Holey Angle Iron, Batman

[Adrian2]

Dear Folks;

I am putting together some structural steel supports using SW2004's toolbox to provide me with the necessary W sections and Angle Iron.

Some of my Angles need holes at either end to bolt into gusset plates. Trouble is when I put holes in one angle, the same feature ends up in the same place in every other instance of the angle iron.

What is the proper procedure for creating individual instances of angle iron, so that each angle iron can have its own hole locations.

Best Regards

Adrian Dunevein
AAADrafting.com

 

[SBaugh]

Have you tried using configurations?

Build configurations at the part level and suppress the feature or features as needed between configs.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[Mandrake22]

It is debatable if this is "proper procedure", but here is what we do.
We open a new assy and create the blank shape to suit and then open the part that was just created.
We then delete any part configurations that have been created other than the one we want and edit the properties of the remaining config. to show "document name in BOM".
We then save this part as a discrete number and modify to suit.
The new assy is then closed without saving, it was used only to enable toolbox. If toolbox worked in the part environment it would allow us to avoid a couple of steps.

 

[Adrian2]

Dear Scott & Mandrake;

Reading Mandrakes response got me thinking. (Which, with me, can sometimes be a dangerous thing)

I went to my common files directory and found the directory where all my standard ansi steel structural members were located. I then used SW explorer to copy several individual instances of angles back into my assemblies working directory.

I then used explorer to replace the toolbox generated instances with the new ones I had created. This allows me to modify each one as required.

I reasoned that there really is not much difference between creating a new part and making a new configuration at the part level.

Thank you both very much for getting me to use my brain

Best Regards

Adrian

 

[DesignSmith]

Adrian,

Right click on the Toolbox Browser panel and choose `Configure Browser' from the RMB menu that pops up. (or select it from the Toolbox pulldown menu)
In the `Document Properties' section, set the option for (x) Create Copies on Ctrl-drag, on.
Then when you need a structural steel shape with holes, chamfers or what have you, simply hold down the [Ctrl] key when you drag out your desired shape. This will automatically give you a single configuration copy of the desired structural profile that you can add features to without affecting all the other configurations or the base library component.

If you ever need some structural items perforated with holes on a standard bolt spacing pattern, take a look at the UniStrut standard shapes.



DesignSmith

http://www.DesignSmith-Services.com

 

[TheTick]

This is also a really good example of what Design Tables are for. Use a design table to control the suppression state of the hole in each configuration. You can also control parameters for position and size from a DT.

Due to illness, the part of The Tick will be played by... The Tick.

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

 

[aamoroso]

If I could only reach my design table. This is definitely a great place for a design table. Different config for each pc of angle iron will keep it easy to manufacture also.

 

[SBaugh]

Why can't you reach your DT?

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376