Casting and machining drawings 10

[EngJW]

Not sure how to do this: I have a solid model of a casting completed. I would like to make a copy of it and add all the machining features, which involves removing material from several surfaces and drilling a lot of holes. The question is, can these two models be linked, so that making a casting change will show up in the machined part?

Thanks,
John Woodward

 

[engAlright]

There are definetely pros and cons to each method.

We use PDMWorks which forces you to be "clean" when working with in-context parts.

MacPT,
Consider the case where I have a part in-context of a base part, now I want to create a new part with a new number based on that base part. If I take a copy of the existing part, that part is still in-context of the original part.

How do you make changes to 2 parts independently of each other if they are both related to the same base part? This is especially troublesome if the parts become very different in shape - you would end up having to re-create the part from scratch to "detach" it. Also - if one of those parts is made obsolete while changes are being made to the base part (for use in other parts) you are actually making changes to an obsoleted part.

That being said, these problems are manageable if you are careful and know how to handle them.

 

[ctopher]

All good points. With PDMWorks, the best way for us to achieve this is with an assy. We never have an issue with updating the casting and machining separately. Nothing is in context.

 

[EngJW]

Thanks everyone for all the replies. I started a new part and inserted the casting, then added several machining operations (by extruding the material away) and changed the color as was suggested. Works great. The casting is still being designed, and the machined part keeps right up with it. I think I will also work on the drawing views at the same time.

By the way, this is not a new design. It is an old pencil drawing of a complex casting and the foundries will not quote the part without a cad drawing. The other guys are using Autocad to draw every view and section.

John Woodward

 

[macduff]

Guys and Gals,
I just read back though this thread and notice that MacPT beat me to the punch as far as far inserting the casting into a new part and machining with a different color (I perfer casting gray in color and red for the machine cuts)I like the contrast.

Anyways...........There's a one thing I want to add that been bothering me with PDMWorks. When checking into the vault, the casting is not listed with the machining. It tags it at the end of that project folder. Why is this? The files are still there when you check it out, but not listed in the PDM.



Macduff
Meggitt Airdynamics Inc.
Dell Precision 370
SW2004 Pro SP4.1
XP Pro SP2.0
NIVIDA Quadro FX 1300

 

[pdybeck]

macduff,

I have been trying to get SolidWorks to fix this for a few years now. SolidWorks Explorer actually shows the base part underneath the make from part, as expected and as any normal ERP/MRP would categorize them. PDMWorks does not do this and in fact places them at the end of the project folder as you mentioned. PDMWorks still knows that the two are related if you look at the where used and reference info for each. I have written to Joy Pineau, PDMWorks product manager, about this and mentioned it on the Beta discussion forum for 2005. I have also submitted several enhancement requests all to no avail. Keep trying and maybe we'll see it someday. Its really annoying to me and especially to my co-workers. It just never makes it onto the top list of priorities for the next release.

Pete Yodis
Harold Beck and Sons