How to Assemble a Vise in NX CAM

Open setup file for the activity:

…\parts\A1-Vice_assembly\Kurt-DX6-WEB.step

We will start by creating an assembly structure of the imported bodies:

Add bodies to newly created components. Five components will be created for this assembly.

1. Select Body (5) – Fixed Master Jaw

2. From the Assembly tab, choose New Component

3. Select the Model tab

4. Select the Model template

5. Enter the name – kurt_fixed_master_jaw

6. Ok

7. Ok on the New Component dialog a. Notice the Body is removed from the Part Navigator and belongs to the newly create kurt_fixed_master_jaw component.

Repeat the previous steps for the Fixed Jaw, Movable Master Jaw, Master Jaw, and Base.

1. Complete steps for Fixed Jaw, Movable Master Jaw, and Master Jaw

2. All the remaining bodies will be assigned to the Kurt_base component, select all bodies in Part Navigator

3. Select New Component – Enter name kurt_base

4. Ok

All bodies have now been converted to components. There should be no geometry remaining in the Part Navigator.

5. Save your file

Open setup file for the activity:

…\parts\A1-Vice_assembly\kurt_vice_assembly\Kurt-DX6_activity_A1-1_complete.prt

Or continue using your own vice assembly.

We will start be adding Assembly Constraints to the individual components

1. From the Assembly tab on the ribbon bar, select Assembly Constraints

2. Select “Fix” as the constraint type

3. Select “Kurt_Base” from the Assembly Navigator

We have now fixed the Base component in model space, next we will constraint the other components to the base.

Constrain Fixed Master Jaw to Base

1. With the Assembly Constraints dialog active select “Center” as the constraint type and “2 to 2” as the Subtype

2. Select “Kurt_Base” from the Assembly Navigator

We have now fixed the Base component in model space, next we will constraint the other components to the base

3. Click and drag the Fixed Master Jaw away from the base

4. Select faces as shown – 2 faces on jaw, then 2 faces on base

5. OK

6. With the Assembly Constraints dialog active select “Touch Align” as the constraint type and “Find Closest” as the Orientation

7. Select Face of Jaw and Face of Base

8. With the Assembly Constraints dialog active select “Touch Align” as the constraint type and “Find Closest” as the Orientation

9. Select Face of Jaw and Face of Base

Constrain Fixed Jaw to Fixed Master Jaw

1. With the Assembly Constraints dialog active select “Touch Align” as the constraint type and “Infer Center/axis” as the Orientation

2. Click and drag the Fixed Jaw away from the Fixed Master Jaw

3. Select centerlines as shown

4. OK

8. With the Assembly Constraints dialog active select “Touch Align” as the constraint type and “Find Closest” as the Orientation

9. Select Face of Jaw and Face of Jaw Master

1. With the Assembly Constraints dialog active select “Touch Align” as the constraint type and “Align” as the Orientation

2. Select Face of Movable Master Jaw and Face of Fixed Master Jaw, top Faces

3. Same geometry, this time select the side faces

1. With the Assembly Constraints dialog active select “Touch Align” as the constraint type and “Align” as the Orientation

2. Select Face of Movable Master Jaw and Face of Fixed Master Jaw, top Faces

3. Same geometry, this time select the side faces

Constrain Movable Jaw to Movable Master Jaw

1. With the Assembly Constraints dialog active select “Touch Align” as the constraint type and “Infer Center/axis” as the Orientation

2. Click and drag the Movable Jaw away from the Movable Master Jaw

3. Select centerlines as shown

4. With the Assembly Constraints dialog active select “Touch Align” as the constraint type and “Find Closest” as the Orientation

5. Select Face of Jaw and Face of Jaw Master

6. With the Assembly Constraints dialog active select “Parallel” as the constraint type

7. Select Face of Jaw and Face of Jaw Master

One degree of freedom remains allowing the vice to open and close. This position will be controlled in your manufacturing setup file using Override Poistion(s).

We will start by creating a Seed Part that can be managed locally

1. From the Home tab of the ribbon bar, select New

2. From the New dialog, select 3M Blank from the Model tab.

3. Assign the name 3axis_mfg_template

4. OK

5. Enter Manufacturing Application

6. Select the desired CAM config file and CAM Setup to use

7. OK

8. From the Geometry tab of the ribbon bar, select Datum CSYS

9. OK

10. Save the part file

Open setup file for the activity:

…\parts\A2-manufactuing_template\kurt_vice_assembly\3axis_mfg_template_activity_A2-2_complete.prt

Or continue using your own 3axis_mfg_template from the previous activity.

We will start be adding our vice assembly to our manufacturing template

1. From the Assembly tab on the ribbon bar, select Add Component

2. Browse to …\parts\A1-Vice_assembly\kurt_vice_assembly\Kurt-DX6_activity_A1-2_complete.prt

3. Constrain the Vice to the CSYS previously created. Touch face to Datum

4. Use constraint “Center” and Subtype “2 to 1”

5. Select two vice faces and the YZ datum plane

6. Use constraint “Center” and Subtype “2 to 1”

7. Select two vice faces and the YZ datum plane

We will use Override Position(s) to control the movable jaw location

8. From the Assembly Navigator, expand the Vice assembly structure

9. Right Click on kurt_movable_master_jaw, select Override Position

10. Verify the Position status is Partially Constrained, Explicit Override

11. Save part file

Open setup file for the activity:

…\parts\A2-manufactuing_template\kurt_vice_assembly\3axis_mfg_template_activity_A2-2_complete.prt

Or continue using your own 3axis_mfg_template from the previous activity.

We will start by adding standard operations and tooling

1. Load three (3) tools from the library

a. NXT0212_002 – 64mm facemill

b. NXT0201_002 – 6mm endmill

c. NXT0201_004 – 10mm endmill

2. Create three (3) operations

a. Floor Facing

b. Adaptive Milling

c. Pocketing

3. Set Operation Template Settings

4. Check both boxes in the Template Setting dialog

5. Set Tools Template Settings

6. Check both boxes in the Template Setting dialog

7. From Assemblies tab on the ribbon bar Add Component.

8. Browse for target_component.prt

9. Constrain target_component.prt to the fixed jaw of the vice

a. Touch block Face to Fixed Jaw

b. Touch block Face to Vice Base

c. Align block Face to Fixed Jaw

10. Constrain the movable jaw to the target_component.prt.

11. Save the part file

Open setup file for the activity:

…\parts\A2-manufactuing_template\kurt_vice_assembly\3axis_mfg_template_activity_A2-3_complete.prt

Or continue using your own 3axis_mfg_template from the previous activity.

We will start by replacing the target component with the part to be manufactured

1. Right click on Target_component in the Assembly Navigator, choose Replace Component

2. Browse to select 3M_sample_part

3. OK

a. Component has been replaced causing the constraints to have missing references.

5. Refine each constraint with a missing reference

6. Select corresponding geometry for the missing references, 4 in this example

Once all constraints are redefined the Geometry is ready for manufacturing