Lesson:USING LAYERS

Layer Control:

With NX, you can control whether objects are visible or selectable by using layers. A layer is a system-defined attribute that all objects in NX must have, such as color,font, and width. A layer may be thought of as a partition in the part file that objects reside in, or ON for the purpose of organization. There are 256 usable layers in NX, one of which is always the Work Layer. Any of the 256 layers can be assigned to one of four classifications of status:
• Work
• Selectable
• Visible Only
• Invisible
The Work Layer is the layer that objects are created ON and is always visible and selectable while it remains the Work Layer. Layer 1 is the default Work Layer when starting a new part file. When the Work Layer is changed to another layer, the previous Work Layer automatically becomes Selectable and can then be assigned a status of Visible Only or Invisible.
The number of objects that can be on one layer is not limited. You have the freedom to choose whichever layer you want to create the object on and the status of that layer. However, it should be mentioned that the use of company standards in regards to layers would be advantageous.


To assign a status to a layer or layers,
Choose FORMAT → LAYER SETTINGS
Commands in Layers

We will follow simple steps to practice the commands in Layers. First, we will create two objects (Solids) by the method as follows. The details of Surface and Solid Modeling will be discussed in the next chapter. The solids that we draw here are only for practice in this chapter.
> Choose FILE → NEW

Name the file and choose a folder in which to save it. Make sure you selected the units to be inches in the drop-down menu. Choose the file type as Model
> Click OK
> Choose INSERT → DESIGN FEATURE → CYLINDER OR select the object from the Application Toolbar showing the picture of cylinder.
> Choose AXIS, DIAMETER, HEIGHT under Type
> Click on icon next to Specify Vector
 The Vector Constructor dialog will appear. This is to specify the direction of the axis of the cylinder. The default direction will be in the Z direction.

> Click OK on the pop-up window
> Then click on icon next to Specify Point
The Point Constructor window will appear for you to determine the location of the cylinder. The default location will be the origin (0, 0, 0) on the WCS.
> Click OK
If you would like to change the direction of Axis or the Point of origin, click on the boxes outlined in red in as shown in the figure.

> Next type 4 inches for the diameter and 8 inches for the height under Properties
> Click OK
> Click CANCEL on any other window that pops up.
The screen will now look like the following figure.
Right-click on the screen and choose ORIENT VIEW → TRIMETRIC
> If the solid is in wire-frame, right-click on the screen and choose RENDERING STYLE → SHADED 
OR click on the Shaded icon in the toolbar 

Now you will be able to see a solid cylinder.

Now let us practice some Layer Commands.
> Choose FORMAT → MOVE TO LAYER

You will be asked to select a surface or solid.
> Move the cursor on to the cylinder and click on it so that it becomes highlighted.
> Click OK
You will get the following pop window.

> In the Destination Layer or Category space at the top of the window, type 61.
> Choose APPLY, then CANCEL



The Cylinder has now gone to the 61st layer. It can no longer be seen in Layer 1.
> To see the cylinder, click FORMAT → LAYER SETTINGS
> Double-click on 61 so that Selectable shows next to it
> Click OK


The cylinder will again be seen on the screen.

There is no cylinder in layer 1