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Base part in ProE?

J

jabster42

New member
Hi.

I am trying to insert an existing part as the first feature for a new part. In Solidworks it was called a base part, I believe. ie: I have a blank part, from which I want to then create a couple of different finished parts. If my blank changes, I want both parts to update.

I have done this before in ProE, but only in 2001.

Insert->Shared Data->From File won't let me pick a proe file.

For the life of me I can't remember how to do this. If someone can gently remind me I'd much appreciate it.

thanks,
john
 
I've never done it but you can supposedly do this using inheritance features.

The technique I do use is the master-model-merge technique.

I copied the following from:

Do you ever design multi-part assemblies whose shape is defined as a
whole using surfaces? Or do you have to create both as-cast and
as-machined models of your product? These situations are two typical
scenarios where the Master Model Merge Technique can be applied using
Pro/ENGINEER.


The Master Model Merge Technique is a method that allows
you to include the geometry of one part model (the "Master" part) in
another part ( the "Merge" part). The "Master" part geometry is then
used to control the geometry of the "Merge" part.


To accomplish this follow the procedure outlined below:http://www.proesite.com/newframe.htm?/UTIL/index.html<ul>[*]Create the "Master" part model (master.prt)
[*]Create the "Merge" part (merge.prt). Create the 3 default datum
planes
[*]Create a "Dummy" assembly (dummy.asm). Do NOT create the 3 default
datum planes! (Note: this assembly will be deleted at the end of the process)
[*]Assembly merge.prt inte dummy.asm
[*]Assemble master.prt into dummy.asm. You will have to select the
mating references from merge.prt
[*]Select #Adv utils; #Merge from the COMPONENT menu.
[*]Select merge.prt as the part to perform the merge process into.
[*]Select master.prt as the reference part for the merge process.
[*]Select the #Reference and #No Datums options from the
OPTIONS menu.
[*]Answer "Yes" to detach master.prt from the assembly dummy.asm.
[*]#Delete merge.prt from dummy.asm and #Erase dummy.asm from
memory.
[*]Retrieve merge.prt. It will now have all the geometry that is
contained in master.prt.
[*]Save merge.prt. You have succesfully completed the Master Model
Merge Technique!
[/list]



Once the process has been accomplished, you may proceed to add geometry
features to the "Merge" part as usual. Any changes made to the Master
part will be seen in the Merge part, since they are associated by
reference. You will have to reflect these changes by regenerating
the Merge part yourself. When the master part is deleted you will not be
able to redefine the merged feature, but the latest known geometry of the
master part is still contained in the merge part.


as a former SW user, the technique in Pro E is a total P.I.T.A. to to something so simple.........but alas, that's the price we pay to use such a superior piece of software.

Michael
 
That probably means your company doesn't own the Advanced Assembly Extension (AAX). Without it, I don't think you can create an inheritance feature.

it's also possible that you have AAX, but that config settings related to external references are set to prevent it. We don't use them here, so I'm not sure what config options to check for.
 
Michael, those instructions are quite old, I believe. There isn't even a 'component' menu anymore, and hasn't been one since 2001 I believe.

The merge feature and the inheritance are one in the same now. It's quite simple, and does not require an assembly.

from within the part, go to insert->Shared Data->Merge from other model or Insert->Shared Data->Inheritance from other model.
 
Crap.

So, basically, it looks like they took a basic functionality that was in 2001, and moved it to a more expensive, "higher-end" module.

Great.

-john
 
Merge still exists & there are small differences in the way it behaves compared to Inheritance. I still prefer merge for the work we do.

In assembly mode, pick edit/component opperations/merge. If it is greyed out that indicates your reference control settings are prohibiting it.

Try setting some or all of the following config options:
ALLOW_REF_SCOPE_CHANGE YES
DEFAULT_EXT_REF_SCOPE ALL
DEFAULT_OBJECT_SCOPE_SETTING ALL
DEFAULT_OBJECT_INVALID_REFS COPY
IGNORE_ALL_REF_SCOPE_SETTINGS YES
MODEL_ALLOW_REF_SCOPE_CHANGE YES
SCOPE_INVALID_REFS COPY
 
Thank you, Doctor.

My merge button is still greyed out, but edit/component opperations/merge does work.

Everything was set to as you had it except for IGNORE_ALL_REF_SCOPE_SETTINGS was no.

all appears to be good now.

thanks,
john
 
dgs said:
Michael, those instructions are quite old, I believe. There isn't even a 'component' menu anymore, and hasn't been one since 2001 I believe.
Click to expand...

yeah, the instructions are a bit old but the process still works. There are some differences and I don't remember what they are since I haven't done it in a while but it will still work.


dgs said:
from within the part, go to insert->Shared Data->Merge from other model or Insert->Shared Data->Inheritance from other model.
Click to expand...

these are not available in the basic ProE license are they? they're grayed out on mine and I am currently using a PROE_FoundationAdv license

Michael

Edited by: michaelpaul
 
michaelpaul said:
These are not available in the basic ProE license are they? they're grayed out on mine and I am currently using a PROE_FoundationAdv license
Click to expand...

You're right, I think they are only available with AAX.
 
Okay, I went in and updated the instructions to address up to at least WF 2.0.

<ul>[*]Create the "Master" part model (master.prt)
[*]Create the "Merge" part (merge.prt). Create the 3 default datum
planes
[*]Create a "Dummy" assembly (dummy.asm). Do NOT create the 3 default
datum planes! (Note: this assembly will be deleted at the end of the process)
[*]Assemble merge.prt into dummy.asm using the default location
[*]Assemble master.prt into dummy.asm. - using the default location
[*]Select Edit - Component Operations - Merge from the Edit menu.
[*]Select merge.prt as the part to perform the merge process into.
[*]Select master.prt as the reference part for the merge process.
[*]Select the #Reference and #No Datums options from the
OPTIONS menu.[*]Answer "No" to Support associative placement for the feature
[*]Answer "Yes" to detach master.prt from the assembly dummy.asm.
[*]#Delete merge.prt from dummy.asm and #Erase dummy.asm from
memory.
[*]Retrieve merge.prt. It will now have all the geometry that is
contained in master.prt.
[*]Save merge.prt. You have succesfully completed the Master Model
Merge Technique!
[/list]
 
You are all correct in thinking the insert->shared data->merge command needs AAX.


However you can still do it in assembly mode using the component operations->merge the old fashioned way with a base license.
 
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