How do you name featues and sketchs?

Just curious as to how people go about naming features and sketches in a
part. do you name the sketch the same as the feature? or do you just name
the feature or do you leave it and use the default. How many of you name
your dimension. how do you go about naming dimensions?
just looking for ways I can be more efficient!


Nathan

 

Default names for sketch/feature...it takes too much time to invent names
for everything ;-)

Own descriptive names for dimensions but only if they are used in design
table or something similar.

 

Usually I keep the default name...unless I have a multifeature part, then I
can sometime rename features for easy recognisation...... Otherwise I almost
always rename new planes in assys to something understandable

Krister L

 

I give names to key features, especially those used as dimensioning
datums. I design a lot of hinges, so I usually have an axis named
"PIVOT AXIS" and a master profile sketch named "MASTER PROFILE".

Another important thing is to rename any dimension used in an
equation. The reason for this is that SW "recycles" dimension names,
i.e. if you delete a dimension "D1@Sketch1" from a sketch, SW will
reuse the name "D1@Sketch1" for the next new dimension in that sketch.
This can cause trouble if "D1@Sketch1" was used in an equation and
was replaced by a parameter that does not measure the same entities.

Giving names to dimensions used in equations also allows one to swap
which dimension is referenced by an equation just by changing names.

 

I usually rename features to be able to recognize the proper ones throughout
the development process. It always pains me to see someone searching
through a tree just to figure out which feature is the one they are looking
for. Sketches inside them are left alone. Dimensions used in design tables
are renamed so I know what dimension is what when adding new configurations.

WT

 

Hi Nathan,

I usually take the default names, unless I need to distinguish the
feature alot.

Examples include:

-Key mates that make something move (for example max/nominal/min or
stage_motion_x if driving with a single mate)

-Key mate planes, axes and so on.

-Some features but only when it helps or if I know that someone else
will benefit from the naming.

Cases when renaming is "mandatory" (for me):

-When using a table to drive configs, I always name the dimensions
that I will drive with the table. There is nothing worse for me than
having a table populated with "d1@sketch1".

-Patterned items in an assembly. I avoid the pain of figuring out
what the pattern is later.

-When the hole wizard does not update the description with the actual
value of the actual hole, I update the description. For example when
I needed to use a hole like .4377 but the hole wizard ignores the
actual size and describes it as .4375 (not always this small of an
amount).

Another very useful thing I have used is folders, which I always name
and use them to group related items together, particularly in an
assembly, but also in models (less often though).

For your basic question I would be socratic and ask "How much spare
time do you have and how will anyone (including you) benefit from the
naming? Is the time to create the names worth the extra perception
later? If so name away, if not then don't bother"

Regards,

SMA

 

I only rename very important features (including mates) such as
layoutsketches and others wich has extensive consequences when
changed, or if I suspect them to be changed very often during the
design fase. I then name them "**SomethingUsefull". The "**" makes it
easy to find what is important using RMB and "Go to".

Thomas

 

I must be the most anal-retentive designer on the newsgroup. I name most
everything. I figure that the short time lost to typing is more than made up
for by the time saved trying to understand my design when I come back to it
later. I name the features and then cut and paste the name into the sketch,
because every once in a while I've had trouble figuring out what a sketch
was after I had deleted the feature. (This is probably not really worth it,
as I usually delete the absorbed sketches anyway.) I name the sketches for
profiles, paths, and guide curves so I can keep them straight. I should name
mates a lot more, as it sometimes takes a bit of trial and error to find the
right mates at a later date. I rarely use design tables or equations, so
dimensions usually only get named when they are linked.

Jerry Steiger
Tripod Data Systems