Generating dimensions using excel

[Jodeo]

Hello,

I am trying overwrite the actual dimensions generated automatically by Catia in the drafting module (V5R14 by the way) using Microsoft Excel. The drawing I am trying to implement this on is fully dimensioned but instead of using the actuals dimensions, I would like to put in my own fake dimensions without going to the properties (That's about 150 right clicks by my count). Is this possible or another program I can use besides Excel? Let me know if you understand my question or have any help at all. Thank you and have a great day.

Jodeo
Process Engineer

 

[weavedreamer]

If you do this often, you may want to consider a script.

 

[Azrael]

Hi Jodeo
It would actually be helpful if you could say some words about the process, why do you want to make a fake drawing? I say this because sometime you could get help easier if you don't narrow it don't to a specific procedure.

I'm not sure you can drive the fake dimension with an excel sheet, anybody please correct me if I'm mistaken

Have you considered to drive the 3d instead with a table(excel)?

 

[Jodeo]

Hi Azrael,

Sorry to be so vague but I will go into depth about my question. One of our customers is asking us if we can do custom work for them but usually we cannot take the work because our turn-around time is too slow. Right now the bottle neck is in the paperwork: creating work orders, first-offs, ballooning etc.. not the actual machining. These custom orders are not brand new parts but just variations of existing parts.

I have created a master drawing that accounts for every dimension of all our existing orders of these parts. Therefore when I receive a new order I will enter the dimensions into excel and (if it possible) those numbers would go into a specific place to dimension my master drawing. Whatever dimension is not applicable would just get an N/A. The reason I would like to use excel is so I can link between Catia and our internal software.

So in a nut shell:
1) I receive an order
2) enter dims into excel (which will automatically dimension my master drawing)
3) These dims will also be transfered to our software
4) print out necessary paperwork for the machinists.

I hope this explanation gives you an idea of what I am trying to accomplish. Also the dimensions do not have to drive the actual .catpart file or the drawing itself.

 

[HGMorgan]

Jodeo,
We have a customer assembly product that is like what you are describing: basically the same configuration each time, but some feature dimensions change. We created a CATProduct with all of the CATParts. Then we created a CATDrawing with all the views & dimensions required.

In the CATParts, we have parameters that we change per the customers specifications. We are doing it by editing the parameters in the specification tree (only a couple, but it changes all the CATParts via links). This activity could be driven by an Excel Design Table.

We have the "Master" CATProduct, CATParts and fully dimensioned CATDrawing in a "Master" folder. We copy all those files to the "New Part Number" folder, update the parameters and the CATDrawing (the CATDrawing updates all the dimensions). Then edit the CATDrawing (New Part number, might have to move some dimensions), print it out and send to shop. This usually takes about 15 minutes and done.

 

[Azrael]

I would recommend you HGMorgan's suggestion. If I'm not mistaken you can publish parameters from parts to assembly level so you can drive the assembly top down with an excel sheet and also control the activty, if the part/feature should or should not exist.