Wiley SolidWorks 2009 Bible Part 10 ppt

698 Creating Drawings Part V Insert Model Items Insert Model Items takes all of the dimensions, symbols, annotations, and other elements that are used to create the model, and puts them onto the drawing. Because these dimensions come directly from the sketches and features of the model, they are driving dimensions. This means that you can double-click and change them from the drawing the same way you can change sketch and feature dimensions, and with the same effect. As a result, changing these dimensions even from the drawing causes the parts and assemblies in which they are used to be changed. You can insert the model items on a per-feature basis, either only bringing the items that are appropriate into the current view, or bringing items into all views. Insertion can be further broken down by type of item, and it can become as specific as pattern counts, Hole Wizard items, specific symbol types, and reference geometry types. You can select Insert ➪ Model Items, or you can access this command from the Annotations toolbar. The Model Items PropertyManager interface is shown in Figure 23.1. FIGURE 23.1 The Model Items PropertyManager interface Usually, the dimensions need to be rearranged, although SolidWorks does try to arrange them so that they do not overlap. Figure 23.2 shows the result of bringing dimensions into all views for the part. The part is on the CD-ROM in the Chapter 21 materials. Figure 23.2 contains duplicate dimensions, overlapping dimensions, unnecessarily long leaders, radius dimensions pointing to the wrong side of the arc, and a lot of awkward placement. This is what you can expect from using the automatic functions. At best, these dimensions require rearranging, and at worst, they probably require that you delete and replace some of them or move them to new views where they make more sense. 699 Dimensioning and Tolerancing 23 FIGURE 23.2 The default placement of dimensions into all views To move a dimension to another view, you can Shift-drag it from one view to the other (make sure that the dimension is appropriate in the destination view). To copy a dimension, you can Ctrl-drag it. If you cannot place the dimension in the view that you have dragged it to, then the cursor will indicate this with a special cursor symbol. If you approach this task by placing dimensions on a per-feature or per-view basis, it does not change the number of dimensions that you will have to move; it just means that they have to be inserted more often. Keep in mind that if you choose this method, there is a significant amount of cleanup and checking that you must do. The convenience of having the dimensions put into the views for you, and the ability to actually change the model from the drawing are quite useful, but you may not save very much time or effort by doing things this way. Using reference dimensions One alternative to automatically inserting all model dimensions is to manually place reference dimensions. At first, this appears to be simply re-creating work that has already been done, and this is somewhat true, but there is more to the story. However, in several important ways, these dimensions are not merely duplicates of the model items. In fact, the reference dimensions that you manually place on the drawing are quite different from the dimensions that are used in the model, unless either the dimensioning scheme of the model or the drawing is changed in some extreme way. The dimensions serve completely different purposes in the two settings, and could only be the same through some odd coincidence. 700 Creating Drawings Part V When modeling, I tend to dimension symmetrically, but only on one side, which would not be shown on a manufacturing or inspection drawing. I frequently use workarounds to avoid some special problem that forces a different modeling-dimensioning scheme than I would prefer to use. Often, a feature is located from the midpoint of an edge, which involves no dimensions whatsoever. Sketch entities may have Equal relations, which also leave sketch elements undimensioned. Dimensions may lead to faces or edges that are not in the final model or to faces that are later changed by draft or fillets. Beyond that, when draft is involved, as is the case with plastic or cast parts, the dimensions of the sketch that you used to create the feature often have little to do with the geometry that is dimensioned on a print for inspection or mold building. Dimension schemes in models reflect the need for the model to react to change, while dimension schemes in drawings reflect the manufacturing or inspection methods, in order to minimize tolerance stack-up, and to reflect the usage of the actual part. Although there are strictly technical reasons for dimensioning drawings independently from the way the model was dimensioned, there are other factors such as time, and the neat and orderly placement of dimensions. Time is an issue because by the time you finish rearranging dimensions that were inserted automatically from the model — checking and eliminating duplicates and then manually adding dimensions that were left out or that had to be eliminated because they were inappropriate for some reason, as well as ensuring that all of the necessary dimensions are on the drawing. — it would have been much quicker to manually dimension the drawing correctly the first time using reference dimensions. Inevitably, manually inserting dimensions leads to a different scheme than would be imposed on you by using the Insert Model Items method. In most cases, inserting model dimensions into the drawing is impractical for manufacturing or inspection drawings, unless you have simple plates with machined holes. This is because of the amount of time required to rearrange and check the dimensions, the need to ensure that you have placed the necessary dimensions and taken geometric tolerancing into account, and the simple fact that the dimensioning and sketch relations needed for efficient modeling are usually very different from the dimensioning needed for manufacturing or inspection. I recommend that you use the manual dimension placement option, which works much in the same way as when dimensions are added to sketches. Dimensions that you place in the drawing in this way are called driven or reference dimensions. In drafting lingo, reference dimensions are “extra” dimensions that you place to ease calculations, and you usually create these dimensions with parentheses around them; in SolidWorks lingo, reference dimensions are simply driven rather than driving dimensions. You can find the setting that controls the parentheses around reference dimensions at Tools ➪ Options ➪ Document Properties ➪ Dimensions ➪ Add Parentheses By Default. Reference dimensions and the DimXpert You can apply reference dimensions to the 3D model or to the drawing. In this chapter, I talk mainly about adding them to the 2D drawing, but I do want to take a moment to talk about how reference dimensions in the model relate to the DimXpert functionality, which you will find later in this chapter. 701 Dimensioning and Tolerancing 23 Reference dimensions on the solid model By default, when you go to add new reference dimensions to a solid model, you may see some error messages you aren’t accustomed to seeing and some odd toolbars, especially for users who are used to older versions of the software. In SolidWorks 2008, the DimXpert was introduced. I discuss this later in this chapter in more detail, but if you are not expecting it, the DimXpert can interfere with reference dimension functionality. When you activate the Smart Dimension tool, a PropertyManager appears, giving you the option to use dimensions to drive the DimXpert (the new default) or use it to place reference dimensions. Figure 23.3 shows this Smart Dimension PropertyManager for parts on the left and for drawings on the right. FIGURE 23.3 Dimension PropertyManager for choosing DimXpert or Reference dimensions Reference dimensions on the drawing I’ve already made the case for why I think it is better to use reference dimensions on the drawing than model dimensions. This is opinion, of course, and I realize that for many simple parts, you actually can model them the way you would detail them, so the model items make more sense. Reference dimensions on the drawing are simply driven dimensions, and they update when the model updates. Using the DimXpert The DimXpert is a tool to apply reference (driven) dimensions with tolerances to models and drawings. DimXpert employs feature and topology recognition so it can work on either native data or imported data. Use the DimXpert tab at the top of the part Feature manager, and click the Autodimension Scheme button (the first button on the left) to apply dimensions to the entire model based on selected datums. 702 Creating Drawings Part V When you use the dimensions and tolerances created with the DimXpert in conjunction with the TolAnalyst, you are able to do simple stack-up analysis. TolAnalyst is outside the scope of this book, because it is part of the Premium package and I am limiting this book to basic SolidWorks. A limitation of this system is that you can only apply location or size dimensions; you cannot apply non-dimensional geometric form tolerancing such as parallelism, cylindricity, or flatness. All controls must drive size or location, and have associated dimensions. When you use the DimXpert on a drawing, it starts by placing a datum at a vertex or centerpoint. After that, it automatically dimensions the entire feature in the view that is the parent of the edge you select. Figure 23.4 shows the Dimension PropertyManager when DimXpert is activated. The image on the right shows a few dimensions applied by the DimXpert, along with the datum used for the dimensions in the view. FIGURE 23.4 Dimension PropertyManager for DimXpert in drawing You can place the DimXpert dimensions on the drawing when placing the views either through the second page of the Model View PropertyManager, on the Import Options panel (which is closed by default). No, it’s not your imagination, this is about as obscure as they could possibly make this functionality. Apparently they didn’t really expect anyone to use it. Both pages of the Model View (Insert ➪ Drawing View ➪ Model, or click Model View from the View Layout tab on the Command Manager) are shown in Figure 23.5. The Import Options panel is shown at the bottom of the second page, although I have cut the second page off about half way down. You can find this functionality in one other place: when you are dragging views from the View Palette in the Task Pane. This interface appears in the image on the right in Figure 23.5. 703 Dimensioning and Tolerancing 23 FIGURE 23.5 The setting to import DimXpert annotations is buried well. Consensus on this functionality is that it is a work in progress, and while it may offer some interesting functionality, you may not find that it is ready to save you a lot of time when you are dimensioning and tolerancing parts on a drawing. It seems that it has particular difficulty with molded or cast parts, which typically don’t have parallel faces. Annotation views Annotation views are views in the model in which annotations have been added. Annotation views are accessed from the Annotations folder in the model FeatureManager. They are created automatically when dimensions or notes are added to the part. The annotation view can be used in the model to show the note or dimension in the view in which it was created or on the drawing to help parse the dimensions into views where they are easily read. Annotation views can be inserted manually or automatically. You can access the settings for annotation views through the right-mouse button menu of the Annotations folder of the model, shown in Figure 23.6. The image on the right shows part of the PropertyManager you get when inserting a named view on a drawing. It shows that the Front and Top views of the model have annotations associated with them (indicated by the A on the view symbol). 704 Creating Drawings Part V FIGURE 23.6 The Annotations folder right-mouse button menu and the Model View Orientation panel Driven dimension color Driven dimensions on the drawing display in gray, and this can be a problem when the drawing is printed out. There are two methods that you can use to deal with this printing problem. The first method is to set the Page Properties of the drawing to force it to print in black and white. You can find the Page Properties at File ➪ Page Setup. The Page Setup dialog box is shown in Figure 23.7. FIGURE 23.7 The Page Setup dialog box 705 Dimensioning and Tolerancing 23 The second method is to set the color for driven dimensions to black rather than gray. This color setting is found at Tools ➪ Options ➪ Color ➪ Dimensions Non-Imported (Driven). Ordinate and baseline dimensions Ordinate and baseline dimensions are appropriate for collections of linear dimensions when you have a number of items that can all be dimensioned from the same reference. Flat patterns of sheet metal parts often fall into this category. When you apply ordinate dimensions, a zero location is selected first, followed by each entity for which you want a dimension. When dimensions become too tightly packed, SolidWorks automatically jogs the witness lines to space out the dimensions adequately. You can create jogs manually by using the right-mouse button menu. Once you create a set of ordinate dimensions, you can add to the set by selecting Add To Ordinate from the right- mouse button menu. Baseline dimensions are normal linear dimensions that all come from the same reference, and are stacked together at a defined spacing. The default settings for baseline dimensions are found at Too ls ➪ Options ➪ Dimensions ➪ Offset Distances. TIP TIP Baseline dimensions work best either when they are horizontal or when the dimension text is aligned with the dimension line (as is the default situation with ISO standard dimensioning). Vertical dimensions where the text is horizontal do not usually stack as neatly because the dimension text runs over the dimension line of the adjacent dimensions. Figure 23.8 shows ordinate and baseline dimensions in the same view. FIGURE 23.8 Ordinate and baseline dimensions in the same view 706 Creating Drawings Part V You can access ordinate and baseline dimensions from the Dimensions/Relations toolbar or by right-clicking in a blank space, selecting More Dimensions, and then selecting the type of dimension that you want to use. Autodimensioning If the Insert Model Items feature is not likely to produce dimensions that are usable in a manufacturing drawing, then the Autodimension feature is even less likely to do so. However, if you use autodimensioning in a controlled way, in the right situations, it can be a valid way to create selected dimensions. The Autodimension PropertyManager is shown in Figure 23.9. Autodimension is only available in the drawing environment. In the part environment, similar functionality is part of the Fully Define Sketch tool. To access Autodimension, click the Smart Dimension toolbar icon and change to the Autodimension tab in the PropertyManager. Formerly, this function had its own icon, and earlier than that, it was available in the model sketching environment. FIGURE 23.9 The Autodimension PropertyManager interface The Autodimension function can fully dimension the geometry in a drawing view. This is best for ordinate or baseline dimensioning where many dimensions are derived from a common reference, as is often the case with sheet metal parts or a plate with many holes drilled in it. You should limit the use of this option to cases where that type of dimensioning is what you would choose, having the choice of all available types of dimensions — do not allow the software to dictate the dimensioning scheme for your drawing. NOTE NOTE The Autodimension function is different from the Fully Define Sketch function. Autodimension works in the drawing, only adding dimensions. Fully Define Sketch works in the model sketch mode, adding dimensions and sketch relations. In previous versions, these functions were consolidated in a single function called Autodimension. [...]... other than the standard SolidWorks BOM templates, then you need to make your own BOM templates If you plan to create either Excel or SolidWorks table-based templates, then you must choose one of them NOTE BOMs can also be placed directly in the assembly and even in multi-body part files starting in SolidWorks 2009 SolidWorks table-based BOM The BOM shown in Figure 24.1 is a default SolidWorks table-based... two individual parts, and you select the Top Level Only option, then only seven items are shown in the BOM The Parts Only BOM ignores subassembly structure, and only displays parts in an unindented list 720 Working with Tables and Drawings The Indented Assemblies BOM shows the parts of subassemblies in an indented list under the name of the subassembly This is the most complete list of SolidWorks documents... configuration named “D” has some suppressed parts, including some parts that are now not used in the “D” configuration, and that therefore have a zero quantity Notice the available options for dealing with zero-quantity parts FIGURE 24.4 Configuration options with the BOM 721 24 Part V Creating Drawings Keep Missing Items When you are making changes to a model, parts are often either suppressed or deleted... tolerance type to the dimension The tolerance types that are available in SolidWorks are shown in Figure 23.14 FIGURE 23.14 The available tolerance types in SolidWorks Basic Symmetrical Max Bilateral Limit Min Fit Tolerancing Precision In SolidWorks, precision means the number of decimal places with which dimensions are displayed Typically, SolidWorks works to eight places with meters as the default units... used because it includes all parts and assemblies The Show Numbering option for indented assemblies is only activated after the Indented Assemblies option is checked, and you have placed the table When you use this option, it causes subassembly parts to be numbered with an X.Y number system For example, if item number 4 is a subassembly, and it has three parts, then those parts receive the item numbers... this interface for individual dimensions When you enable the Dual Dimension option, SolidWorks uses the settings from Tools ➪ Options 707 23 Part V Creating Drawings FIGURE 23 .10 The Dimension PropertyManager interface The Display Options have been moved to the right-mouse button menu The options shown in Figure 23 .10 are different depending on what type of dimension is selected For the images provided,... Excel-based BOM 725 24 Part V Creating Drawings FIGURE 24.9 The interface for Excel-based BOMs Unless you have a compelling reason to do otherwise, I recommend that you use the SolidWorks table-based BOM, as it is the function that will be best supported in future versions of SolidWorks software BEST PRACTICE Using Design Tables Design Tables that are used to drive configurations of parts and assemblies... PropertyManager If you would like to examine this data more closely, the drawing and part are included on the CD-ROM The drawing is named Chapter 24 – DT.slddrw FIGURE 24 .10 A design table prepared to be placed on a drawing 727 24 Part V Creating Drawings FIGURE 24.11 A drawing with the Design Table inserted This drawing uses a part Design Table, but you can also place assembly Design Tables onto the drawing... which stands for SolidWorks Bill of Materials Table Template”) Any of the settings, additional columns, links to properties, and so on are saved to the template, and reused when you create a new template from it BEST PRACTICE Put the BOM template in your library area outside of the SolidWorks installation folder Then identify the path in the Tools ➪ Options ➪ File Locations area 719 24 Part V Creating... property such as Part Weight or Vendor, as shown in Figure 24.8 Access this interface by double clicking a column header and selecting Custom Property from the drop down list FIGURE 24.8 Establishing the property driving the column content One of the really beautiful aspects of custom property management in the BOM is that if you just type text in a column set up to be driven by a part property, SolidWorks . rearranged, although SolidWorks does try to arrange them so that they do not overlap. Figure 23.2 shows the result of bringing dimensions into all views for the part. The part is on the CD-ROM. lot of time when you are dimensioning and tolerancing parts on a drawing. It seems that it has particular difficulty with molded or cast parts, which typically don’t have parallel faces. Annotation. dimensions. When you enable the Dual Dimension option, SolidWorks uses the settings from Tools ➪ Options. 708 Creating Drawings Part V FIGURE 23 .10 The Dimension PropertyManager interface NOTE NOTE The