Best parts/fasteners library? 2

[cmm]

I am tasked with creating a parts/fastener library, mainly fasteners. I have toolbox, which I use to create part geometry, but otherwise it seems pretty useless for reasons discussed in thread 559-88584. I don't want a program that inserts a bunch of special code in the part files that will come back to haunt us later (we had this problem with "gold partner" SolidMech about 2 years ago). I know many users have made their own libraries. I would be intersted in purchasing someone's library, but I imagine the chances are slim of us both having the same property names, part numbering scheme, etc. If anyone knows a way to use someone else's part library without renaming a bunch of stuff, or some other solution to creating my own fastener library without too much overhead (I might even be willing to try another software package), I'd really appreciate the info. I think the ideal system for us would be to have one fastener with many configurations, each having a configuration-specific description that links to that specific fastener's length, major diameter, etc. Maybe it would be best to keep it simple and just have, for example, an M8 SHCS part with configurations for each standard length. Any suggestions?

Chris Montgomery
Mechanical Engineer

http://www.adaptivequipment.com

 

[Dennyd]

Since you are interested in using a basic part with configurations you are describing a perfect application for a design table. You can even create the config-specific info in cells that are referenced to name your config. You can download good starting files from the SWX website subscription area. Even if you start with a basic part without configs, it is a very simple thing to create the different configs.

- - -Dennyd

 

[ShaggyPE]

A suggestion.

Use toolbox to create a fastener (ex. pan head screw, metric) with a configuration of each size, not length, but thread size. Then go in and create a design table that allows you to create the rest of your company's part library. All you have to do is copy lines the way you would in excel and change the length parameter. You can also use these cells to fill in the description parameter. It is a fast, easy and clean way to create a fastener library.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

cmm
Can you explain what you mean by "a bunch of special code in the part files"? What problems did you have?

I use SolidMech 3.2 & have not had a problem so far. I use the method that Shaggy18VW explained above.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

If everything is going well, you have obviously overlooked something

 

[dogarila]

cmm,

check what these guys have to offer, it might be what you are looking for:

http://www.solidpartners.com

I have been using their fasteners library on and off for the last 4 years. It works fine for me. It's basically one file for each type of fastener with design table based configurations and mate reference defined so when you drag it in the assy snaps into place. They have both imperial and metric fasteners. I would suppose their latest version of the library includes more than just fasteners.

 

[cmm]

CorBlimeyLimey.. I imagine Solidmech like any other 3D-cad product has come a long way in the last 2 years, so perhaps the problem has been fixed. I don't remember specifically what the problem was other than the Solidmech parts contained some extra code (according to Solidmech) that normal user-created Solidworks parts did not contain, and when we upgraded Solidworks there were problems with these parts. If I remember correctly, we got an error message when trying to open assemblies that contained these parts, though we could still open the parts individually. Solidmech tried to help us troubleshoot but finally threw their hands up. We ended up having to replace or delete all the Solidmech files in our old projects.

Chris Montgomery
Mechanical Engineer

http://www.adaptivequipment.com

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Strange!! I have used SolidMech since SW2000 & have not had one single problem.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

If everything is going well, you have obviously overlooked something

 

[EdDanzer]

We could supply our library if I knew what you wanted.

Ed Danzer
danzco@thurston.com