Clean up sheet metal flat pattern

Here is a journal submitted by user hppianoman. The intended use is to clean up the sheet metal flat pattern before performing a DXF export for further processing. The journal performs the following steps:

1. Rename the "flat-pattern" modeling view in order to remove the random number NX puts on the end.
2. Replace the current view with the flat-pattern view as the "work" view.
3. Select all lines and arcs of the flat-pattern and copy them to the clipboard.
4. Replace the flat-pattern view with the "top" view as the "work view.
5. Select all features of the model history and delete everything.
6. Make layer 204 the working view.
7. Paste the lines and arcs of the flat-pattern from the clipboard to the top view.
8. Orient the WCS to the Absolute Csys.
9. Fit to screen.



The journal was written and tested on NX 7.5.




'CleanUp Program to clean up CAD models in NX in order to prepare the flat pattern for DXF creation for the NC programming software.
'This program will:
'1.  Rename the "flat-pattern" modeling view in order to remove the random number NX puts on the end.
'2.  Replace the current view with the flat-pattern view as the "work" view.
'3.  Select all lines and arcs of the flat-pattern and copy them to the clipboard.
'4.  Replace the flat-pattern view with the "top" view as the "work view.
'5.  Select all features of the model history and delete everything.
'6.  Make layer 204 the working view.
'7.  Paste the lines and arcs of the flat-pattern from the clipboard to the top view.
'8.  Orient the WCS to the Absolute Csys.
'9.  Fit to screen.
 
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'General imports needed at the beginning of the program
 
Option Strict Off
Imports System
Imports NXOpen
Imports NXOpenUI
Imports NXOpen.Features
 
 
Module NXJournal
    Sub Main()
 
        'Declarations needed at the beginning of each program to tell the program what NX session to be working in, and what part is the working part.
        Dim theSession As Session = Session.GetSession()
        Dim workPart As Part = theSession.Parts.Work
 
 
        '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
        'Declarations in order to Pause the program during testing.
        'Dim theUI As UI = UI.GetUI()
        'Dim Message As String
        'Message = "Code is good to here."
 
 
        '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
        'Rename "FLAT-PATTERN-#" Modeling view to just "FLAT-PATTERN"; without the random number on the end.
        For Each obj As NXObject In workPart.ModelingViews
            If obj.Name.Contains("FLAT-PATTERN") Then
                obj.SetName("FLAT-PATTERN")
            End If
        Next
 
        'theUI.NXMessageBox.Show("Information", NXMessageBox.DialogType.Information, "Just finished renaming the FLAT-PATTERN, OK?")
 
        ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
        'REPLACE THE CURRENT VIEW WITH THE FLAT-PATTERN VIEW
        Dim markID1 As Session.UndoMarkId
        markID1 = theSession.SetUndoMark(Session.MarkVisibility.Visible, "Replace View")
 
        Dim layout1 As Layout = CType(workPart.Layouts.FindObject("L1"), Layout)
        Dim modelingView1 As ModelingView = CType(workPart.ModelingViews.FindObject("FLAT-PATTERN"), ModelingView)
 
        layout1.ReplaceView(workPart.ModelingViews.WorkView, modelingView1, True)
 
        'theUI.NXMessageBox.Show("Information", NXMessageBox.DialogType.Information, "Just finished replacing the default view with the FLAT-PATTERN, OK?")
 
        ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
        'SELECT ALL ARCS AND LINES IN FLAT PATTERN GEOMETRY IN ORDER TO COPY THEM TO THE CLIPBOARD
 
        Dim markID3 As Session.UndoMarkId
        markID3 = theSession.SetUndoMark(Session.MarkVisibility.Visible, "Copy")
 
        'Loop to remove bend tangency lines on layer 102"
        For Each obj As DisplayableObject In theSession.Parts.Work.Curves
            If TypeOf obj Is Line Then
                If obj.Layer = 102 Then
                    obj.Blank()
                End If
            End If
        Next
 
        'Dim lw As ListingWindow = theSession.ListingWindow
        'lw.Open()
 
        Dim copycutBuilder1 As Gateway.CopyCutBuilder
        copycutBuilder1 = workPart.ClipboardOperationsManager.CreateCopyCutBuilder()
        copycutBuilder1.CanCopyAsSketch = True
        copycutBuilder1.IsCut = False
        copycutBuilder1.ToClipboard = True
        copycutBuilder1.DestinationFilename = Nothing
 
        Dim flatPatternEntities() As NXObject
 
        For Each myFeature As Feature In workPart.Features.GetFeatures()
            If myFeature.FeatureType = "FLAT-PATTERN" Then
                Dim myFlatPattern As FlatPattern = myFeature
                'lw.WriteLine("flat pattern found, feature number: " & myFeature.GetFeatureName)
                flatPatternEntities = myFlatPattern.GetCurves
                'lw.WriteLine("Entity Count: " & flatPatternEntities.Length)
            End If
        Next
        'lw.Close()
 
        If flatPatternEntities.Length > 0 Then
            copycutBuilder1.SetObjects(flatPatternEntities)
            Dim nxObject1 As NXObject
            nxObject1 = copycutBuilder1.Commit()
        End If
 
        copycutBuilder1.Destroy()
 
        'theUI.NXMessageBox.Show("Information", NXMessageBox.DialogType.Information, "Just finished copying to clipboard, OK?")
 
        '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
        'REPLACE THE "FLAT PATTERN" VIEW WITH THE "TOP" VIEW AS THE "WORK" VIEW.
        Dim markID4 As Session.UndoMarkId
        markID4 = theSession.SetUndoMark(Session.MarkVisibility.Visible, "Replace View")
 
        Dim layout2 As Layout = CType(workPart.Layouts.FindObject("L1"), Layout)
        Dim modelingView2 As ModelingView = CType(workPart.ModelingViews.FindObject("TOP"), ModelingView)
 
        layout2.ReplaceView(workPart.ModelingViews.WorkView, modelingView2, True)
 
        'theUI.NXMessageBox.Show("Information", NXMessageBox.DialogType.Information, "Just finished replacing the FLAT-PATTERN with the TOP view, OK?")
 
        '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
        'DELETE ALL GEOMETRY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PASTE FLAT PATTERN BACK TO SCREEN
 
        Dim notifyOnDelete1 As Boolean
        notifyOnDelete1 = theSession.Preferences.Modeling.NotifyOnDelete
 
        theSession.UpdateManager.ClearErrorList()
 
        Dim markID5 As Session.UndoMarkId
        markID5 = theSession.SetUndoMark(Session.MarkVisibility.Visible, "Delete")
 
        Dim featureLength As Integer
        featureLength = 0
 
        For Each obj As NXObject In theSession.Parts.Work.Sketches
            If TypeOf obj Is Sketch Then
                featureLength = featureLength + 1
            End If
        Next
 
        For Each obj As NXObject In theSession.Parts.Work.Features
            If TypeOf obj Is Feature Then
                featureLength = featureLength + 1
            End If
        Next
 
        Dim objects2(featureLength) As NXObject
        Dim featureJournalID As String
        Dim i2 As Integer
        i2 = 0
 
        For Each obj As NXObject In theSession.Parts.Work.Sketches
            If TypeOf obj Is Sketch Then
                featureJournalID = obj.JournalIdentifier
                objects2(i2) = CType(workPart.Sketches.FindObject(featureJournalID), Sketch)
                i2 = i2 + 1
            End If
        Next
 
        For Each obj As NXObject In theSession.Parts.Work.Features
            If TypeOf obj Is Feature Then
                featureJournalID = obj.JournalIdentifier
                objects2(i2) = CType(workPart.Features.FindObject(featureJournalID), Feature)
                i2 = i2 + 1
            End If
        Next
 
        Dim Errs1 As Integer
        Errs1 = theSession.UpdateManager.AddToDeleteList(objects2)
 
        Dim notifyOnDelete2 As Boolean
        notifyOnDelete2 = theSession.Preferences.Modeling.NotifyOnDelete
 
        Dim Errs2 As Integer
        Errs2 = theSession.UpdateManager.DoUpdate(markID5)
 
        'theUI.NXMessageBox.Show("Information", NXMessageBox.DialogType.Information, "You should have just deleted all geometry. OK?")
 
        ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
        'MAKE LAYER 204 THE WORKING LAYER
 
        Dim markID10 As Session.UndoMarkId
        markID10 = theSession.SetUndoMark(Session.MarkVisibility.Visible, "Start")
 
        'theSession.SetUndoMark(markID10, "Layer Settings Dialog")
 
        Dim stateArray1(1) As Layer.StateInfo
        stateArray1(0).Layer = 1
        stateArray1(0).State = Layer.State.Selectable
        stateArray1(1).Layer = 204
        stateArray1(1).State = Layer.State.WorkLayer
        workPart.Layers.ChangeStates(stateArray1, True)
 
        'theSession.SetUndoMarkName(markID10, "Layer Settings")
 
        theSession.DeleteUndoMark(markID10, Nothing)
 
        'theUI.NXMessageBox.Show("Information", NXMessageBox.DialogType.Information, "Just made layer 204 the working layer, OK?")
 
 
        ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
        'PASTE GEOMETRY FROM CLIPBOARD INTO TOP VIEW
 
        Dim markID8 As Session.UndoMarkId
        markID8 = theSession.SetUndoMark(Session.MarkVisibility.Visible, "Paste")
 
        Dim pasteBuilder1 As Gateway.PasteBuilder
        pasteBuilder1 = workPart.ClipboardOperationsManager.CreatePasteBuilder()
 
        Dim nxObject3 As NXObject
        nxObject3 = pasteBuilder1.Commit()
 
        pasteBuilder1.Destroy()
 
        'theUI.NXMessageBox.Show("Information", NXMessageBox.DialogType.Information, "Just pasted part geometry into TOP view, OK?")
 
        ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
        'FORMAT WCS: SET WCS TO ABSOLUTE
 
        Dim origin1 As Point3d = New Point3d(0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
        Dim matrix1 As Matrix3x3
 
        matrix1.Xx = 1.0
        matrix1.Xy = 0.0
        matrix1.Xz = 0.0
        matrix1.Yx = 0.0
        matrix1.Yy = 1.0
        matrix1.Yz = 0.0
        matrix1.Zx = 0.0
        matrix1.Zy = 0.0
        matrix1.Zz = 1.0
        workPart.WCS.SetOriginAndMatrix(origin1, matrix1)
 
        'theUI.NXMessageBox.Show("Information", NXMessageBox.DialogType.Information, "Just set the WCS to Absolute, OK?")
 
        ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
        'FIT MODELING VIEW
        modelingView2.Fit()
 
        'theUI.NXMessageBox.Show("Information", NXMessageBox.DialogType.Information, "Just fit the modeling view to screen, OK?")
 
        ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
 
    End Sub
End Module




Thank you, hppianoman for sharing your code with us!


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