Referencing

[78finn]

I have been using Pro Engineer for about 6 years now...and am fairly comfortable with most aspects of it...but it never hurts to see what other people are up to and why.

The main thing I'm interested in is how people go about referencing complicated assembly's i.e. 100+ components, heavy surfacing and multiple linked mechanisms. I'm largely self taught when it comes to Pro E...so I'm just wondering what everyone else out there is doing?



The method I current go with is Top Down assembly.

I usually create a skeleton assembly or have sketches, datums etc. at the top of the assembly tree for all components to reference from.

Then for each part I will either reference from these sketch's/datums directly from the assembly or activate the part in the assembly and copy/paste the references into the parts themselves.

Another method I employ quite heavily is to make a surface copy of a parent/driving component within the part i.e. including draft and and major radii. And then in my assembly I will activate the desired child/dependent part and copy/paste the surface copy of the parent into it. I can then reference off of the surface copy so that any subsequent changes to the parent will update the child when regenerating the assembly.

These methods have served me very well with regards to the stability of my larger assembly's, but its quite time consuming to setup.

Does anyone else have any techniques that they would be willing to share with regards to referencing?










Edited by: 78finn

 

[Jacoolo]

For my last 4 years I`ve worked with limited package of Pro Engineer which precisely lacked AAX extension. Thus some other "work around" wasnecessary to solve encountered problems. At the end it all was familiar with TDD approach only based on simplicified environment.

Anyway, referencing is heavy task to handle right, and to me I Datum Refeerence feature regarding distributing references through single model introduce some valuable funcionality.

 

[cpoirier]

How often do you fight with CRC files and system slow downs?
I have access to AAX and use skeletons and the tool sets that come with it to make housings and sheet metal (boxed frames and housings)

I have always found that making all roads lead to skel and not to Roam will keep you happy. I am guessing a part at the top of the tree will work also, just use it like a skeleton. Even placement to the skel is nice as you don't have to do as much rework on all the related parts placed to the one you changed. But be diligent for checking
for interference and alignments.

Chris

 

[78finn]

thanks for the feed back..

I very rarely struggle with Circular refs / CRC files. A bit of planning and they are very easy to avoid I think. This has less to do with top down referencing techniques and more to do with planning your model before you start. Well at least in my experience that seems to be the case.

AAX is something I use when really required. I find skeleton models relatively time consuming to setup and also they do not really allow for a drastic departure from the original design without serious time investment. I guess this is the case with many parametric reference techniques.

I will use a skeleton assembly for highly complex mechanisms where control is important, but I don't bother when it comes to static assemblies or housings. Maybe I'm wrong to do so though i.e. rule them out so qucikly...I'm always happy to be proven wrong in order to learn something.

 

[design-engine]

I would hate to work w/o Advanced Assembly! Top down is the way to go 78finn!

 

[cpoirier]

78FIN
I work on multiple projects and need to restart often forgetting where I left off. Without top down I would loose track of what I was doing. Most models are >100 parts total.

I can make massive changes with a skeleton and or a master model. In fact I have re-cycled entire designs in short order where it would not be possible with bottom up. Not only that I can keep my counterparts over seas from reverse engineering/reusing what I have done while still supplying a native Pro-E file (mold houses). I have seen look-a-like/knock off products that were from compromised models.

Try making changes to an assembly that has >10 mating parts and >50 internal parts without top down tools... no thanks. Try to compartmentalize a large design and get more than one person working on it at once.... no thanks.

Keep your friends close and you, and your skeletons and body masters even closer.
I find I am always learning new tricks, but if you took my AAX away I would cry.... loudly.

Again thanks to all those people out there who share tidbits I have linked together.

Below is a file of a live hinge concept that was turned down by my boss for you to explore.
There is a simplified rep to show bent and unbent.

Chris




2011-09-16_150113_cable-clamp.asm.zip

 

[78finn]

Cpoirier: Thanks for the post..

I agree with you completely. I use AAX and Top Down design for more or less everything I do. Just wondered if anyone had any tips/tricks etc that they were willing to share on here.

Thanks for the file as well. I do a lot of products with live/living hinges also - one of those things that look simple but can be quite tricky to get right. I did a butterfly living hinge for a drinks bottle lid not to long ago. Getting the lid angle to snap open to a perfect 180 degrees was quite tricky I must say....but managed to get it right after a metal off mod : )

Anyway, getting off topic...

I'll post up a skeleton I created recently in a few days time when I'm back home - big file...just about the single most complicated thing I have ever done, but a real learning curve...hope it helps some people out anyway.If for a automated robot used on a mechanized car production line - over 1500 parts!!!!! Just a complete headache!!!

 

[rajendiran.s]

Can someone help me on how to integrate multiple models for referencing an assembly in terms of selected features or dimensions from each model and forming an assembly ?

 

[kenppy]

...........note that you will find you get more attention if you start a new topic.

Is this a newbie question on assembly in general or are you trying to do something in particular?

 

[Jacoolo]

to manage/maintain references between models AAX extension would be the best to have first.

Second - I would not discuss strategy, this should be developed by you, I advise strongly to use curves, CSYS and Datum Reference feature - Intent curve, Intent surface, Intent chain