How to Hide Components in UG Assemblies for the Mold Base Industry

In the mold base industry, designing and assembling mold bases using computer-aided design (CAD) software is vital. One of the challenges that designers often face is the need to hide certain components within the assembly. In this article, we will discuss the various techniques and tools available in UG (Unigraphics) to effectively hide components in assemblies.

1. Using the Layer Manager

The Layer Manager in UG allows designers to organize components into different layers. By assigning components to specific layers, you can easily hide or show them as required. Here's how you can use the Layer Manager to hide components:

  1. Open the Layer Manager by clicking on "Layers" in the top menu.
  2. Create a new layer or select an existing layer where you want to include the components you wish to hide.
  3. Select the components that you want to hide and drag them into the desired layer.
  4. In the Layer Manager, uncheck the visibility checkbox for the layer containing the components you want to hide.

2. Using the Highlight/Remove Component Function

UG provides a useful function called "Highlight/Remove Component" that allows designers to quickly hide components within an assembly. Here's how you can use this function:

  1. Select the component or components that you want to hide.
  2. In the top menu, click on "Visibility" and then select "Highlight/Remove Component".
  3. The selected components will now be hidden, but you can still view their outlines in the assembly.

3. Using the Simplified Representation

Simplified representation is a powerful tool in UG that allows designers to create simplified versions of assemblies. This is particularly useful when you want to hide complex or detailed components that are not required for a specific analysis or presentation. Here's how you can use the Simplified Representation to hide components:

  1. Open the Simplified Representation dialog by clicking on "Simplified Reps" in the top menu.
  2. Create a new simplified representation by clicking on "New Simplified Rep".
  3. Select the components that you want to hide and remove them from the simplified representation.
  4. Save the simplified representation and switch to it to view the hidden components.

4. Using the Component Visibility Toolbar

The Component Visibility toolbar in UG provides an easy and quick way to hide or show components within an assembly. Here's how you can use this toolbar:

  1. Make sure the Component Visibility toolbar is enabled. If not, right-click on any toolbar and select "Customize" to enable it.
  2. Select the components that you want to hide.
  3. In the Component Visibility toolbar, click on the "Hide Geometry" button. The selected components will now be hidden.

Conclusion

Being able to hide components within UG assemblies is crucial for the mold base industry. By utilizing the Layer Manager, Highlight/Remove Component function, Simplified Representation, and Component Visibility toolbar, designers can effectively manage the visibility of components for analysis, presentation, and efficient workflow. These tools empower mold base designers to optimize their design process and deliver high-quality mold bases to clients.