Inserting files using CAD Direct


Use the CAD Direct command to insert non-QY CAD files directly into QY CAD assembly without translating the files separately. This eliminates the task of translating non-QY CAD files before inserting them into an assembly.

To specify which geometry elements you want to insert from chosen non-QY CAD file and how you want to insert them, you can use the .ini files or options available in the options dialog box for the type of file you are inserting.

Links are maintained between the parent non-QY CAD file and the QY CAD geometry. Any changes made to the non-QY CAD geometry are reflected in the QY CAD assembly.

Link is maintained with only top node, so you need to save top assembly of linked non-QY CAD file. For example, if you insert a non-QY CAD assembly as CAD Direct component and later change a part in that non-QY CAD assembly, the part is saved, but assembly is not saved. Updates will no reflect changes in the part. In this case you will get a warning about force update which, when accepted, will re-translate everything, and reflect changes in part. It is recommended that you save the linked top assembly before updating.

You can add multiple occurrences of CAD Direct components. Any updates to the geometry are updates for all occurrences.

You can apply constraints or features between different files you have inserted or between inserted files and QY CAD files in the assembly.

Note:

This command supports the latest version of NX that can be opened in QY CAD.

Any features created using CAD Direct geometry are modified based on changes in the NX file and constraints are maintained.

Each file is inserted as an internal component linked to non-QY CAD files, so no files are created on disk. If you need the components on disk, use the Publish Internal Components command. For more information, see Publishing internal components.

Updating CAD Direct Links

There may be cases when changes are made to the linked non-QY CAD file. You can replace the older version of the component with a new component with the same name. To update the changes, right-click the CAD Direct component and use the Update CAD Direct Geometry command.

Changes to the CAD Direct geometry include:

  • Parts added or removed from the parent non-QY CAD assembly

  • Subassembly added or removed from the parent non-QY CAD assembly

  • Part or subassembly position changed in the parent non-QY CAD assembly

  • Body added to the parent non-QY CAD file

  • Body position changed in the parent non-QY CAD file

Note:

It is recommended that you save the parent NX assembly to update the changes.

Breaking CAD Direct Links

Right-click a CAD Direct component and use the Break CAD Direct Link command to break the link between the parent file and any CAD Direct component(s). This results in making the QY CAD geometry independent of the non-QY CAD file. If you break the link, the link cannot be reestablished.

CAD Direct impacts on document management

Inserting non-QY CAD files with CAD Direct impacts on document management include:

  • Design Manager—Non-QY CAD files linked to CAD Direct components do not show up in Design Manager. For commands located on the Design Manger or Data Management tabs, such as Save As, Pack and Go, and Where Used, links for CAD Direct components are maintained with the source file at the original location. Even after executing the Pack and Go command, the link to the CAD Direct component is with the original non-QY CAD file. It is not copied to a new location or added to a zip file.

  • SEDM—If you attempt to save an unmanaged file containing a CAD Direct component to a vault location, the CAD Direct source file is not copied to the vault location. The CAD Direct component keeps the link with original source file at old location.

  • SEEC—- After uploading a unmanaged QY CAD assembly containing CAD direct Component, the source file is not uploaded to SEEC server. But the CAD Direct geometry is available in the uploaded assembly.

CAD Direct impacts on assembly

For the CAD Direct component, the entire structure appears in PathFinder, but only the top node appears in the Internal Components collector.

Opening non-QY CAD documents Opening ACIS Documents in QY CAD

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