BASIC DESIGN TABLES

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BASIC DESIGN TABLES

• for
• NISWUG MEETING 6/23/09
• by
• Paul Kellner
• Engineering Transport, LLC

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INTRODUCTION

• SolidWorks is all about Design Intent (D.I.)
• Parameters capture DI allowing easy changes to
  model dimensions
• Relationships capture DI but generally must be
  changed through sketch or mate editing.
• History captures DI by allowing state control of
  features and attributes.

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INTRODUCTION

• Design Tables (DT) make it easy to control DI
  over many parts or assemblies
• DTs work for part and assembly documents, but NOT
  for drawings
• Drawings DO support display of DTs, and display
  of parts and assemblies with DT derived
  configurations

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INTRODUCTION

• DTs are based on Excel
• Embedded in SW as OLE (with limitations)
• External Excel spreadsheet
• DTs appear in the configuration tab on newer
  versions of SolidWorks
• DTs appear in the feature tree on older versions
  of SolidWorks
• DTs can be controlled through the menu or a
  context menu on the DT feature

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PLANNING AHEAD

• Plan ahead when using DTs
• Block Example - 1.pdf

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STARTING

• Prepare to Build a basic DT
• Use a new or existing part
• Name the dimensions you want in the DT
• Add the name to the ltDIMgt text
• Add any custom properties to the default (first)
  config. (So they will propagate)

Italics used for optional choices
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CREATING THE DT

• Build the basic DT
• Insert DT options
• Blank
• Allow model edits
• Check bottom three
• A spreadsheet shows up and a dialog asks which
  parameters should be added.

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CREATING

• Add dimensions previously labeled
• Double click part to display dimensions
• Double click to add dimensions
• Remove STATE variable
• Add configurations
• Use A3 and below for this
• Try adding different dimensions
• Try formulas/equations

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CREATING

• Close DT edit by clicking in graphics area
• SW will inform of new configs and deleted
  configs.

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DTs IN A DRAWING

• Use the DT in a drawing
• Create drawing views
• Insert DT (pick a view first)
• Move the DT into position
• Arrgh-Pretty ugly!!!

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CLEANING UP DTs

• Cleaning up a DT for Drawings
• It is an excel spreadsheet at heart
• It follows certain SW imposed rules on what cells
  can be used for
• Double click DT in the drawing
• Hide Rows and Columns not needed
• Problem we dont want A1 to show, but we want
  the configuration names for part numbers.

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CLEANING UP DTs

• Add a column to the excel spreadsheet
• Add a formula to copy the column A values to
  column B
• Problem in newer versions of SW values added to
  cells are treated as text not formulas or numbers
  (sometimes).
• Solution Change cell format to general,
  backspace delete before the equals sign.

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CLEANING UP DTs

• Finishing touches
• Grid
• Column Titles
• Hiding unused rows and columns

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DTs AND CUSTOM PROPs

• Controlling the Custom Properties (CP)
• Add custom properties to part (should have been
  done first)
• Edit the Design Table
• Select the PRP entries
• Edit the DT
• Select the CPs just added
• Unhide rows and columns temporarily

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DTs AND CUSTOM PROPs

• Check results in the configuration CPs
• This is a really cool way to control custom
  properties in a multi-configuration part or
  assembly.
• The exceptions are Weight and Material

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FINER POINTS OF DTs

• But there is more in Excel
• TEXT()
• IF()
• Formatting
• More in DTs
• COMMENT
• STATE
• Count as a dimension

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FINER POINTS OF DTs

• TEXT(string, format)
• Assume cell C1 1
• TEXT(C1, 000) 0001
• Add strings with
• Assume cell C1 1, D1 2
• TEXT(C1,L0) - TEXT(D1,W0) L01-W02

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THANK YOU