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How to Create NX Drawing Templates

One of the first things you'll need to do when you take hold of the keys of your shiney new NX system is to create a set of your own companies drawing templates to replace the standard set supplied by Siemens.

The following "How to" will guide you through the process of taking drawing templates from NX I-DEAS and re-creating them in NX. The process that we use can be used on any templates that you transfer from any system, not just I-DEAS.

In I-DEAS there are two methods for adding a drawing frame to a drawing

1. Using a PFF template file
   
2. Using a drawing symbol and the “Create Title” icon

Process for I-DEAS PFF file templates

1. Create a drawing of the template size to transfer to NX
2. Export a DXF file using File – Export - DXF.
3. Turn off all options on the DXF translator when exporting the DXF file
4. Repeat for each drawing size

Process for I-DEAS Drafting Symbols

1. Create a drawing of the template size to transfer to NX and add the “Title Block” using the “Create Title” – IC command
2. Smash the symbol to its constituent parts
3. Export a DXF file using File – Export - DXF.
4. Turn off all options on the DXF translator when exporting the DXF file
5. Repeat for each drawing size

Before you start to make any additions or changes to your installation, please ensure that you have a full backup of your UGS NX software in particular the ...NX*.0\UGII\templates folder

In NX translate the DXF file to a new file.

1. File – Import – DXF to A0.prt
   1. This creates a new NX part file
2. Create the NX template part file
3. File – New – A0_Template.prt
4. Start – Drafting
5. Create a new “standard” sheet the same size as the template, do not create a base view
6. File – Import – Part and OK the dialog and then select the A0.prt part file and OK the point location dialog ensuring that xc,yc and zc are all 0.0000000

NX Layering

1. All templates use the following layers
   1. Layer 255 – All editable Geometry and Notes
   2. Layer 256 – read only non editable entities
2. The next step is to move the editable text to layer 255 and everything else to 256
3. Add additional text placement holders on layer 255
4. Add standard notes to layer 255
5. Save the file!
6. Repeat for each drawing template

Place holder Views

Templates can optionally contain place holder views for automatic drawing creation.

Views are auto scaled and auto centred Standard orthogonal views and section views are supported

To add views to your template

1. Start – Modelling
2. Add one component part to the assembly, it can be any part that you have access to.
3. Start – Drafting
4. Add a Base View
5. Add additional Projected Views
6. Optionally add Section Views
7. Save the file!
8. Repeat for each drawing template

Text Placement Holders

NX notes can access system attributes such as

1. File Name
2. Part Description
3. Material
4. Sheet Numbers
5. Scale...

A full set of attributes can be found in the online documentation. For reference I've included the common attributes below

Adding the New Template to NX

The Resource Bar is managed by the use of PAX files

The PAX file contains the locations and descriptions of the templates that are access from the resource bar

You can either overwrite the existing templates with your version or you can add your template as a new entry

To add the new template to the resource bar you need to edit the ugs_sheet_templates.pax file located in the UGII\templates folder

To add the new template to the File – New – Drawing tab you need to edit the ugs_drawing_templates.pax file located in the UGII\templates folder

Copy one of the existing entries and edit it to suit your template.

Edit the Resource Bar PAX file

ugs_sheet_templates.pax

<PaletteEntry id="d22">
    <References/>
    <Presentation name="A0 - no views" description=“A0 Sheet, No Views">
      <PreviewImage type="UGPart" location=“A0_template.jpg"/>
    </Presentation>
    <ObjectData class="SheetTemplate">
        <TemplateFileType>none</TemplateFileType>
        <Filename>A0_template.prt</Filename>
        <Units>Metric</Units>
    </ObjectData>
  </PaletteEntry>

Save the changes

Edit the “File – New” Drawing PAX file

ugs_drawing_templates.pax
<PaletteEntry id="d13">
    <References/>
    <Presentation name="A0 - views" description=“Majenta PLM, 4 Views, 2 Sheets">
      <PreviewImage type="UGPart" location="drawing_views_template.jpg"/>
    </Presentation>
    <ObjectData class="DrawingTemplate">
        <TemplateFileType>none</TemplateFileType>
        <Filename>A0_template.prt</Filename>
        <Units>Metric</Units>
       <UsesMasterModel>Yes</UsesMasterModel>
    </ObjectData>
  </PaletteEntry>

Save the changes

Test and Deploy

• Test the creation of a drawing by using the File New Drawing tab and correct any issues
• Test the creation of a drawing by using the Templates Resource Bar and correct any issues.
• Once you have a full set of templates you are ready to deploy to the other clients in your installation.
• Copy all the files in your UGII\templates folder to each of the clients and overwrite the contents of their UGII\templates folder.

Thank you

Gary Hammond

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