UPDATING CONFIGS IN A MIRRORED PART 1

[DrGonzo]

Hello all,

Did a little searching and can't seem to find what I'm looking for so here it goes...

I am working on right and left hand versions of an assembly. I created one assembled, mirrored what needed to be mirrored and assembled. I have since modified my configs to conform to our ERP system on the original assembly and parts. Now when I am working with the mirrored parts the configurations naming has not updated to match the original.

Is there a way to sync these back up automagically? I know I can edit them manually, or do some cutting and pasting in design tables.

Thanks,
Dr. Gonzo

 

[SBaugh]

If I understand you correctly you have mirrored parts in an assembly... If you mirror parts in an assembly it just makes a copy of the original parts in the same directory that the original components are located in, or you can place them in a new directory. You can also add a prefix to the parts when mirroring the parts.

The reason it doesn't update a configuration wehn you change the original component, is because it is it's own file now. Since there is a DT in both files I think your going to have to do the whole Copy, Paste thing.

Something just came to mind... I know you can link one cell of one sheet to another sheet. But for specfic's on how I couldn't tell you. Try looking in the help of Excel.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

You can share Design Tables between parts.

Open the DT in your original part, then save it to a logical place.
Then delete the original DT.
Next "Insert>Design Table>From File & Link to File then Browse to the previously saved DT>Open>Click Check mark or Enter Key."
Then do the same for your mirrored part.

Note: Make sure your configured dimensions etc have the same property name in the original & mirrored part.

Hope this works for you.

Merry Christmas to One & All

 

[DrGonzo]

Thank you for your help. I have since worked through the problem. The parts are mirrors of parts containing several configurations and derived configs. The resulting mirrored part is not created with a DT automatically. I inserted them and then did the copy paste routine.

To specify a little more, the mirror part is only different in that it is opposite hand, all features and dimensions are configured the same for each hand. I have 8 length changes, various equations to control my features and various suppression states. Each length has 2 derived configs one for cnc layouts the other for drawings. Since they are the same all I really want to do is make sure that the mirrored part has the same configurations and that they are referencing the correct original config. Example: mirror 96" cnc looks at original 96" cnc, mirror 96" looks at original 96", and so on.

This isn't so bad manually by doing the cut paste routine, maybe manual is the only way. Still looking for any pointers that might help in the future, but thanks for all the great feedback.

Merry Christmas!

 

[JNR]

A note on DT linking. In an embedded DT (Excel spreadsheet) you can link from cells in an external spreadsheet. However with any DT you can not link from cells in an embedded spreadsheet DT. It is a one way operation. (Due to it being a temporary file name and only exisiting in RAM - there is no valid address to link to.)

So if you want to do two way liking or link from a SW DT, you need to use external Excel spreadsheet files for your DT's. This is fine but needs more careful file management. Note - that means it is not possible at all pre SW2003.

Be naughty - save Santa a trip.