Why Direct Sketch? 5

[Martynw]

Hi

I am still unsure by the use of "Direct Sketch", over "Sketch in Task Environment", so if someone could explain why we have two methods I would be very appreciative?

Personally I find it far cleaner using the Environment method, but worry that one day it will be taken away.

Regards
Martyn

 

[Dave K]

No real help, but I've found this is very confusing to new users, I've been asked multiple times, "why two sketchers?", and then the deer in headlights look when I try to explain it's just two different interfaces to the same sketch.

-Dave

NX 9, Teamcenter 10

 

[phillpd]

The only thing I can add is ... "The only difference being that the commands in the Sketch in Task Environment are organized in multiple groups on the Home tab. This allows advanced commands to be more accessible on the Ribbon bar."

NX 9.0.3.4
NX 10 (Testing)
Windows 7 64 (Windows 8.1 Tablet)

 

[PrintScaffold]

This is a very popular question. I explain to users that reasons are historical. Also, sketch in the evironment rolls back the model, while direct skecth does not and this allows us to observe update of model in real time if we wish (must be used with caution if the model is complex).

Personally, I mainly use direct sketch now and find it rather nice.

Industry creates wealth!

 

[SDETERS]

I-Deas users had a command simliar to the Direct sketch functionality, Siemens needed to add this functionality to NX to make us I-Deas users happy.? (This is my opinion only LOL)

I really dislike the sketch in task. This has always confused me also. Direct sketch is the only way to go for me. I hate going into the sketch in the enviroment task and my screen rotates flip and orients my view to the sketch.

 

[helperug]

I like to have Direct sheetmetall l am tiered switching applications ;-)

sorry new in NX
regards
Erwin

 

[Arkance/PhoeNX]

You can't stop the Direct Sketch being available (unless you edit your menu's/toolbars) but you can change the behaviour for editing a sketch.
You can also stop the sketch orientating the view on entry to a sketch.
Attached images show where these are set in the defaults.

Anthony Galante
Senior Support Engineer

NX5.0.6, NX6.0.5, NX7.5.5, NX8.0.0 -> NX8.0.3
NX8.5.0 -> NX8.5.3, NX9.0.0 -> NX9.0.3, NX10 Beta

 

[lklo]

hi -

I will say : Dont use direct sketch.

The intention with direct sketch is that it should be a fast way to start a sketch ,
but if many users are not aware about the Automatic plane and horizontal reference ,that often are created ,
if direct sketch is starten in the workspace. When model is changed in a ealier stage ,they do not have a relation to the sketch's plane and hor-ref.
Often because its assigned automaticaly ,or a datumcsys is build in the sketch.

In reallife with many users (maybe newtrained), I will highly recommend to use the Sketch Task Environment , and manually select the sketch plane and the horizontal reference.
In this way you always get a stable and robust solution.

( the direct sketch is a result from drafting app. where it is possible to sketch directly in a view. It is, however, very effective.

 

[Martynw]

what I would really like to know is, what is the Siemens view on what we should be using? I train new users and currently ignore Direct Sketch, as it just adds another level of confusion.

A lot of the upgrade to NX9 training material references Direct Sketch, which suggests that it is being pushed.

 

[JohnRBaker]

While it is true that the 'Direct Sketch' may be seen by some are the preferred approach, the Sketch Task environment is still fully supported and will remain so. Note that I've edited my NX 9.0/10.0 ribbon so that I have access to EITHER sketch environment from the Modeling 'Home' ribbon. I've also set-up my system so that when editing a feature using 'Edit with Rollback' that it defaults to the 'Sketch Task'. I generally still prefer to use the Sketch Task approach versus the Direst Sketch, but then that's my personal preference. That being said, there are NO plans to remove the Sketch Task environment and the sketches created using either approach are identical in ALL ways. In fact, once created, there is NO way to tell which approach was used to create a sketch feature.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Digital Factory
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[PrintScaffold]

hi -
I will say : Dont use direct sketch.
The intention with direct sketch is that it should be a fast way to start a sketch ,
but if many users are not aware about the Automatic plane and horizontal reference ,that often are created ,
if direct sketch is starten in the workspace. When model is changed in a ealier stage ,they do not have a relation to the sketch's plane and hor-ref.
Often because its assigned automaticaly ,or a datumcsys is build in the sketch.
In reallife with many users (maybe newtrained), I will highly recommend to use the Sketch Task Environment , and manually select the sketch plane and the horizontal reference.
In this way you always get a stable and robust solution.
( the direct sketch is a result from drafting app. where it is possible to sketch directly in a view. It is, however, very effective.

That is exaclty the reason I always recommend users to create datum CSYS first, and then put sketch on it. The problems described by you simply won't appear with this approach. CSYS tools gives you much more control over orientation of origin point and XY axis than sketch placement tool.
I will say: use CSYS and Direct sketch.

Industry creates wealth!

 

[JohnRBaker]

My standard Modeling Template part file has a Datum CSYS already created at 0,0,0, but no WCS displayed. Note that my Assembly Template part file only has the WCS displayed but no CSYS as I prefer to 'Fix' my base Component and not constrain it to Datums.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Digital Factory
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[PrintScaffold]

but no WCS displayed

BTW! How to switch OFF this irritating WCS by default?

Industry creates wealth!

 

[JohnRBaker]

If you're creating new 'blank' parts, there's no way that I'm aware of. However, if you're using template files, just open the master part files, toggle OFF the display of the WCS and save the files.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Digital Factory
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[PrintScaffold]

Thank you, John! It did not occure to me somehow. For the long time, the first action after creation of new part for me was to press 'W'.

Industry creates wealth!