library feature - top down

hi, I have a situation where a main assembly has 2
sub-assemblies...like this...

Top Assy
|_Sub-Assy 1 (plate)
|_Sub-Assy 2 (pin)

I'd like to have the pin automatically create a hole where it is
inserted into the plate. Is this possible? maybe through library
feature that was part of the pin?

 

Are the pin & plate actually assemblies, or is each one a part?

Either way, the method is to edit the plate in the context of the Top Assy.
Start a new sketch on the surface of it. Select the OD of the pin and
convert it. Then extrude cut the hole in the plate. What you end up with
is the hole follows the pin location.

WT

 

Yes, true. That is typical top down methodology...but it doesn't work
either, because "the [plate] part has features created in the context"
of the plate assy.

What I'm talking about is automation of component installation. What if
every time you had to insert a pin it would automatically make the
holes in the plate sub-assembly.

about, because of that little problem with "This part has features
created in the context of another assembly..." So what you would have
to do is open the plate sub-assy, create the hole in the plate part ,
go back to the top assy, and then mate the pin to the hole in the top
assy.

I'll think I'll have to write a program that finds pin location in the
top assy, stores it, opens the plate sub-assy and adds the holes....
unless someone know another way... thanks.

 

Thanks Dale.

 

oh, and we cant have multiple contexts for parts in
assemblies...possible to go to far out of scope.

 

I think your answer is the new "indent" feature in solidworks 2005... it has
an option to CUT a hole instead of indent. nice part about this command is
that you can cut a clearance hole. In otherwords you can have the hole be
just alittle bit bigger than the pin -- by taking advantage of the offset
feature inside the "indent" command.

Another option would be to use the "cavity" feature & actually subtract the
pin from the plate. However this would produce a hole that is the exact
same size as the pin - no clearance.

Hope that helps
Steve Tietz

 

What I'm talking about is automation of component installation. What if

What about a slightly different method that would in fact do the automation
of component installation as you wish. Instead of placing the pin and using
it to create the hole, why not create the hole (using hole wizard
preferably), insert one pin into one of the holes, and use component
patterns based on the hole feature in the plate. This way, if you add a
hole, a pin will automatically be placed into this new hole. And vise
versa, if you remove a hole, a pin will be removed automatically.

I don't know if this is what you are after or not. But I use this method a
lot on final assemblies with fasteners and such.

--
Seth Renigar
Emerald Tool and Mold Inc.
(Remove ".no.spam" from my address)
__

 

This has always annoyed me. You can only create 'in context' reference
in one assembly with any given part.

So for instance if you have a sub assembly with a plate mounted to a
motor and then a top level assembly where the plate and motor are
mounted to a frame: The plate cannot have an 'in context' hole pattern
in the sub assembly for the motor mounting *and* an 'in context' hole
pattern in the top level assembly for mounting to the frame.

I'm used to Pro/E allowing any given part to have several external
references dependent on any number of other parts or assemblies.

This wouldn't be such a problem in SW if they also allowed reference
patterns (The closest thing SW has is derived patterns) for features
(another Pro/E thing).

Regards,

 

This has always annoyed me. You can only create 'in context' reference in

This is not true. Under Options>System Options>External References, check
"Allow multiple in contexts for parts... blah...blah...blah". This allows
in-context from multiple assemblies.

I do this all the time. You have to be careful though. It can be
dangerous...

--
Seth Renigar
Emerald Tool and Mold Inc.
(Remove ".no.spam" from my address)
__