Any way to add # of instances callout to radius dimensions?

[maxh3]

When I dimension the radii of a part, for instance a rectangular plate with 4 filleted corners, I like to dimension one radius and call out the # of radii that dimension applies to. Is there a way to modify the radius dimension to include a parametrically linked # of instances value? Perhaps linked to the number of selections in the fillet feature used?

 

[Nella95]

Oooh - I hope so. Eagerly waiting a response to this one.

 

[JMirisola]

Sounds like an enhancement request to me...

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

 

[Updraft]

I'd like this to be automatic too.

When it is not obvious which/how many radii are affected by the note I do go into the note dimension and manually add 6X (or however many) in front of the automatic note. But I hate the manual stuff!!

- - -Updraft

 

[macduff]

Automatic would be cool, but would settle for a drop/pull down dialod box.

2X
3X
4X
etc.....

Make it so it would be editable.

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2010 SP 5.0
Dell T5500 XP Pro SP 3 (32-bit)
Xeon CPU 2.53 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro 4000 2 GB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[ShaggyPE]

There is a little bit of a challenge implementing this enhancement. What happens when multiple fillet features are used that possibly have the same value (bad practice, I know)? What about sketch fillets? These are probably not typical situations though. I too would like the enhancement.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

 

[macduff]

Dustin, your right on the money with you statement. I think this would be a very unstable enhancement for fillets/chamfers. It would be awesome, but feel it would have its problems. As i mentioned....a drop down dialog box would help for now.

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2010 SP 5.0
Dell T5500 XP Pro SP 3 (32-bit)
Xeon CPU 2.53 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro 4000 2 GB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[Updraft]

Dustin,

Having multiple fillet features of the same value is similar to having multiple Hole Wizard holes that are identical, but on different planes; we still get multiple notes since they are separate features.

I see difficulties with implementing this enhancement due to things like: "Tangent propagation" of fillets, should the count be for the number of edges selected (probabaly the simplest to implement) or the number of edges visible as a radius in a drawing view (much more difficult, I think), how does it handle variable fillets (probably not with this enhancement), etc.

Perhaps this becomes a drawing view function (macro maybe?), that counts the radii that are identical and can include that count in the radius callout. FeatureWorks has the ability to "collect" or recognize multiple features as identical so I think some of the underlying capability is there. Or perhaps the user is required to click on the radii to include them in the note's count.

On most of our drawings we use a note that says "All fillets and radii R.xxx unless otherwise specified." This covers the bulk of the situations for us and even removes clutter from the drawing, but sometimes a person wants just a little more. . .

I'd like to see SWX figure out a good way to enhance this radii count automatically.

- - -Updraft

 

[Fixturedesign]

I have a series of simple macros to add 2x, 3X, & 4x to my dimensions. With a keyboard shortcut, I place the dimension then do an ALT+2 (for 2x). However, with a radius or even diameter, the macro deletes the R or Ø symbols, making it counter productive. So I just use the macros for location dimensions. Would love to have a different solution for other types, but I'm a simple macro writer.

 

[fcsuper]

Guys,

I think there are some challenges that would need to be overcome. Some drafters may want to set the qty by the number of affected edges (regardless to how they intersect), while others may want to base it upon the number on non-contiguous edges. And what of variable radii?

So, it appears the basic requirement is that there be *some* way to quickly assign qty to a radius callout. Parametric (or smart) qty would be nice, but some other way to manually insert it would be acceptable. Feel free to make your suggests and let me know the rationale.

Matt Lorono, CSWP
Product Definition Specialist, DS SolidWorks Corp
Personal sites:
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion

 

[macduff]

Matt,
Here's my take....I prefer to do things manually. Reason being, I do not like SW parametric(or smart)auto insert on dimensions and text. Example: I do not use "model items", "hole callout", "Autodimension" etc....I find it unstable and difficult to use or modify the databases for company stds. I do use "Auto Balloon" for linking to my BOM's, but that's about it. Call me old school, but I find it easier to control.

I would like to see the option to add both parametic and manual to count the radii of chamfers.

Very Best,

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2010 SP 5.0
Dell T5500 Windows 7 Pro (64-bit)
Xeon CPU 2.53 GHz 6.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro 4000 2 GB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[ShaggyPE]

Colin,
You don't use "hole callout?" I find that annotation to be quite a time saver. Counting holes, identifying diameter and depth.

How do you do this manually... and still have it driven by the model? What are the limitations with "hole callout" that have caused you to stop using it?


-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

 

[macduff]

Nope.....don't use it. Yes, it is a time saver, but it's to hard to modify the database file "calloutformat". I spent countless hours trying to modify the file to our standards, but ended up abandoning it because the code got messed up. If there was a easy to use interface to modify that file, I would probably start using it again. I'm smelling an enhancement request! LOL

I don't mind doing it manually because it's one last checking process before making hardware. ie, pilot drill depths for breakthrough and min full threads for my fasteners etc...

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2010 SP 5.0
Dell T5500 Windows 7 Pro (64-bit)
Xeon CPU 2.53 GHz 6.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro 4000 2 GB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[ShaggyPE]

Are you typing that content in "<mod-dia>.281 THRU"(non linked to model) or are you keying in things like <Num_inst> and <depth> etc?

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

 

[macduff]

Dustin,
Non-linked. I'll usally add dia's or radii through the dimension function then add my text. it's still linked to the geometry to the solid model. I also add text manually (non-linked) to some items as well. See attached example.

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2010 SP 5.0
Dell T5500 Windows 7 Pro (64-bit)
Xeon CPU 2.53 GHz 6.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro 4000 2 GB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[macduff]

let's try the link again

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2010 SP 5.0
Dell T5500 Windows 7 Pro (64-bit)
Xeon CPU 2.53 GHz 6.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro 4000 2 GB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[fcsuper]

Colin,
If you had an editor interface to control the composition of your hole callout, what controls are required?

Matt Lorono, CSWP
Product Definition Specialist, DS SolidWorks Corp
Personal sites:
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion

 

[ShaggyPE]

The two keenserts are tricky, because it really isn't a hole callout, more like a part callout with a description and process added.

I could see a standard tapped hole being an issue because of your required formatting .164-32 instead of 8-32. SolidWorks really should support that format... I am surprised they don't already... though I haven't looked recently.

Your .065 diameter is something I encounter often. I modified my calloutformat.txt file to eliminate the "thru all" and replace it with "thru" and then I manually add the "one wall" verbiage if appropriate.

What do you do for counterbored and countersunk holes? What about holes that have multiple instances? These areas are where I think a "hole callout" really helps out. Sure you might have to modify the annotation a little, but it seems like a pretty good start.

It seems your primary issue is using the format of .164 instead of #8 for the tap size.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks