layout→Fit Ctrl+F
View→Visualization→High Quality Image... Ctrl+Shift+H
View→Information Window F4
Hide or show the current dialog box F3
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View→Reset Orientation Ctrl+F8
Insert→Sketch... S
Insert→Design Feature→Extrude... X
Insert→Design Feature→Revolve... R
Insert→Trim→Trimmed Sheet... T
Insert→Sweep→Variational Sweep... V
Format→Layer Settings... Ctrl+L
Format→Visible in View... Ctrl+Shift+V
Format→WCS→Display W
Tools→Expression... Ctrl+E
Tools→Update→Make First Feature Current Ctrl+Shift+Home
Tools→Update→Make Previous Feature Current Ctrl+Shift+Left Arrow
Tools→Update→Make Next Feature Current Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow
Tools→Update→Make Last Feature Current Ctrl+Shift+End
Tools→Journal→Play... Alt+F8
Tools→Journal→Edit Alt+F11
Tools→Macro→Start Record... Ctrl+Shift+R
Tools→Macro→Playback... Ctrl+Shift+P
Tools→Macro→Step... Ctrl+Shift+S
Tools→Movie→Record Alt+F5
Tools→Movie→Stop Alt+F7
Information→Object... Ctrl+I
Analysis→Curve→Refresh Curvature Graphs Ctrl+Shift+C
Preferences→Object... Ctrl+Shift+J
Preferences→Selection... Ctrl+Shift+T
Start→Modeling... M or Ctrl+M
Start→All Applications→Shape Studio... Ctrl+Alt+S
Start→Drafting... Ctrl+Shift+D
Start→Manufacturing... Ctrl+Alt+M
Start→NX Sheet Metal... Ctrl+Alt+N
Start→Assemblies A
Help→On Context... F1
Refresh F5
Fit Ctrl+F
Zoom F6
Rotate F7
Orient View-Trimetric Home
Orient View-Isometric End
Orient View-Top Ctrl+Alt+T
Orient View-Front Ctrl+Alt+F
Orient View-Right Ctrl+Alt+R
Orient View-Left Ctrl+Alt+L
Snap View F8

Rev-9/3/08-jab
 PLM Software
Evaluation – Delivery
Name: _______________________________ Course #: TR15130
Start Date: ____________ Through: __________
Please share your opinion in all of the following sections with a “check” in the appropriate box:

Instructor: 5

SOMEWHAT

SOMEWHAT
STRONGLY

STRONGLY
DISAGREE

DISAGREE

DISAGREE
If there were 2 instructors, please evaluate the 2nd instructor with “X’s”

AGREE

AGREE

AGREE
Instructor: 7

1. Clearly explained the course objectives

2. Was knowledgeable about the subject
3. Answered my questions appropriately
4. Encouraged questions in class
5. Was well spoken and a good communicator
6. Was well prepared to deliver the course
7. Made good use of the training time
8. Conducted themselves professionally
9. Used examples relevant to the course and audience
10. Provided enough time to complete the exercises
11. Used review and summary to emphasize important information
12. Did all they could to help the class meet the course objectives

Comments on overall impression of instructor(s):

Overall impression of instructor(s) Poor Excellent

Suggestions for improvement of course delivery:

What you liked best about the course delivery:

Class Logistics:
1. The training facilities were comfortable, clean, and provided a good learning
environment
2. The computer equipment was reliable
3. The software performed properly
4. The overhead projection unit was clear and working properly
5. The registration and confirmation process was efficient

Hotels: (We try to leverage this information to better accommodate our customers)
1. Name of the hotel Best hotel I’ve stayed at
2. Was this hotel recommended during your registration process? YES NO
3. Problem? (brief description)

SEE BACK
Rev-9/3/08-jab
 PLM Software
Evaluation - Courseware
Name: _______________________________ Course #: TR15130
Dates: ____________ Through: __________
Please share your opinion for all of the following sections with a “check” in the appropriate box:

SOMEWHAT

SOMEWHAT
STRONGLY

STRONGLY
DISAGREE

DISAGREE

DISAGREE

AGREE
AGREE

AGREE
Material:
1. The training material supported the course and lesson objectives
2. The training material contained all topics needed to complete the projects
3. The training material provided clear and descriptive directions
4. The training material was easy to read and understand
5. The course flowed in a logical and meaningful manner

6. How appropriate was the length of the course relative to the material? Too short Too long Just right

Comments on Course and Material:

Overall impression of course Poor Excellent

Student:
1. I met the prerequisites for the class (I had the skills I needed)
2. My objectives were consistent with the course objectives
3. I will be able to use the skills I have learned on my job
4. My expectations for this course were met
5. I am confident that with practice I will become proficient

Name (optional): Location/room

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(Your name is required at the bottom of this form)

Please “check” this box if you would like to receive more information on our other courses and services.
(Your name is required at the bottom of this form)

Thank you for your business. We hope to continue to provide your training and
personal development for the future.

Rev-9/3/08-jab