Organizing the feature manager tree at the assembly-level 1

[CADGemini]

Hello All,

I just stumbled across a helpful tip that many of you may or may not already know.

Problem: I had in my main assembly a bunch of sub-assemblies that have corresponding numbers to them. I like to organize my tree by starting with the highest number at the top of the tree and working to the lowest number. Well as many of you know if you try to drag one sub assemby under the other you are actually combining the two sub-assemblies together which throws out red flags usually.

Solution: Create a folder in your assembly under the group of sub-assemblies that you want to organize. Then drag all of those assemblies into the folder. Now go to the folder and drag the lowest numbered assembly to the top of the list in the created folder and continue til you have the highest numbered assembly at the top. Next delete the folder and Wala! you have organized your sub-assemblies without combining them into each other.

I hope I was able to explain that effectively.

If anyone has any questions about what I just said I will try to clarify things with them.

 

[Arlin]

Easier way:
Just hold the Alt key while dragging components in your assembly tree.
This will keep them from moving into subassemblies.

 

[Arlin]

See page 9-39 of the SWX 2004 Reference Guide PDF.

 

[CADGemini]

[red]Thanks for the info Arlin.

That is much easier.[/red] :-D

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

When creating an asembly, I find it more helpful to organize the parts & sub-assemblies in the Tree as they would be needed when creating the physical assembly. If another user (or yourself in months or years time) is trying to manipulate an assy, the parts will be what really matter when trying to understand (remember) the Design Intent. A number is just a number & will not help at all in following the build sequence.

Also, following each part or sub-assy I create a folder containg the fasteners which will be needed for that piece. It makes it nice & simple to understand what gets used where & for what.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

 

[macduff]

Fellas,
While were on this subject, I would like to add a question.
When organizing the assemblies in feature manager tree, I notice that not all the parts in the BOM renumber correctly on the drawings. I get floaters that just don't want to move. I tried deleted and recreating and playing aroud with the BOM options. This happens in the Excel BOM (we use this one) as well as the SW BOM. Any thoughts?

By the way........we're on SW2004 SP 4.1.

Thanks,

Macduff
Meggitt Airdynamics Inc.