Transcript DriveWorksXpress - 3D CAD Design Software SOLIDWORKS

DriveWorksXpress
This demo will show
you how easy it is to
capture parameters and
assign rules to each part
of an assembly with
DriveWorkXpress. It will
also illustrate how you
can then successfully
automate the creation of
new models & drawings
If you do not require an in depth
explanation of each step click the
next button to skip to the next stage
Click the areas highlighted
with a red box to proceed
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Models
The first step of the wizard
is to let DriveWorksXpress
know which parts and subassemblies require
automating
In this example we are
going to specify the
new height & width of
the gantry and see how
other associated
parameters are
modified automatically
as a result
1.
Place a tick in the box next to the models
you require DriveWorksXpress to control
If your assembly contains parts
or sub-assemblies that never
change they do not require to be
selected
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Capture
The second step is to capture
the parameters of each model
that change
Parameters can be sketch
or feature dimensions,
features, offset or angular
planes or distance and
angular mates
1.
Highlight any part or sub-assembly that
contains the parameters to be captured
Once selected from the
tree in the wizard the
model automatically
opens in the SolidWorks
window
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Capture - Top Half of Leg
Length
1.
From the feature manager, select the feature that
contains the dimension to be captured (This model is
extruded up to a plane so we will capture the plane
named Bottom).
2.
Select the dimension that appears on the model.
3.
The SolidWorks name appears in the
DriveWorksXpress window.
4.
Give this dimension a more meaningful name and
click Add.
5.
Select the next model from the tree in the
DriveWorksXpress window that requires parameters
capturing.
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Capture - Base of Lower Leg
Length
1.
From the feature manager, select the
feature that contains the dimension to be
captured (The Length of the part exists
in the Base-Extrude-Thin feature).
2.
Select the dimension that appears on
the model.
3.
The SolidWorks name appears in
the DriveWorksXpress window.
4.
Give this dimension a more meaningful
name and click Add.
5.
Select the next model from the tree in the
DriveWorksXpress window that requires
parameters capturing.
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Capture - Beam
Length
1.
From the feature manager, select the
feature that contains the dimension to
be captured (The Length of the part
exists in the Base-Extrude feature).
2.
Select the dimension that appears on
the model.
3.
The SolidWorks name appears in
the DriveWorksXpress window.
4.
Give this dimension a more meaningful
name and click Add.
5.
Select the next model from the tree in the
DriveWorksXpress window that requires
parameters capturing.
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Capture - Beam Assembly
righthand
left
handupright
upright
1.
From the feature manager, select the
plane that contains the dimension to be
captured (The Right Hand Upright
Plane).
5.
From the feature manager, select the
plane that contains the next dimension
to be captured (The Left Hand Upright
Plane).
2.
Select the dimension that appears on
the model.
8.
Select the dimension that appears on
the model.
3.
The SolidWorks name appears in
the DriveWorksXpress window.
7.
The SolidWorks name appears in
the DriveWorksXpress window.
4.
Give this dimension a more meaningful
name and click Add.
8.
Give this dimension a more meaningful
name and click Add.
9.
Click Next in the DriveWorksXpress
Wizard
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Custom Properties
Custom Properties can
be used to report data
into the model
These in turn can be reported
into a SolidWorks drawing and
used to populate drawing
border title blocks, notes and
other important drawing
information automatically
The Properties tab in the DriveWorksXpress
wizard automatically reports any custom
properties that currently exist in the model
Additional custom properties can be added
Unwanted custom properties can be deleted
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Drawing
The next step is to tell
DriveWorksXpress that a
new drawing is needed
Select the drawing that the new file will be
based on
The new drawing will reflect all the newly
created data with all dimensional
information, bill of materials, custom
properties etc. automatically updated
Click Browse to select your drawing
Locate the drawing and click Open
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Input
Order Number
The next step is to
create a customised
form for specifying the
new models
Define the criteria
required to specify the
new models
Enter the name for the Input control
A control that defines the order
number will allow us to assign a
rule to the naming of each file that
will identify each new model to be
created. This could just as easily
be a naming convention that is
made up of all the variables that
define the new model.
Select the type of control required
eg. dimensions,
materials, finishes and
even sales order number
The Required field, when
selected, allocates a control
as a mandatory field.
Click Apply to register the control
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Input
Drawn By
Glen
David
Maria
All other controls
are added with the
same ease.
Click Add to specify another control
The next control will report data
regarding the person specifying the
new models into the Drawn By
custom property – which in turn will
reflect through to the new finished
drawing.
The name of the control is entered
and the type selected.
Values are entered that will appear
in the drop down control. Click Add
to register each value.
Click Apply to register the control
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Input
Safe
Width
Inside
Outside
Height
Finish
Material
Working
between
Outrigger
Outrigger
to Underside
Load
Legs of
2000
500
100
2000
3800
5000
1000
Options include
spin buttons, text
boxes, drop downs
and check boxes
Other Input controls required to specify our new
model include…
A Spin Button to specify the Safe Working Load
A Text Box to specify the Height
A Text Box to specify the Width
A Drop Down to specify the Material
A Drop Down to specify the Finish
A Check Box to specify if an Inside
Outrigger is required
A Check Box to specify if an Outside
Outrigger is required
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Rules
The Rules tab shows all the
parameters that require Rules
associating to them. These
are highlighted RED
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Rules
1. Select a parameter to add a rule.
2. Select a variable to use in the rule.
Either double click or drag and
drop the variable into the ‘Build
up’ box.
As the Safe Working Load
Custom Property equals The
Safe Working Load Input
Variable the rule has now been
satisfied.
3. Hit Apply.
4. Repeat for the other parameters who’s
values come directly from an Input.
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Rules
A rule to determine if the Outrigger
Assembly file is required
The Outrigger Assembly Outside File
Name is selected
Click the IF rule
The IF rule can now be built up exactly
as done using Microsoft Excel
The IF rule will verify that the Outside
Outrigger check box from the Input
form has been selected.
When this check box = “Yes”
DriveWorksXpress will create a new
file with the Order_Number as a suffix
to the file name.
When this check box does not = “Yes”
DriveWorksXpress will “Delete” this
file from the assembly.
Click here
A similar rule will apply to the File
Name of the Outrigger Assembly.
NEXT……
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Rules
The remaining File Names will use the
order number Input as a suffix to the
naming of each new file.
All parts and sub-assemblies with the
File Name parameter type are multiselected.
The Order Number Input Variable is
selected
Click Apply
NEXT……
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Rules
All remaining unspecified rules are constructed either by using
the available icons or, if familiar with Microsoft Excel, typing direct
into the Build Up box
Each rule will reference Variables from the Inputs or Outputs or
have constant data attributed to them
1.
The Length dimension of the top half of
leg is calculated from the Height to
Underside of Beam Input – a constant
value of 300mm
2.
The Length dimension of the Beam can
be the Width between Legs Input +
920mm or Width between Legs Input +
160mm dependant on The Outside
Outrigger check box being selected
3.
The Length dimension of the base of
lower leg is dependant on the Height to
Underside of Beam Input. Less than
2700 = 1550, Less than 3800 = 1775 or
Over 3800 = 2000. This is formulated by
nesting a series of IF statements
together
4.
The Left and Right hand upright
distance dimension of the Beam
Assembly are dependant on the
Outside Outrigger Input being selected.
If “Yes” = 460 otherwise = 80
5.
The Drawing Number Custom Property
is constructed by joining the Order
Number Input with the text string
“/GA/01”
6.
The Description Custom Property will
report the Safe Working Load Input
7.
The Title Custom Property will be a text
string produced from a constant value
of “Gantry” joined with the Width
between Legs Input and the Height to
underside of Beam Input. Where we
require a standard text string of “Wide”
and “Height” included after the
respective size this is selected from the
drop down box as shown.
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Rules
Once all of the Rules have been
satisfied the Rules tab on the
DriveWorksXpress wizard
appears with each output
variable ticked.
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Specify
ON1004
Glen
3565
2706
Steel
Once the specify tab is selected
DriveWorksXpress will automatically
create the user form from the
information added at the Input stage
of the wizard
The form can now be populated with
the requirements of the new set of
models required to be produced.
If values are entered that are outside
the minimum and maximum values
set at the Input stage
DriveWorksXpress will not let you
continue.
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End Result
All the rules and parameters are stored in a
database created by DriveWorksXpress.
Each time a new variant is required
DriveWorksXpress will automatically load
the previously captured data.
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Further Information
For further information
on DriveWorks and
DriveWorksXpress visit
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