Insert model items

Just wondering how many of you use insert model items in creating your
drawings? I typically use reference dimensions for everything exept
hole callouts, but this is just a long standing habit.

Thanks for your input. Miles

 

I had the same habit, but recently tried to dimension a complex shaped
bottle on a drawing, and I couldn't get dims to attach on it. Then I
inserted the model's dimensions and turned off the unneeded ones to get
what I wanted. It worked well. Now I'm going to use this method, with
a refinement: uncheck "marked for drawing" on the dims in the model I
will not want on drawing to save the time turning them off in the
drawing.

JEB

 

I use it some. It all depends on how well they are in place for what I
want, how well the part was created relative to how it will be dimensioned
(I know, shoud be the same thing, but isn't always), etc. One thing to keep
in mind is that if you import model ordinate dimensions, you can't add to
them in the drawing.

WT

 

Our company standard is that (with rare exceptions) all dims in drawings
should be inserted from the model
Once you get used to the discipline of doing it that way it's as fast or
faster that dropping in reference dimensions, and tends to create a more
robust drawing/model interaction. It also forces the designer to dimension
the model in a way that conveys his intent--which is always a good thing

Dimonte group had a good tutorial on the subject, but their website seems to
be down right at the moment... ferretting out the proper link is, as they
say, left as an exercise for the reader.

 

Part of it depend on what you are actually doing...

I do mold design. I am like you in that I manually dimension with ref.
dimensions, except for hole callouts. But, in my case, there is no other
choice. Mold design uses in-context features (i.e.. cavity feature), as
well as lots of base parts. Neither of these supports using inserted model
item dimensions. These dimensions simply don't exist in order to import
them to the drawing.

 

IMHO if the model isn't dimensioned in a way that you can bring it in
with Insert Model Items then the model doesn't really capture design
intent. There will be exceptions, but that is my broad rule of thumb.

 

I normally model the parts and assemblies to hold together well if I
anticipate design changes, and to make the assemblies easy to build and
hold together. The drawings are made for manufacturing ease. We do not
use gtol for our own designs, only for customers designs, if they do.
So in house design intent comes thru on the assembly/weldment drawings.

One thing nice about inserting model items is being able to shift-drag
them from view to view as needed.

 

It is true that if you import model dimensions you cannot add to them.
However if you start another series with the same zero then you can align
them (Tools --> Dimensions --> Align Collinear/Radial). Unfortunately
occasionally, for no apparent reason (yay SW!) it randomly does not work.
If you are feeling particularly organised you can set up a separate layer
just for inserted model items so you can turn them off/change the colour
etc.
Another annoyance is that (at least in 2004) if you tick "Marked for
Drawing" you cannot also tick "Hole Wizard Locations". So you still have to
delete unwanted items if you use the hole wizard even if you untick "Mark
for Drawing"

 

I'm going to disagree with most folks on this topic and
agree with TOP.
I know there are cases or product types that make it difficult
to use design dimensions for manufacturing, however, many designs
should be created with manufacturing in mind. Design intent is one
consideration, while Design For Manufacture (DFM) must be included
also. For that matter, Design For Assembly (DFA) deserves its
share of consideration as well.
Where I work, we strive to limit the number of reference dimensions
on every drawing. Model Items are used as extensively as possible
and in some case, exclusively.
Again, this methodology will not work for all designs but I do know
this:
There has been and in many cases still is a wall between Design
Engineering & Manufacturing Engineering. One of the most common
manufacturing mantra is, "They may know how to design stuff but
they sure as hell don't know how to manufacture anything."
In some cases this is true in others it's just a stubborn
mentality that has existed in both departments forever.
Our thinking is that if you don't consider manufacturing processes
& capabilities, you really cannot design a cost effective product.
Eddie

 

I like to address this by having both the "intent" and the "manufacturing"
dimension in the model. Typically I make the "intent" dimension driving,
but set it so that it is not "marked for drawing". I then add a driven
"manufacturing" dimension that is marked for the drawing.