Pre-plate & plated parts model

[s_pme20]

We create two different drawings for pre-plate and plated/finished part (This is company rule, don't tell me to create single dwg and mention plating thickness on that!)

Is there any possibility to make plated model with using pre-plated model (adding plating thicknedd all over unplated model)

At present, problem is both models are not linked and we have to calculate plated dimensions manually to make model (I hate this!)

Thanks in advance for help.

 

[bfairhurst]

Have you looked at the dim bound command? You can find this by selecting edit/setup/dim bound. From here you can edit the tolerances of one or all features.

 

[s_pme20]

thanks for reply Bob,
The method you suggested is about model generation according to upper/nominal/lower value of tolerances.

For using this method on plated/unplated part, I again need to calculate those limits manually (This is difficult task over chamfers/angled faces/complicated geometry/threads)

What I was seeking for is to create unplated part>add that part as link to plated part>apply plating thickness allover

 

[dr_gallup]

You can make a copy of the entire solid model surfaces, offset the copy the amount of the plating and solidify. I usually make the generic model to the finished (plated) dimensions then offset the surface inside the solid and make that an instance for the machined (pre-plate) model. You have to create drawing dimensions for that instance. You will still have to manually calculate tolerances between the two to account for the plating thickness variance but at least all the nominal geometry is correct.

You can do it the other way around if you want, model the machined part and offset the surfaces outside the solid to add material.

 

[michaelpaul]

if the plating is uniform, couldn't you apply a scale to the entire model the amount that the plating thickens the part? the you could family table the two versions. with scale and without.

just a though. not sure if it would work for your application.

 

[telecomguy]

Scale won't work. Think of a simple washer. If you scaleup the model to simulate the plating thickness, it will make the outside diameter larger, but it will also make the inside diameter larger rather than smaller.


<tg>

 

[dr_gallup]

Some people don't like family tables (I love them) so if you don't want to use them you can merge the machined part into a new plated part (or use inheritance) and then offset the surfaces and solidify.

You still have to work out the tolerances by hand.

 

[SRINIVASANIYER1]

Use inheritance feature if you have AAX (Advanced Assembly
Extention). Else Copy all the surfaces and offset it to get
the new surface. This should be the last feature. One can
then create a Simplified Rep.

 

[s_pme20]

Thanks dr_gallup & Srini....This solution seems good..will try it..

 

[srieger]

If you have the casting or molding modules you can use a negative shrink value. This may still be cumbersome with more complicated parts but you can do what you are looking for.

 

[dr_gallup]

If you have the casting or molding modules you can use a negative shrink value. This may still be cumbersome with more complicated parts but you can do what you are looking for.

Shrink will not work. The plating is a constant thickness, not proportional to size.

 

[s_pme20]

Ok guys,

I tried to offset copied surfaces by plating thickness.
Problem is: It is not allowing me to create offset surfaces.Problem occurs for small/complicated geometry.

Pro-E understands that it is a bad geometry.but, practically- that geometry is possible (after plating)

 

[srieger]

Ok guys,

I tried to offset copied surfaces by plating thickness.
Problem is: It is not allowing me to create offset surfaces.Problem occurs for small/complicated geometry.

Pro-E understands that it is a bad geometry.but, practically- that geometry is possible (after plating)

Yeah, your right. I typed before I really thought it out thoroughly.


It would probably be less abuseto convince the powers in charge that this is a cumbersome and rediculous policy