NX: Static Assembly Tutorial

By: Matthew Jourden

Brighton High School
Brighton, MI
1. Create File Folder called Static Assembly Tutorial
NOTE: Place file in a safe location (i.e. student directory, personal flash drive, documents folder, etc.)
2. Open NX > Design the following Parts
a. Create Individual Files for Each Part > Save each part in Create Static Assembly Tutorial Folder
b. Units: Inches
c. File Names: Sort with the following Assembly Name Part# Part Name
(I.E Static Assembly 01 Base Block, Static Assembly 02 Plug, Static Assembly 03 Bracket)
d. Be sure to label Model Tree Filters

Part 1: Base Block

Part 2: Plug Part 3: Bracket

Diameter 1.25 x Height 2 Extrude Distance = 1
 3. Select New > Select Assembly File > Units: Inches > File Name: Static Assembly > Folder: Static Assembly Tutorial > Press
OK

4. Static Assembly Add Component Menu

Navigate to File Folder of

Saved Files

Number of Iterations of
Selected Part

Type in X,Y,Z Coordinate

Points for Part Location
Placement of Part Manual Move Part
Move Allows User to Type in X,Y,Z
Coordinates or Use a Dragger based Move/Reset Part based on
on X,Y,Z Planes/Axis Rotational axis, Coordinate
System,

Constrain: Select
Points/Edges/Surfaces of
Components/Datums to set
placement of Component
5. Assembly Ground Component: Insert Base Block
a. If Add Component Menu is Close > Select Assemblies Tab > select Add Component

b. Select Open Folder Icon on Add Component Menu > Navigate to Static Assembly Tutorial Folder > Select Part 01
Base Block Select Ok from Open Menu

Select Open Part > Locate

Part 01 Base Block

c. 1st Object that is Brought will be Fixed in the Location in which it was designed
d. Select Ok
e. Model Tree > Select Assembly Navigator to see Components within the assembly

Assembly
Navigator Icon Fixed Part
f. Change Part Color
i. Select View Tab > Select Edit Object Display

Select Edit Object Display

ii. Class Selection Menu Appears
1. Select Part(s) > Select Ok

2. Select Part Color to Change to > Select Apply When Complete

NOTE: Menu maybe used to alter many other features colors, line types, line weight, etc.

Part Color
6. Insert 2nd Component: Part 01 Base Block
a. Select Assembly Tab > Select Add Component > Select Part Icon > Select Part on Screen
This will activate the settings for the 1st Component Assembled

Select Add
Component
Part Icon

Select Part

b. Change Count to 2 > Press Ok

NOTE: 2nd Part will Appear
 c. Assemblies will need to constrain a part along the 3 Default Datums/Axis to fully constrain the part
i. Select Assembly Constraints > Select Constraints

ii. Select the Surface to Touch Align Icon

Distance

Concentric Fix

Parallel

Normal
Touch Align (Perpendicular)

Angle
Align/Fix

Bond
Center
Fit
 iii. Select Vertical Surfaces on both Parts > Select Apply

Select Inside Face

Select Inside Face

iv. Select two Left Surfaces of Parts > Select Apply

Select the 2
Left Surfaces
of the part

v. Select two Bottom Surface of parts > Select Apply

Select the 2
Bottom Surfaces of
the part

vi. Select Ok
 vii. Notice that each Constraint is added to the model tree and if a part is selected under Dependencies the
Parent and Children Parts are shown.

7. Part Connector
a. Select Assemblies Tab > Select Add Component > Select File > Navigate to the folder where Part 03 Bracket is
saved > Open File >
NOTE: If Part Appears in the middle of other parts user as 2 options to see surfaces for constraining

i. Option 1: Hide a part that the Connector is inside. Hide the part by Selecting the Part > Right Click >
Select Eyeball to hide.

To UnHide Parts UnCheck and Check the Part in the Model Tree

Uncheck then Check. This

will hide all components
from this part file

ii. Option 2: Select Move Component > Select Dynamic > Select Part > Left Click in open space to Place part
or Place Cursor on Axis direction or Type in X,Y,Z Values to move Part > Hold Left Mouse Key Down >
Drag Component away

Select Coordinate
System to move X, Y ,Z
b. Select Placement Tab > Select Constrain > Select Touch Align
i. Select the following 2 Surfaces

ii. Select the following 2 Surfaces

iii. Select the following 2 Surfaces

 Notice the Constraint (blue lines) begin to interfere with visualizing the parts. To hide Select Constraint in the Model Tree >
Right Click > Select Display Constraints in Graphics Window

8. Part 2 Plug
a. Select Assemblies Tab > Select Add Component > Select File Icon > Navigate to folder where Part 02 Plug is save
> Open File > Change Count to 2 (1 for each hole)

Change to Count 2

b. Move Parts away from Solid Model

 c. Plug Constraints
i. Axis Alignment: Select Assembly Constraints > Select Touch Align > Place Cursor on the Cylindrical Face
of the Plug > Notice the Axis Line appears > Select Axis Line > Place Cursor on Cylindrical Face of the Hole
> Axis Line appears > Select Axis Line

Select Axis Line

Select Axis Line

NOTE: Move Component if the bottom of the hole and the bottom of the cylinder is not visible

ii. Select Assembly Constraints > Select Touch Align > Select the Bottom of the hole and the bottom of the
cylinder
iii. Repeat the process for the 2nd Plug > Part and Model Tree with Constraints should look as follows

iv. To see all components separately Select the Component that has multiple instances (i.e. Part 02 Plug) >
Right Click > Select Unpack > This will show any multiple components as individual entities on the model
Tree
9. Model Part in Context
Next user will model a connector piece between the 2 Plugs, In Context, modeling the new object off of defined
measurements and constraints
a. Select Assemblies Tab > Select New Component > Select Model > Units Inches > File Name Static Assembly 04
Connector > File Save Location same as other parts > Select OK

b. Create New Component Pop-Menu: This menu allows the user to select existing parts and it part of the new
part. For our purposes we will leave this blank
Select OK to close this menu > Notice on the model tree the new created part is showing
 c. Double Click on Static Assembly 04 Connector on the Model Tree: This will activate the part file while keeping
the assembly ghosted in the background to be used to help model the new part

d. Select Down Arrow on the Next to Settings > UnCheck Delete Original Objects > Press OK

Press Down Arrow Select Object allows

users to associate
Components together

Creating a Sub-
Open Settings
Assembly

UnCheck Delete Original Objects

Results

Checked: Merges the new and

referenced parts together

Unchecked: Creates New Part that

provides permissions to reference
selected parts

i.e. Example of Creating Sub-Assembly on the fly.

Plugs Selected as part of Sub-Assembly with New Component File

Notice Sub-Assembly Component now has Assembly 02 Plug Associated with it. This is now a sub-assembly
where the sub-assembly component is the master file for the sub-assembly this allows a user(s) to hide other
parts of the assembly to work on without having to hide a large number of components.

The Delete Original Objects from the New component Menu will allow the user to fully embed the selected files
into the new component or leave the originals and create new components within the assembly (the latter is
what is shown above.
e. Select Home Tab > Select Sketch Icon
NOTE: By Default Selection will only be constrained to the Part that is active.

f. To select edges from existing components > Select Selection Tab > Change Selection Scope to Entire Assembly

g. Select Selection Tab > Change Type Filter to Face > Select Top Face of One of the Plugs
This step will allow the user to model a sketch off of an existing part
 h. Draw the following Sketch > Select Finish

Note Use the Project

Curve Tool To Copy
the Geometry from
an Existing Part

NOTE: Draw 2 Circles that represent the holes the Plugs will go into

i. 2 Extrudes to Create this Part

i. 1 With the Holes for the Pins to Fit in
1. Select the Home Tab > Select Extrude Tab > Select Sketch from the Model Tree (Note Click on
Part Navigator to access the Components Mode Tree) > Direction: Specify Vector: Direction
should be facing down towards the base > Extrusion Distance .500 > Press OK

Select Sketch for

the Section
Curve

Select Part Navigator

to look at Model Tree
for Component

Top of Plugs

Direction of Extrusion
 ii. 1 With the Holes Filled In
1. Select Home Tab > Select Extrude Select Sketch > Select: Select Curve > Select the Top of the
Plugs to Fill in the Holes > Direction Specify Vector: Project above the Plugs > Extrude Distance =
.500 > Boolean = Unite > Select Ok

Select the Top of the Plug to Fill

in Gap when Extruding Away up
and away from Plugs

Extrude Up and Away from Top of Plugs

Top of Plugs

Bottom View of Part

Showing Holes DO NOT
go Thru All
10. Final Part
a. Change Part Colors to show differences in Parts

b. Hide Constraints: Select all Constraints in the Model Tree > Right Click > Select Hide