How to choose planes for assembly in Wildfire?

[gandytable]

I have a large assembly. For most mates I use surfaces, but I need to use planes for some. The problem is my 500 piece assembly. When I turn on planes to use for mating, there are over 1500 planes to sort through. It is virtually impossible to find the needed planes. I can drag the new component away from the assembly and find the plane needed on it, but I cannot do that with the main assembly. I assume there is a way to only show the planes on the parts or sub-assemblies that are to be mated, but I cannot find it. Please help!

 

[Arlin]

Have a look at the search tool, that Binoculars icon.

If you have any other questions, give a yell.

 

[Hora]

There is another method more accurate than searching for planes in 500 components.

I will tell you the procedure for PRO2001 I'm working with, but must be similar in Wildfire.

STEP 1-> Open Layers dialog. Turn OFF all layers in all components.

STEP 2-> In Active Object Box choose your part. This part will be now active for layers opperations.

STEP 2-> Turn on the planes. Close your layer dialog.

STEP 3-> Show planes. You will see that only datum planes from the desired part will be shown.

That's all. Simply and accurate.

Good luck,

-Hora

 

[im4cad]

You can also have all layers turned off and use "Sel by Menu" option.

im4cad
Pro Design Services, Inc.

http://www.cadproe.com/pds/home.asp

 

[cehall]

At the point of 500 parts ... you should really have many simplified reps. The speed of just having some of the parts in ram and the rate you can select them is enhanced.

In wildfire, the sub-assy simp reps come in so it is just an matter of naming them during the assembly proceedure. Sweet!