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Exercise 13.3 - NX to SysML with Compare and Sync

Exercise 13.3 - NX to SysML with Compare and Sync

Objectives

The new learning objective of this exercise is to compare and sync the value properties of a block representing an NX part once it has been generated from a NX → SysML model transformation. You will see the effects of NX part feature changes in the Comparison Result window within Syndeia.

Preparation

This exercise assumes the student has:

  • Cameo System Modeler (or MagicDraw with SysML plug-in) supported version installed correctly on their machine with a valid license for use,

  • Syndeia or later installed as a plugin for Cameo/MagicDraw with a valid license for use

  • Syndeia NX interface, correctly installed with a valid license for use,

  • Siemens NX 11.0 or later, installed correctly on their machine with a valid license for use. (Preferably NX2306)

 

The NX CAD model used in this illustration is the model that is linked for download.

It should be copied to your local file system where it is available through a local repository link (see Video 1.2 in Part 1 - Introduction for adding a repository).

Exercise

  1. Create a new MagicDraw project. Add the Syndeia profile and an empty package (Turbine_shaft in this example) to your SysML model.

 

  1. Launch the Syndeia Dashboard from the Turbine_shaft package. Select a Syndeia Cloud project if your Syndeia Client is configured for Cloud mode. Go to the Connection Manager tab, expand the SysML model in the left column and your local repository in the right. Find the NX CAD model (.prt) file, using a repository link pointing to the section of your local file system where the CAD model is located.

 

  1. Expand the prt file to view the NX model structure. This will initialize a NX session if this is the first time you are accessing NX models after creating/opening your SysML project. Once the NX session is initialized, you will see a part icon (for NX parts) under the prt file, as shown for the Turbine_shaft model:

image-20240619-180317.png
Figure 1 Syndeia Client Dashboard → Connection Manager

 

  1. Select Model Transform connection type in the middle panel and drag-and-drop the NX model from the right column to the Turbine_shaft SysML package in the left column, as shown below. Select Yes at the prompt.

image-20240619-180719.png
Figure 2 Model Transform NX part to Empty Package in Cameo via Drag-and-Drop

 

  1. This generates a SysML block from NX part, as shown below. Notice the generation of block value properties corresponding to mass properties in the CAD model.

image-20240619-181409.png
Figure 3 The SysML block has been generated from the NX Part with its Value properties

 

  1. Create a SysML block diagram in Cameo and display the Turbine_shaft block and its value properties, as shown below. *Note that the Block symbol in Figure 4 is dependent on your specific user settings and may not appear identical to the one in this tutorial.

image-20240619-181913.png
Figure 4 Block definition diagram of the created NX Part block with value properties

 

  1. Go to the Connections Browser tab in Syndeia and navigate to the SysML package where you generated the NX part block.  Expand it to view the Model Transform connection.  Right click and select 'Compare Source & Target'.

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Figure 5 Compare Source & Target in the Connections Browser

 

  1. The Comparison Result screen should display the SysML Block that corresponds to its NX part and the associated value properties. Everything shows green and the values between NX and SysML are in sync.

image-20240619-190603.png
Figure 6 The Comparison Result of the NX part and SysML Block

 

  1. Go back to your Cameo Model and right click on the SysML block named Turbine_shaft. Hover over the Syndeia menu option and then click 'Open Connected Artifacts' as shown in the Figure below.

image-20240619-190649.png
Figure 7 Right-click from the Syndeia Menu option to open the NX Part from Cameo

 

  1. The Turbine_shaft part should open in Siemens NX.  In the feature tree on the left side of the screen, double-click 'Extrude (2)' as shown in the Figure below.

image-20240619-190811.png
Figure 8 Double click to edit the ‘Extrude (2)’ feature in NX

 

  1. In the Extrude field labeled 'Distance', change the value from 1700 mm to 1200 mm.  Click 'Ok' and save the NX model. 

image-20240619-190932.png
Figure 9 Change the length value from 1700 mm to 1200 mm

 

  1. Return to the Syndeia client dashboard.  In the Connection Browser, navigate to the connection for the Turbine_shaft block as shown in the Figure below.  Right click and select 'Compare Source & Target' then select 'Yes' to confirm.

image-20240619-191331.png
Figure 10 Return to Syndeia Dashboard; Compare and Sync on the Turbine_shaft connection

 

  1. View the Comparison Result screen and notice the values for Mass, Volume, and other properties of the NX part have changed and are now showing out-of-sync compared to the SysML block values. This is due to the change in length made to the NX part.

image-20240619-191519.png
Figure 11 View the Outdated Values in Comparison Result

 

  1. To push the changes of values to the SysML model, go to the Turbine_shaft connection in the Connection Browser, Right click and select 'Sync Target -> Source' as shown in the figure below.

image-20240619-191901.png
Figure 12 Sync change in values from NX to Cameo via ‘Sync Target → Source’

 

  1. Compare and sync the connection once again.  Everything should now show green, which indicates the values are now in sync between NX and SysML.

image-20240619-192009.png
Figure 13 Results now show all green/ in sync

 

  1. Viewing the NX Part block in Cameo now, you will see the Mass property got updated to 458.3 kg. The changes have been successfully synced to SysML a shown below.

image-20240619-192128.png
Figure 14 View updated values for NX part mass properties in Cameo