Generating Drawing from large assembly

[eklunja]

We have main assembly currently containing 1000+ parts. But still one sub-assebly of 900 parts is excluded from main assembly. We've tried to bring that sub-assembly to the main assembly, but CATIA always went down.

Our platform is: CPU 2GHz with 2GB RAM, ATI Fire GL2 64MB, 100 Bbit/s network. CATIA V5 R8 SP4. WINDOWS2000 SP2.

We need drawing from that whole assembly (almost 2000 parts) while we aren't able to do the Product complete. CNEXT process size reaches 2 GB limit of CATIA(?)

Does anybody have ideas how to generate drawing?

 

I don't have the definite answer. But here is an idea.
Look to see how much memory you are using. If you are hitting near the 2 gig limit of your machine, it may require an expensive fix. I have heard that windows 2000 will not support more than 2 gig per process thread. I have also heard that Windows 2000 advanced server will allow up to 3 gig per process. I expect Windows advanced server is not cheap. You could try to up the virtual memory, but I don't think it will help.

I had in seen a post in a workstation review site that depicted this problem for those dealing with very large assemblies.

Max

 

Hi there

I'm afraid that you will have to wait until V5R9SP2 to be able to create a proper drawing of your assembly...
Then you will be able to generate a view directly from a product in Visualisation Mode, which saves plenty of memory.

 

[ogabriel]

Another solution is to shrink the data of your sub-assemblies by removing the history of the models. This method is explained somewhere else in this database. Basically, you create a new assembly, add an empty part to it and then load your sub-assembly. Select the new Part and make sure you're in Part Design. Select those bodies which makes up the exterior of the sub-assembly, if you don't want to section the sub-assembly. Now, on the insert menu you'll find Boolean Operations - Assemble... Use that and select the PartBody as After:

Save the part and discard the new assembly as it can't be used for updating your new part. Use the new part instead of your sub-assembly in your top assembly.

Please tell me how much less memory is consumed.

Good luck

 

[dukoen]

Hello,
I have to customer with same problem. The customer solution at this time:
split the assembly in 2 assembly. One assembly whit all the outside parts and subassembly and the with inner part (example only). Start a new drawing and you generate the views from both assembly in same drawing.
But in very short time we get a solution from Dassault/IBM
Best regards
Helmut

http://www.catiatips.de