design tables in assemblies controlling parts?

I have a question in regards to design tables in assemblies... I am
trying to control part dimensions in a design table i have created at
the assembly level... I was able to get the assembly to flip the
configurations on the part in the assembly design table but ultimately
really want to control dimensions of parts inside my assembly design
table... I have talked to my reseller but he says it is not possible...
I am being stubborn and think it should work... I would think that all
you would have to do is add something to the end of your dimension name
saying it came from thus and such part... What we are trying to
accomplish is a quoting tool where all you gotta do is tweak some
numbers in (1) design table and boom, you gotta part that can be used
for quoting... These parts would be used only be used in this situation
and would be in its own folder so it wont be referenced back to any
other assemblies we have... Please let me know your thoughts and ideas
on this... thanks....

Jeff

 

You could use the assy DT to control assembly level types of things,
such as sketches or planes and use those to control the parts in
context. Generally speaking, it's not a great idea to mix incontext
techniques with configurations.

On the other hand you could use some VBA programming to access the part
dims. There's an example of this on my website, in the SWParts area,
the one that looks like a conveyor.

Matt

 

matt, i will definitely take a look at your assembly.... I am aware
that what i am trying to do is realllllly bad practice and i will
probably get voted off the solidworks island for it... We are trying to
create a quotation device that anybody could use, even the solidworks
illiterate... If we can get an excel spreadsheet that you can just plug
the numbers in you want to define your tool and get a drawing from
that, that is ultimately what i am goin for.... thanks again...

Jeff

 

It just so happens that's exactly what the model on my site does. It
calls up an excel spreadsheet in an assembly, and you fill in boxes, it
calculates stuff and changes model dimensions.

Have you looked at DriveWorks? It does something similar. RuleStream
too, but about 10x the price.

Matt

 

Nope, i havent looked at those (2) softwares.... The problem i am
running into is that i dont know VB... I have yet to learn it and am
unsure as to how hard it would be to do what i want it to do... How
hard was it to code that conveyor? please let me know...

Jeff

 

Heard a rumour that a cut down version of one of those 2 will be
included in SWX2006 in the final release -- could be wrong

 

I know a little VB, but not much really. All the code is there, and
it's truly pretty simple. You can just copy what's there.

 

Why not look into configurator software? It does just what you want and
perhaps makes it a lot easier.

 

i would look into the software but i would only use it in one or 2
instances past that we probably wouldnt use it all that much... Are
there any free congifurator softwares or demo's i could tryout... that
would be the best scenario if we were to use one... I will try to copy
and past the VB code and see what i can come up with... Thanks....

Jeff

 

Matt... i am hacking around with your VB script and it is working, just
not really well... we are working in metric and when i fill in my cells
to be say 60mm, it changes my part model to 60,000mm in diameter... Do
you know by chance what is making this thing go so nuts? please let me
know...

 

Well, SW works in meters by default. All you would have to do is add a
"/1000" to the appropriate place in the code

 

One more quick question... how do you control a parts configuration
with inside the VB? thanks for all your help....

 

Keith.... What you are suggesting does make some sense... i do have a
question so i better understand your suggestion.... How do you link the
cells between (2) separate design tables/spreadsheets? i have only
seen solidworks work off of one excel spreadsheet... please let me
know... thanks again...

Jeff