Automatic external reference deletion?

[mloew]

In my continued quest to develop a robust means to implement top-down design using skeleton parts and develop prints that are free of "created" dimensions, I may have stumbled on a solution that brings about a new problem to solve:

Would it be possible to develop an automated way of "deleting" the references from external copied geometry?

I have been using a process of passing the required interface and design intent geometry to components from the (system) skeleton models via a publish geometry feature in the skeleton and a corresponding external reference feature in the component. I have not found a way to create component prints that are fully detailed without creating dimensions in the print because the dimensions that controls the geometry contains no dimensional information. As the design of components matures in the design process, at a certain point, it may no longer be practical (or desirable) to keep the linkages to the skeleton geometry. At this point, one way to create prints without the created dimensions would be to break the referenced geometry controlled by the external reference features and replace them with fully dimensioned ones.

Can this be done? Does this make sense? What are the negatives? Are there better ways to do this?

Thanks in advance.



Best regards,

Matthew Ian Loew

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[im4cad]

You can make a copied feature (created using Copy Geometry)independent at any time, so there's no more ties with the skeleton.

im4cad
Pro Design Services, Inc.

http://www.cadproe.com/pds/home.asp

 

[mloew]

im4cad,

Thank you for the reply. I am aware of making the feature independent, but I still will have no dimensions to document on a print. It is still fixed geometry, regardless of the dependency.


Best regards,

Matthew Ian Loew

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[im4cad]

I am not aware of any way of showing dimensions on a part created from a skeleton using "copy geometry". If helpful for anybody, a possible trick that you can use is to create assemblies of each part with the skeleton, and show the dimensions from the skeleton, without creating new ones for the part.

im4cad
Pro Design Services, Inc.

http://www.cadproe.com/pds/home.asp