assembly context + copy with link

[CATPart]

Hi,

Please can you tell me, if what I have done in my product will cause problems later.

In assembly context I have two parts:
Part1 (plane)
Part2 (sketch)

I have used plane from part1 in part2, therefore I cannot use any more sketch from part2 into part1.

Than I have closed the assembly, and opened separately two parts, and copied as result with link sketch from part2 to part1...

So far everything is working fine, but I want to be sure.

Regards,
Damir

 

[DBezaire]

Damir - when/if you modify the sketch or the plane an update will be performed resulting in a cycle error.

Regards,
Derek

 

[CATPart]

Hi Derek,

Strange thing is that I don't receive a cycle error?
I have done test, tried to change everything... the sketch
is made only of points that I use in other parts for USER PATTERN.

Update is working fine, every part is on right position after update.

Rgds,
Damir

 

[jackk]

Damir,

I repeated your little scenario with R15. I was curious to see the results.

First I just used the Part1 plane to make the Part2 sketch, and then I used the Part2 sketch to make a Pad in Part1.

I was surprised that everything worked. But I noticed there was no External Reference branch added. And I noticed the "used" plane and sketch were copied as isolated elements (red lightning bolts). ???? Did you get the same thing?

Before closing the assembly, I copied and Pasted With Link the sketch. The copy was placed in a new External Reference branch (as expected), and the part became "contextual" (green gear).

Do you have isolated geometry also? Or do you have linked external references? Could make a big difference!

 

[CATPart]

Jack,

I have to go now, I'll check tomorrow.

By,
Damir

 

[CATPart]

Jack,

In my product (R14) I have linked external references, see attached picture.

So far I didn't noticed enything strange, have you made first exter. ref. in assembly mode, saved and closed assembly, opened two parts, copied with link, saved both parts, reopened assembly?

Regards,
Damir

 

[CATPart]

Sorry, here comes the picture.

 

[CATPart]

Jack,

Sorry, I didn't read your message completely. Yes, outside the product I have also parts with red bolts.

Rgds,
Damir

 

[jackk]

Damir,

Thanks for the picture - it helps understand what's going on.

I see several things that may (or may not be good):

1. If geometry is being copied between parts as isolated datums (red lightning bolts), there is no link between the parts. The good news is that this will avoid UPDATE CYCLE errors. The bad thing is if you edit the parent geometry, the copied children will not change because they are not linked.

2. Part2 (with the sketch) is "contextual" (green gear). Everything will be OK as long as you edit this part in it's own window or while in the context of the Product1 assembly. You will not be able to add more External References if you edit another instance of Part2 in a different product.

3. It appears that you have created a loop of links (which I didn't think was possible). Your Part1 is a parent to Part2 and Part2 is a parent back to Part1. I was taught to avoid this, and I'm surprised that I was able to recreate the situation. And I didn't get any errors when I did it, as Derek pointed out. ?????

4. You're not using Publications. It's optional, but it does maintain links if you rename parts or save parts in different folders.

 

[Azrael]

So you have to different link types in your parts, part1 that has a doc-doc link (work all the time) and part2 that has a contextual link, connected to the assembly (the chain in the lower left corner of the instance icon shows that). Nothing wrong with either of them depending on what you want to do. You could have had the elements published before linking them to have a more robust link.

 

[CATPart]

Jack,

I share the same opinion as Azrael, because when you edit the doc-doc link outside the assembly, even you see the red question mark below the icon everything will update correctly.
And for contextual link you have to open the assembly for doing update.

I also use published elements in my assmbly, on above picture it's not shown, because it was made for presentation purposes.

Rgds,
Damir

 

[jackk]

I think we agree that both types of links are OK.

I'm still confused on why the plane is copied without any kind of link.