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DSL KF Cuff Mating Connector Design Application


The Cuff Design Application is a Knowledge Fusion Modeling Feature based on Delphi Best Practices. It creates all the geometry needed to model a mating interface for convoluted tubes mostly found in Module Reservoir Assemblies (MRA). 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 Cuff Feature is to be added to any component in need of an interface to attach convoluted tubes to transport fluids. However users can create and place the Cuff 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 Cuff Feature is being executed by another Knowledge Fusion Application some buttons may be unavailable.

Create Cuff Procedure

To use the Cuff Design Application, follow these steps:

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

Editing an instance of the Cuff 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 "Cuff Mate Conn" and click "OK".
  2.  In "Part Navigator" double click the "Cuff Mate Conn" feature.
  3. In "Part Navigator" right click the "Cuff Mate Conn" 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 Cuff feature.

IMPORTANT: Depending on Cuff Design Application settings some modeling features may or may not exist inside the Cuff Feature. This becomes important when Cuff Feature gets changed and geometry that was not originally created needs to be added. NX always adds new features at the end in the part navigator. Hence new features within the Cuff Feature will be applied after the boolean features used to united the Cuff to the component causing errors

Always perform a Make Current Feature over the Cuff feature before changing anything else than Cuff Location parameters

make current feature

Any of the steps above will open the Cuff Design Application User Interface Dialog to edit the selected Cuff instance.

To delete a Cuff feature follow the same steps as for deleting any modeling feature in NX.

About the Cuff Design Application

The Cuff Design Application creates geometry and attributes that defines the Cuff Feature; this is expressions, CSYS, curves, and solids. It also manage which layers the geometry goes to.

About Expressions

Cuff 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 Cuff to other geometry that may need to update as Cuff instances does. Named expressions created are listed below.

  1. cuff_boss_dia_#
  2. cuff_boss_height_#
  3. cuff_dia_#
  4. cuff_exc_rotation_#
  5. cuff_id_core_ext_#
  6. cuff_id_dia_#
  7. cuff_id_exc_#
  8. cuff_x_offset_#
  9. cuff_x_rotation_#
  10. cuff_y_offset_#
  11. cuff_y_rotation_#
  12. cuff_z_offset_#
  13. cuff_z_rotation_#

NOTE: NX will create Cuff expressions adding a number "# " at the end of the expression's name as an index number that will increase consecutively if more than one Cuff feature is created. Eg. Expression cuff_boss_dia_# will be named cuff_boss_dia_1 for the first Cuff and  cuff_boss_dia_2 for the second Cuff feature and so forth.


If several Cuff features are created it may not be easy to identify which expressions correspond to which Cuff Feature. The Cuff 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 Cuff Feature name in Part Navigator.

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

If a Cuff 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

Cuff Design Application creates CSYS, curves, and solids.The application controls the default layer geometry goes to.

  1. CSYS objects are put in layer 10.
  2. Curves go to layer 2.
  3. Solids are created in the "Work" layer.

What Cuff Design Application is?

Cuff Design Feature is a Knowledge Fusion Application that creates a Cuff Mating Connector based on Delphi Best Practices for this type of interfaces. It groups most of the knowledge when it comes to design a Cuff Mating Connector 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. Cuff design is based on drawings 25338645 (5/16"), 25164799 (3/8") and 25326728 (1/2").

kf_cuff_geo_eg.jpg

Cuff Design Application User Interface (UI)

Cuff 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 Cuff you experience any error please review your settings and correct any invalid input. There are mainly two error causes.

  1. Applying changes to the Cuff Feature without having performed a "Make Current Feature" on the Cuff 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 Cuff Feature.

If everything seems to be fine and the error still exists delete the Cuff and create a new one with the desired options. The Cuff 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.

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