Master View

When you import a 3D CAD assembly file into NPI, you see the Master View of the assembly. This is the default view. You can create additional views, manipulate and transform a 3D image by rotating or repositioning the assembly, make portions of the assembly transparent to view underlying objects, or create exploded views to make each discrete portion of the assembly visible and show how the assembly fits together. Other options allow you to annotate or color individual parts in the CAD design to bring attention to them. After you manipulate the assembly to the desired layout and orientation, you can save the view. You can use saved views to create the factory floor visuals and work instructions needed to drive the assembly of the product being built. On the factory floor in the Production environment, operators are shown the specific views that will aid them in the manufacturing process.

Views pane

In NPI, you can create different custom views of an assembly for specific steps and activities to be used by operators in Production. On the right side of the Process Definition window, the Views pane keeps track of the individual views you create and save. You begin with the Master View, then you can use the Views toolbar buttons to create, delete, cut, copy, paste, and modify as many additional views as you need. For example, you might create a transparent view of the assembly to reveal internal parts for one step of an operation. You might color different areas or specific parts of the assembly for other steps or activities. You can also isolate a specific part in a view or explode the assembly to see all parts more clearly.

In the following illustration, a top view was created by dragging the cursor to rotate the assembly to view the top of the motor.

View examples

The examples in this topic show some of the options you can apply to 3D CAD views in FactoryLogix to help you create the most useful work instructions for operators on the factory floor. See Use the 3D CAD toolbar for more information. 

The following illustration shows an exploded view of an assembly that reveals all the parts more clearly for operators on the shop floor.

In the following illustration, a single part is highlighted to draw attention to it.

In this illustration, specific parts and sizes are called out with redline notes.

The following illustration shows a zoomed view of an assembly. One part is selected and 3D "handles" are used to rotate the selected part.

Tip

When you right-click any part of a 3D CAD assembly, a menu displays that allows you to modify the current view. For more information about the menu options, see Create and manage views.

The following illustration shows a shaded view of an assembly. Shaded views don't have as much detail as views using the Shaded With Lines view.

The following illustration uses the Hidden Line view to reveal parts and detail not available in other views.