Squaring List For Rectangular Blocks - Any Ideas?

Here's my situation / wish:

I have an assembly of parts that I need to square up blocks for. All
the blocks have rectangular (no turned parts) envelopes with some
features in them (holes, a cutout, etc).

Does anyone have any tools or ideas on how one might use the BOM or
mass props or whatever to determine the bounding cubes (ok
rectangleoids or whatever) to determine a squaring list?

I'm looking for something like the cut list on the weldments. Mind
you, this is not a weldment, so some of the modeling pre-requisites
for a cut list are not in the parts, nor do I want them to be.

Simplistically, every part has a bounding cube and I would like to
find a way to take an assembly, insert a table with the right
properties and get an XYZ squaring list for the parts. I can
presently generate this list by measuring the parts:I'm looking for a
way to get this list automatically.

Thanks for any hints, tips or ideas.



SMA

 

Sean,

Here's a macro that measures the part and adds .015 stock to the block size.
Sorry , I can't remember who wrote it, but it works by adding a length, width and height custom property to the part
which can then be manipulated however you like.

HTH,

M.T.

Sub main()
Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
corners = Part.GetPartBox(False)
length = Abs(corners(3) - corners(0)) + 0.015 'X axis
height = Abs(corners(4) - corners(1)) + 0.015 ' Z axis
width = Abs(corners(5) - corners(2)) + 0.015 ' Y axis
'Remove existing properties
retval = Part.DeleteCustomInfo2("", "Length")
retval = Part.DeleteCustomInfo2("", "Width")
retval = Part.DeleteCustomInfo2("", "Height")
'Add latest values
retval = Part.AddCustomInfo3("", "Length", swCustomInfoNumber, length)
retval = Part.AddCustomInfo3("", "Width", swCustomInfoNumber, width)
retval = Part.AddCustomInfo3("", "Height", swCustomInfoNumber, height)
End Sub

 

I am having problems with this.

I don't know how to edit macros very well (like none). But I thought that
this one sounded like it would be useful so I tried to make it work. I
clicked Tools>Macro>New and gave it a name (LWH.swp). I then highlighted
everything from Sub main() down, deleted it, and pasted the macro from your
message. Is this correct? When I try to run it, I get this error:

Compile error:
Argument not optional

What have I done wrong?

--
Seth Renigar
Emerald Tool and Mold Inc.
(Remove "SpamFree_" from my address)

 

Try this it works here.

WT

Sub main()

Dim Length As Variant
Dim Height As Variant
Dim Width As Variant
Dim Corners As Variant
Dim retval As Boolean

Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
Corners = Part.GetPartBox(False)
Length = Abs(Corners(3) - Corners(0)) + 0.015 'X axis
Height = Abs(Corners(4) - Corners(1)) + 0.015 ' Z axis
Width = Abs(Corners(5) - Corners(2)) + 0.015 ' Y axis
'Remove existing properties
retval = Part.DeleteCustomInfo2("", "Length")
retval = Part.DeleteCustomInfo2("", "Width")
retval = Part.DeleteCustomInfo2("", "Height")
'Add latest values
retval = Part.AddCustomInfo3("", "Length", swCustomInfoNumber, Length)
retval = Part.AddCustomInfo3("", "Width", swCustomInfoNumber, Width)
retval = Part.AddCustomInfo3("", "Height", swCustomInfoNumber, Height)
End Sub

 

Thanks Wayne. That worked. It did exactly as I expected.

I tried playing with it to get it to do something a little different, but
failed miserably. Is there an easy way to modify this to only create 1
custom property so that it reads something like "1.234 x 5.678 x 9.123"
rounded to a 3 place decimal?

If so, it might be cool to set this up as a macro feature.

--
Seth Renigar
Emerald Tool and Mold Inc.
(Remove "SpamFree_" from my address)

 

Thanks for the code. Here is the problem I have. When I save and run
the macro I have an error in the line that begings with WIDTH. Do you
know why?

Thanks

 

Wayne's revision works for me. Try it instead.

--
Seth Renigar
Emerald Tool and Mold Inc.
(Remove "SpamFree_" from my address)

 

Try this. If you want to change the decimal places, change the value at the
end of the Length, Height, Width lines. I don't know how this will parse
out in the message, so watch the long line right before End Sub. I also
commented out (rather than deleting) the individual properties in case you
want to use them later.

WT

Sub main()

Dim Length As Double
Dim Height As Double
Dim Width As Double
Dim Corners As Variant
Dim retval As Boolean

Set swApp = CreateObject("SldWorks.Application")
Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
Corners = Part.GetPartBox(False)
Length = Round(Abs(Corners(3) - Corners(0)) + 0.015, 3) 'X axis
Height = Round(Abs(Corners(4) - Corners(1)) + 0.015, 3) ' Z axis
Width = Round(Abs(Corners(5) - Corners(2)) + 0.015, 3) ' Y axis
'Remove existing properties
'retval = Part.DeleteCustomInfo2("", "Length")
'retval = Part.DeleteCustomInfo2("", "Width")
'retval = Part.DeleteCustomInfo2("", "Height")
retval = Part.DeleteCustomInfo2("", "BoundingSize")
'Add latest values
'retval = Part.AddCustomInfo3("", "Length", swCustomInfoNumber, Length)
'retval = Part.AddCustomInfo3("", "Width", swCustomInfoNumber, Width)
'retval = Part.AddCustomInfo3("", "Height", swCustomInfoNumber, Height)
retval = Part.AddCustomInfo3("", "BoundingSize", swCustomInfoText, Height &
" x " & Width & " x " & Length)
End Sub

 

Ok I tried Wayne's code and it works. Thanks Wayne. I have another
question. I would like the units to be set to a specific format. The
current macro result would read in inches (ex 24.00000) and I would like it
to read in feet and inches (ex 2'-0"). Is there a way of doing this?

 

I just played with the macro a bit and it appears that the "False" of
Part.GetPartBox(False) does change the units to the user units - sort of.
If you set it to true, you get meters. If you set it to false, you get
inches, or feet, or millimeters, but it doesn't appear to make a difference
if your user units are set to decimal or fraction. Either way you get
decimal. I suppose you could write in a converter to parse it out to a
fraction, but is it worth the effort? The later version that I posted did
set the values to 3 places, and also combined them into one variable.

I will check with API support to see if I am missing something here.

WT

 

Sorry Seth, I'm pretty ignorant with macro's. Hopefully somebody in here can sort it out.

M.T.

 

Just a quick heads up: as long as you need the ORTHAGONAL bounding
box, SWX returns ok... but sometimes the smallest cube does not align
orthagonally.

You could always set your units.. or try the following macro. Pass it
the
decimal inches, and the required DENOMINATOR of the fractional inches,
ie;

debug.Print DecimalToFeetInches(24.125,64)
returns 2'-0 8\64"


debug.Print DecimalToFeetInches(24.125,0)
returns 2'-0"


'----------- snip here ------------ snip here ----------

Function DecimalToFeetInches(DecimalLength As Double, Denominator As
Integer) As String
' converts decimal inches to feet/inches/fractions

Dim intFeet As Integer
Dim intInches As Integer
Dim intFractions As Double
Dim FractToDecimal As Double
Dim remainder As Double
Dim tmpVal As Double



' compute whole feet
intFeet = DecimalLength \ 12
remainder = DecimalLength - (intFeet * 12)
tmpVal = CDbl(Denominator)

' compute whole inches
intInches = Int(remainder)
remainder = remainder - intInches


' compute fractional inches
' check for division by zero
If Not (remainder = 0) Then
If Not (Denominator = 0) Then
FractToDecimal = 1 / tmpVal
If FractToDecimal > 0 Then
intFractions = Int(remainder / FractToDecimal)
End If
End If
End If

' format output
DecimalToFeetInches = LTrim$(Str$(intFeet)) & "'-"
DecimalToFeetInches = DecimalToFeetInches &
LTrim$(Str$(intInches))
If intFractions > 0 Then
DecimalToFeetInches = DecimalToFeetInches & " "
DecimalToFeetInches = DecimalToFeetInches &
LTrim$(Str$(intFractions))
DecimalToFeetInches = DecimalToFeetInches & "\" &
LTrim$(Str$(Denominator))
End If

DecimalToFeetInches = DecimalToFeetInches & Chr$(34)

End Function

'----------- snip here ------------ snip here ----------

 

That's OK. I am ignorant with macros as well. It has been fixed already...
Wayne Tiffany to the rescue.

--
Seth Renigar
Emerald Tool and Mold Inc.
(Remove "SpamFree_" from my address)

 

<SNIP>

Wayne,

Your macro is exactly what I was looking for when I first enquired about this several years ago.
Do you know if the output can be sent to the "Config Specific" tab rather than the "Custom" tab ?

Thanks again,

M.T.

 

Yes, you are correct that the bounding box dimensions are aligned with the
principle axes, therefore if the part is not a "best fit" to them, the
bounding box may not actually be the best size. Good comment!

The DecimalToFeetInches function was what I was thinking of and sort of
hoped someone had already written it. It certainly could be added to the
macro to perform that function. I received a very nice email from API
supt - here it is. So, bottom line is that if you want the fractions, we
need to add the function. I'll add that as I get a chance.

WT


Hi Wayne,

In general, APIs return only decimals, as the VARIANT data type is not
suitable for returning fractions. This is just the way that the API works.
Thanks,

Steve Mycynek
API Support Engineer

 

Yes it can be added to a config specific property. What would you like to
call it? At the point of running the macro, it would grab the current
config and apply the property to that one. Acceptable?

WT

 

The bug has bitten - I'm working on it. Please be patient.....

WT

 

This is great Wayne. I can wait as long as it takes. This macro would be a
huge help to me and I'm sure others here. I know nothing about writing
macros but it's become clear to me that they can be a huge time saver. I
guess I'll have to learn.

Rob

 

AARRGGHH!!! I HATE FRACTIONS!!!

I don't know why I agreed to do this - I hate fractions. This is what I now
get:
1'-7 6\8" x 0'-3 8\8" x 3'-3 4\8"

When I find the distances, I add a small amount (.015" or so) and then if
the user units are FeetInches, they have to be converted. So into the
routine to parse it into the separate categories, all the while pulling out
integer values and dealing with the remainder. So, you get to the point of
how many integer denominators do you have (like 5/8"), but if there is still
some left over, you can't just drop it because then the bounding box could
be smaller than the object. So if there is still a remainder, I added 1 to
the number of them, thereby making 6/8", thereby necessitating another
routine to check if it can be divided down farther. Thennnnnn, if it
happens to be 8/8" or so, up has to go the inches. Butttt, what if it then
makes 12"?? You get the picture. I hate fractions - so stupid.

WT

 

I did a search through the VB Help for "fraction" and didn't come up with
anything useful. I hate fractions. Tell me quickly - what is the order -
largest to smallest - 47/64, 5/8, 17/32. Unless you recognize the values
from using them all the time, you can't look at them and know. Yes, you can
convert to common denominators and then do it, but why not use decimal to
start with. Then they are real numbers. And,,,, don't get me started on
rounded off fractions - you don't have any idea what the number really is -
merely a close guess. Stupid!

WT