DSL KF Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application


The Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application is a Knowledge Fusion Modeling Feature based on SAE-J2044 standard. It creates all the geometry needed to model the male tube used to attach SAE-J2044 Quick Connectors. This application groups all the steps needed in one feature as a whole: 2D profiles, swept feature operations, detailing features and boolean operations are all integrated as one NX modeling feature. All necessary parameters are allowed to be modified through the User Interface Dialog; many other parameters can not be changed since are rule-controlled.

Next are listed the steps to be followed.

Target Body

The Knowledge Fusion Quick Connector Male Tube Feature is to be added to any component in need of an interface to attach SAE-J2044 Quick Connectors to transport fluids. However users can create and place the Quick Connector Male Tube Feature wherever they want and only must select an existing Coordinate System (CSYS) to reference location and orientation; all locating parameters are referenced from this latter. If no CSYS is defined the application won’t execute. The User Interface Dialog has a button that allows selection of the reference CSYS; selection has been filtered to allow only selection of CSYS entities from the Graphics Window.

If no CSYS is selected  the "Apply" and "OK" buttons will be insensitive.

Furthermore if the Quick Connector Male Tube Feature is being executed by another Knowledge Fusion Application some buttons may be unavailable.

Create Male Tube Procedure

To use the Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application, follow these steps:

  1. In Modeling Application go to Insert --> Design Feature --> Fuel Handling --> Quick Connector Male Design.
  2. Select an existing CSYS to reference Quick Connector Male Tube Feature Location and Orientation.
  3. Define parameters as they are required..
  4. Click OK or Apply to create the Quick Connector Male Tube.
  5. Unite the Quick Connector Male Tube Feature to the corresponding body.
  6. Subtract the tool body provided (Core Pin) from the resulting body after uniting the Male Tube to create the inner hole.

NOTE: Clicking "OK" creates or updates geometry and exits the dialog; "Apply" creates or updates geometry but leaves the dialog opened to keep changing options.


Edit Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application Instances

Editing an instance of the Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application is fairly easy and can be treated as any other modeling feature. E.g. extrude, revolve, blend, and so forth.

As with any normal feature there are several ways mentioned below.

  1.  In Modeling Application go to Edit --> Feature --> Parameters and from the feature list select "Quick Conn Male" and click "OK".
  2.  In "Part Navigator" double click the "Quick Conn Male" feature.
  3. In "Part Navigator" right click the "Quick Conn Male" feature and from the pull down list select "Edit KF Application Object".
  4. With selection filter set to "Select Features", double click any geometric portion of the Quick Connector Male Tube feature.

Any of the steps above will open the Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application User Interface Dialog to edit the selected Quick Connector Male Tube instance.

To deleteQuick Connector Male Tube feature follow the same steps as for deleting any modeling feature in NX.

About the Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application

The Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application creates geometry and attributes that defines the Male Tube Feature; this is expressions, CSYS, curves, and solids. It also manages which layers the geometry goes to.

About Expressions

Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application creates several expressions as any modeling features do. All expressions created have been locked and can not be modified through the Expressions Dialog to prevent any disassociation. Furthermore, it explicitly creates named expressions that can be used to link dimensions of the Male Tube to other geometry that may need to update as Male Tube instances do. Named expressions created are listed below.

  1. qcmale_boss_dia_#
  2. qcmale_boss_iddia_#
  3. qcmale_maxid_dia_#
  4. qcmale_minid_dia_#
  5. qcmale_nominal_dia_#
  6. qcmale_x_offset_#  
  7. qcmale_x_rotation_#
  8. qcmale_y_offset_#
  9. qcmale_y_rotation_#
  10. qcmale_z_offset_#
  11. qcmale_z_rotation_# 

NOTE: NX will create expressions adding a number "# " at the end of the expression's name as an index number that will increase consecutively if more than one Male Tube feature is created. Eg. Expression qcmale_boss_dia_# will be named qcmale_boss_dia_1 for the first Male Tube and qcmale_boss_dia_2 for the second Male Tube feature and so forth.


If several Male Tube features are created it may not be easy to identify which expressions correspond to which Male Tube Feature. The Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application has been designed in a way that the index number at the end of the expressions' name matches the index number added to the Male Tube Feature name in Part Navigator.

WARNING: Be careful not to confuse the Timestamp order number with the Male Tube Feature Index Number; they are not the same.

If a Male Tube instance is deleted all its expressions will be deleted as well; however, if any expression is been used or referenced by other feature or expression it will be preserved.

About Layers

Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application creates CSYS, curves, and solids.The application controls the default layer geometry goes to.

  1. CSYS objects are put in layer 52.
  2. Curves go to layer 51.
  3. Solids are created in the "Work" layer.

What Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application is?

Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application is a Knowledge Fusion Application that creates the Male Tube based on SAE-J2044 standard for quick connectors. It groups most of the knowledge when it comes to design a Quick Connector Male Tube interface. Different options are available in this Knowledge Driven Application so re-use of knowledge and access to it is easier and instant than ever.

The Quick Connector Male Tube Design Feature also re-uses knowledge of existing BOP (Bill Of Process). In cases where the Male Tube Feature requieres a boss with an openning for molding purposes; an Ultrasonic Welding Process is needed to close such an opening after the part has been molded. The boss' openning has been designed based on lessons learned. For more information on Ultrasonic Welding click here. If you want to see all BOP click here.

Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application User Interface (UI)

Quick Connector Male Tube Design Feature has a User Interface Dialog which allows modification of many parameters. Any parameter not in the UI means it is not possible to change its value. There are several parameters that are application controlled or ruled by design, engineering or manufacturing.

To learn what every parameter does click here.

Application UI

Troubleshooting

If during create or edit of the Male Tube you experience any error please review your settings and correct any invalid input. There are mainly two error causes.

  1. Applying changes to the Male Tube Feature without having performed a "Make Current Feature" on the Male Tube Feature its self.
  2. Ignoring warning messages. This warnings are intended to inform the user of an invalid input and have it corrected. However users can skip this warnings and proceed to apply changes; every skipped warning will become an error when creating or updating the Male Tube Feature.

If everything seems to be fine and the error still exists delete the Male Tube and create a new one with the desired options. The Quick Connector Male Tube Design Application has been developed in such a way that user will get messages and errors if some design rules are not followed letting the user know his/her misses. However, not all invalid inputs will pop out messages but will make the application fail, however.

In case you are not able to recover from the error please Report the Issue or maybe you would like to  Request an Enhancement.