Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application UI


The User Interface Dialog is split in four tabbed pages. Each page has one or more sections with parameters controlling different portions of the Male Tube geometry. The User Interface is arranged as follows:

  1. Location tab
  2. Male Tube tab
  3. Boss tab
  4. Core Pin tab
  5. Got Thoughts? section

Down below every portion of the User Interface Dialog is described.

Location tab

The Location tab provides users with two sections that have all needed parameters to locate and orient the Male Tube Feature. All this values are referred from an existing CSYS that users must select in order to create the Male Tube Feature.

Values

In this section the six degrees of freedom can be defined to orient and locate the Male Tube to its desired position. The parameters found in this section are consistent and follow the same convention as "Offset from CSYS" method found in the CSYS Constructor users are familiar with. All rotational degrees of freedom are performed about the X, Y, and Z axes of the Referenced CSYS correspondingly with the pivot point at the Position dictated by "X Offset", "Y Offset", and "Z Offset" parameters. "X Rotation", "Y Rotation", and "Z Rotation" parameters control rotation about corresponding axes.

Coordinate System

This sections provides a button to select an existing CSYS that will serve as a parent coordinate system for the Male Tube Feature. To select Reference CSYS click the CSYS button. This will prompt the user to pick the CSYS all parameters will refer from. Only CSYS can be selected.

NOTE: The Quick Connector Male Tube Design has been developed in a way that the Male Tube will have a dependence relationship with the CSYS selected; if the referenced CSYS changes its position and orientation the Male Tube will be affected as well. 

NOTE: Remember that CSYS are NX objects generated every time a DATUM CSYS is created. CSYS can be identified at the DATUM CSYS origin in blue color showing its actual X,Y, and Z axes. Also be aware that the WCS is not a CSYS object

CSYS Object

Male Tube tab

The Male Tube page has been divided in 2 sections which are explained down below.

Size Options

  1. Size "in" ("mm")". There are eight sizes to choose from. This option refers to the size of the Male Tube the Quick Connector is attached to.
  1. "More...". The "plus" button launches the SAE-J2044 dialog to view/edit standard values. To edit Standard Values at the SAE-J2044 dialog simply switch from "Standard" to "Manual" for every parameter that needs changing; this makes the corresponding field sensitive to type in the desired value. There is a reference picture to match every parameter with the dimension it effects. Also at the right side of the dialog there is a read out section that shows the "Standard Value" for the selected size. If default "Zero" is left unchanged the "OK" button will be unavailable. The only way to exit this dialog is clicking "OK".

WARNING: Edited values have to be within a valid range. eg: Dimension "D" must be greater than dimension "1". Any invalid input will make geometry creation or update to fail. Some invalid inputs will cause the next message to pup up; if this message is ignore it will raise again and cause an error when creating or updating the Port.

Error mess

Blend Options

  1. "Apply Blend at Snap?". This toggle turns on/off the back blend at bead section of the Male Tube. This blend may need to be removed for manufacturing or functionality reasons.

Boss tab

This page hosts all parameters to control Boss' geometry. Design Rules have been added to this part of the Male Tube Feature to avoid design problems downstream the Product Development Process. For instance; in case the port is molded in such a way two core pins are needed, a sonic weld process interface has been embedded within the Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application for two sizes of the interface. Ports of size 5/16" and 3/8" using boss are created with this interface. In case any other size option is selected the interface won't be part of the Boss since new dimensional needs may arise with other sizes. Hence a deeper analysis is required to develop the right interface.

Boss Settings

  1. "Male Tube has Boss?". Indicates whether or not the Male Tube Feature has a boss at its origin. This is used to for molding purposes.
  2. "Boss Height Offset". Input field to specify the height the boss offsets from the Male Tube cylindrical face. This value is rule controlled for Port Sizes of 5/16" and 3/8". For any other size this value can be manually specified.
  3. "Boss Low End Extension". Input field to specify the height the boss offsets from the Male Tube cylindrical face in the opposite direction. This parameter can be used to extend the Boss Low End in order to unite the Male Tube Feature to other solid geometry,
 

NOTE: If the size of the Male Tube is 5/16" or 3/8" the "Boss Height Offset" parameter will be insensitive since it is rule controlled. For the "Boss Low End Extension" parameter; the value can not be minor then zero, if this rules is not met a message dialog will pup up to notify the user. If this message is ignored and the value is not corrected the message will show again and will cause an update error.


Core Pin tab

The Core Pin tab allows control over the Pin Tool used to make the Male Tube Feature hole. The settings found in this page provide extended flexibility to not only create the Male Tube hole but also to affect the component to which the Feature is being attached.

Inner Diameter Control

  1. "Inner Dia Ctrl". This Radio Box switch specifies the way the inner diameter of the Male Tube Feature is going to be controlled. There are two options: "Draft Angle" and "Dia Values". If "Draft Angle" is selected then the inner diameter through the Male Tube length will be defined by the "E" dimension within the "SAE-J2044 dialog" and a draft angle. The "Dia Values" option will allow the user to set the inner diameters at both sides of the Male Tube.

Pin Control

The Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application user interface dialog is dynamic; this means that depending upon certain option selection the dialog will change. This applies to the "Set Values" section of the "Core Pin" page. The Parameter "Inner Dia Ctrl" controls the parameters available at the "Set Values" section.

Set Values - Draft Angle

When "Inner Dia Ctrl" is set to "Draft Angle"; the Core Pin can also be extended down beyond the Male Tube to provide sufficient solid geometry to affect not only the Male Tube body but also other solid portions of the component being designed. In addition to the extension capability the draft angle can be adjust as well.

  1. "Parameter". This Icon box switch sets the user interface dialog to view/change whether it is the draft angle value or the length value the core pin extends beyond the Male Tube geometry. The two options are; "Draft Angle" and "Core Pin Extension".

Core Pin

  1. "Angle Value". This radio box switch controls how the draft angle of the Core Pin is managed. There are two options; "Type-in" and "Drag". If "Type-in" is selected a number field to type-in any number between 0 and 1becomes available. However if "Drag" is checked the number field deactivates and a scrollbar becomes active; it can be dragged to change angle's value. This scroll updates dynamically the curve that defines the Core Pin Tool. Once clicking "OK" or "Apply" the solid geometry will update as well
  2. "Extension Value". This radio box switch controls how the length of the extension of the Core Pin is managed. There are two options; "Type-in" and "Drag". If "Type-in" is selected a number field to type-in any number greater than 0 becomes available. However if "Drag" is checked the number field deactivates and a scrollbar becomes active; it can be dragged to change length's value. This scroll updates dynamically the curve that defines the Core Pin Tool. Once clicking "OK" or "Apply" the solid geometry will update as well.

NOTE: Remember that layer 52 should be visible in order to view 2D curves created by the Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application.

Set Values - Dia Values

When "Inner Dia Ctrl" is set to "Dia Values" the "Set Values" will change and display two number fields to input the desired values for the inner diameter at both ends of the Male Tube.

  1. "Port Max Inner Dia". Sets the diameter at the nose end of the Male Tube
  2. "Port Min Inner Dia". Sets the diameter at the opposite end then "Port Max Inner Dia".

NOTE: The inner diameter at the nose of the Male Tube Feature must be greater than the inner diameter at the other end of the Male Tube. If this rule is not met a message will pup up letting the user know of this inconsistency.

Got Thoughts?

This UI section provides means to get help. From this section user can invoke a child dialog with a referenced drawing image that provides quick help by clicking the "Visual Aid" button. For more detailed information this on-line document can be accessed through the "On-line Help" button.

Help UI

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