yang686526

automating repetitive tasks
good day,
i have 2 clutch assembly models. one is cw rotation, the other ccw.
the models are set up to be configurable with regard to shaft and keyway size, and the length of the driving jaw.
every assembly configuration gets its own unique multisheet drawing. each subpart configuration gets its own unique multisheet drawing.
a customer's machine breaks down, we get an emergency call for a replacement clutch whose design is obsolete, so we need to quickly produce current product design documentation asap for a form, fit, and function replacement.
we fire up the master model and all the subparts that will get new configurations added. add configurations to all of the subparts, and create new drawings for them from previously drawn configurations as templates. make .pdf's for public consumption. check them all into their individual projects in our pdmw vaut.
then move up to the assembly level...add the new configuration, and create a new drawing for it using a previously drawn configuration as a template. make .pdf's for public consumption. check them all into their individual projects in our pdmw vaut.
then we can do our ecn paperwork, so that item master and boms can be entered into our mrp system.
a clutch has 12 unique parts, 4 of which need a new configration when a new clutch configuration is needed. i spent 7 hours documenting one new cofiguration for a clutch! ther's got to be a faster way...
if i invested 40 hours into automating this, it would pay back by the time i process 5 more new clutch configurations!
without concerning the checking in to pdmw, and the mrp data, can this task be automated by recording and editing a macro?
where should i start to learn how to do this? i'd greatly appreciate any straight talk that i can get about this subject.
enjoy this day!
greg van arsdale
sw 2008 sp 3.1
xp pro 2002 sp2
pentium 4, 3.4 gh, 2 gb ram
nvidia quadro fx 3400
what about driveworks express? it was installed as part of sw2008. this may be what you need. i do not have access to sw at the moment to tell you the exact menu you need to use to find it, check under tools first.
cheers,
anna wood
lenovo thinkpad t61p, t7800, fx570m, 4 gigs of ram
sw2009 sp2.0ev, windows vista x32 sp1
anna built workstation, core i7 ee965, 2x fx570, 6 gigs of ram
sw2009 sp2.0, windows vista x64 sp1
driveworks may suit your needs but cannot add configurations nor a few other things you requested.
it is certainly possible with api. if you would like a quote for me to create you a bespoke program to do all of this just drop me a line with your exact details (contact@angelsix.com)
hi greg
take a good look at driveworksxpress. also register at .driveworksxpress.com, where there are lots of help and examples.
i am sure your requirement for creating configurations is born from what you have seen in solidworks already. and from the amount of variations involved in your product creating new files will be more suitable.
anyway driveworksxpress will give you a good taste of design automation, and you will be in control of your data.
cheers,
ian yates
thanks for the speedy replies all.
as far as using driveworks, we already own and are beginning to develope rulestream for our eto workload. this type of item won't find its way into our rulestream development scope for some time yet to come.
i was hoping that i could get a model specific, low level automation using a recorded macro and/or api.
luke is suggesting that it can be done. i'm looking for direction on self education...maybe someone out there has done something similar...
thanks again!
greg
most of your questions can be done in driveworks. recording/editting macro just for simple cases not for your case this time.
try to contact with driveworks reseller for full information, i am just a new driveworks user.
the way driveworks works in a very basic explanation is to alter existing models and drawings and save them as new files with new names.
the alterations include dimensions, active configurations, save locations and names etc... but it does not add any configurations or dimensions, it works with pre-existing data.
if you re-thought your automation methods and re-modelled your assembly so that by altering dimensions and the like the file would update correctly then driveworks would suit most of your needs.