assign mass in context of assy

[sgivens]

I'm wondering if there's a way to assign mass to apart in the context of an assembly.


Let's say I have an empty, non-geometrypart that represents oil. This part will have 10 lbs of oil when used in assembly A, but 5 lbs of oil in assembly B.


I know I could assign the weight of the entire assembly, or tabulate the oil part with instances, but am looking for a more elegant solution. Any ideas?

 

[audctrl]

You could do it a number of ways. One method would be to assemble an empy part and copy the surface geometry of the oil cavity. Merge the surfaces together, solidify and add the density to that model. Doing this will also give you the oil fill volume. It would be easier maintain to have multiple "oil"parts (oil_assy_a, oil_assy_b...)


Or make a simple family table part for the oil (a cube or something) that its size is set to a predetermened mass and assemble them and layer them off in the model and drawing.

 

[sgivens]

Because the oil part would be used in multiple assys, having geometry in it won't work. I'm just looking to have an empty part that represents the mass of the oil, and show up in a parts list on the drawing, but be able to vary it from assembly to assembly.


The other problem with family tables is having to manage a possibly infinite number of models to represent all the different volumes of oil that could be used.

 

[kdem]

Depending on how you want to do it, you could also define the partwith parameters and relationsand define the part so the parameters are flexible. You can then specify a weight or specify a volume and calculate weight using the flexibleparameters of the part in different assemblies.

 

[sgivens]

Funny you mention that, 'cause I was just looking into that method! I thought I had solved the problem, but it appears that in the Flexible dialog, it will not allow you add either PRO_MP_ALT_MASS or PRO_MP_MASS.


So then I tried creating a component level parameter and relation to drive PRO_MP_ALT_MASS, which works, but it alters PRO_MP_ALT_MASS back at the part level. I was hoping it would only alter it at the component level. Flexible also doesn't allow you to add component level parameters. Rats!