Two views of the same assembly in one drawing? 2

[hititfaster]

I have designed a machine which is enclosed within sheet-metal cases. I would ideally like to show a view of this with all cases (they're split into several pieces) shown installed and one with the cases removed to show internal components. I can then place a BOM inbetween or to one side and add balloons to both views to highlight parts as appropriate. I've tried a few things but can't achieve what I want.

1. Simply adding another view of the assembly into the drawing (on a second sheet). Obviously this doesn't work because all changes roll down...

2. Making a second assembly from my main assembly, removing all sheet-metal, saving and inserting that beside my main assembly in the drawing. This seems to mess up BOM/balloon numbers: some are correct, others aren't.

A very similar job was done by another company for this client, and I have access to the drawings. In these, all the sheet-metal has been left off the model completely, which makes me think it was an insurmountable problem when they were generated. It just seems like a somple thing, so I feel like there should be a way.

I'm looking for general practice advice here as well because this is the first major project I've detailed in SW so if you have any personal preferences feel free to offer them!

Many thanks

Tom.

 

[MDGroup]

Look into the help menu for 'Configurations'. It will do exactly what you are looking for, very easily.

You can have the same assembly file with one configuration showing all of the parts, and another one with some parts hidden/suppressed.

Then have your different drawing views reference the different configurations.

 

[hititfaster]

Ah - ok, i've used config's for other parts but I didn't even consider it for this! Note taken, thanks.

 

[JMirisola]

A configuration would be the best way to go. You could hide the sheet metal within the drawing environment, but it's not as easily controllable as working with configurations.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

 

[SteveMartin]

If you're just looking to alter the visibility of some parts I wouldn't use configurations, I would use display states. This would assume SW 2008 (I think) or higher, which you don't specify.

Your displayed BOM will be easier to control/sort/etc between the multiple views if all the views are of the same configuration. It's possible with multiple configurations, but easier with a single one.

 

[hititfaster]

So I got in first thing this morning, created a new config. of my assembly and inserted it into the drawing and it works great - just the effect I was looking for... However: as a tester, I ballooned the same part in the two different views, and it produced two different numbers and/or numbers in excess of the last item number on my BOM.

To expand: the machine is basically a 6'x 10' box with a conveyor running through the centre (and protruding around 2' out of each end) and its sides split into eleven panels. The conveyor can be seen in both the 'panels-on' and the 'panels-off' views, and when ballooned, it displays a different number in each view. Some items are correct , however - the main support frame of the machine, for exaample, is correct to the BOM.

Bit confused. Apologies for the leyman questions. I'll investigate display states in the mean-time.

Many thanks,

Tom.

 

[handleman]

Right-click on a view and choose "Properties". In the lower left corner of the view properties dialog box is a check box for linking balloons to a BOM. Check that box and select your BOM in the dropdown. Do this for each view.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

 

[JMarv]

On the second view, >right click>properties, and toggle on "keep linked to BOM." Also, make sure you select the BOM from the drop-down box.

Joe
SW Office 2008 SP5.0
P4 3.0Ghz 3GB
ATI FireGL X1

 

[hititfaster]

handleman and JMarv - that's perfect. I somtimes feel like I'm drowning in options and radio buttons so it's nice to get the result you're after. Very satisfying!

Many thanks!