SIZE DRAWINGS USING VB

IS THERE A WAY TO FIT A DRAWING TO A SPECIFIC PAPER SIZE

FOR INSTANCE:

I HAVE AUTOMATED VARIOUS ASSEMBLIES. I USE VB TO GENERATE SOLID MODELS OF ALL THE PARTS PRODUCED AND CREATE IGS FILES THAT ARE IMPORTED INTO PRO-E IN WHICH WE TOOL AND SHEET THE PARTS. WE NEED DRAWINGS FOR THE SHEET METAL DEPARTMENT TO FOLD THE PARTS, SO RIGHT NOW I USE GENERIC DRAWINGS IN WHICH ALMOST ALL OF THE DIMENSIONS ARE RECALCULATED IN THE AUTOMATION PROGRAM. I KNOW SOLIDWORKS DRAWINGS WILL AUTOMATICALLY UPDATE DIMENSIONS, BUT IS THERE A WAY TO KEEP THE DRAWINGS PROPORTIONATE ON AN A-LANDSCAPE SHEET FORMAT(11" WIDE BY 8.5" HIGH)? ANY
INPUT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THANKS

JOSH H

 

[dsi]

You can set the scale with code, but you need to determine the scale manually. If you know the overall size of the model, you can easily determine the scale required to "best fit" an A-size drawing template. DimensionalSolutions@Core.com
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dsi,

I'm having a problem with dimension location when
scaling the model. Do you have an example?

I could send you two parts that are identical with
the exception of size.

Thanks

Josh

 

[dsi]

Dimension location is a tough one. Are you adding the drawing dimensions using VB? If so, you will have to adjust the relative position based on the scale you are using. I have not done this, but understand the concepts behind it. That is a awful lot of work. Maybe you could add the dimensions first, then scale the drawing. Some of the dimensions will be out of place, but would only require minimal user interface to "pretty" up. DimensionalSolutions@Core.com
While I welcome e-mail messages, please post all thread activity in these forums for the benefit of all members.

 

The only problem with the user interface 'touch up' is
that once the user inputs the parameters of the assembly
I write that information to a location on our server where
another program that I have written is 'watching' this location for info. Once this program detects a new file
it opens it and, in turn, opens SW and creates all of the parts necessary from this packet of information. Then, the program automatically generates PDF files which I write out to another location on the server where the sheet metal department will open these files and use these
to fold the parts. The assemblies are small. They range from 8-10 part assemblies to 20-40 part assemblies and I have already created all the necessary templates and code to generate the parts and dimensions. I think that a generic template drawing has probably been the easiest way to go until now. I've started working on a new program that will automate an assembly with an expanded variation in parts used and part sizes. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Josh

 

The only problem with the user interface 'touch up' is
that once the user inputs the parameters of the assembly
I write that information to a location on our server where
another program that I have written is 'watching' this location for info. Once this program detects a new file
it opens it and, in turn, opens SW and creates all of the parts necessary from this packet of information. Then, the program automatically generates PDF files which I write out to another location on the server where the sheet metal department will open these files and use these
to fold the parts. The assemblies are small. They range from 8-10 part assemblies to 20-40 part assemblies and I have already created all the necessary templates and code to generate the parts and dimensions. I think that a generic template drawing has probably been the easiest way to go until now. I've started working on a new program that will automate an assembly with an expanded variation in parts used and part sizes. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Josh