[b]In Context-Delete or not Delete?[/b]
[b]In Context-Delete or not Delete?[/b]
(OP)
Most of the work I do in SW are assemblies and although I generally have an idea of what I want a lot of the design actually happens as I build. Because of this I use a lot of in context features and dimensions for model behavior (which is different than the way I would dimension it for manufacturing). This allows me to make numerous changes in my assembly without having a sea of red and have mating parts update with changes. Unfortunately, I end up with a bunch of part models with in context features and dimensions that I will not use at the drawing level. I am at the point now where I don’t even bother importing model dimensions. Finally, I was wondering if others do the same thing and do they take the extra time to go back and delete the in context refs and redimension for importing into the drawing?






RE: [b]In Context-Delete or not Delete?[/b]
There's been a ton of discussion on this in the past. This forum's Search function can be pretty handy. Check out the following:
Thread559-95652
Thread559-106374
FAQ559-871
"But what... is it good for?"
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
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RE: [b]In Context-Delete or not Delete?[/b]
This can be handy if I want to edit a part within the context of a different assembly for a different purpose. You may have run into this situation where relations in another assembly will not allow you to create new relationships in a different assembly. Simply get rid of the old relationships and you can form new ones in other assemblies. More freedom and stability.
Jeff Mowry
Industrial Designhaus, LLC
http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com
RE: [b]In Context-Delete or not Delete?[/b]
Working from top-down, features are often created that have no dimensions, so importing model dimensions is pointless.
I believe the only important thing is that dimensions in a drawing are not "faked" with manual values typed in. As long as the dimensions reflect the actual state of the CAD geometry, it doesn't matter if the dimensions are imported or drawing on the drawing itself.
http://www.EsoxRepublic.com
RE: [b]In Context-Delete or not Delete?[/b]
Remove the in-context references once the design is done, but do not necessarily re-dimension just for importing to the drawing.
Dimension the part for design intent - how do you want the part to behave if altered in the future.
Dimension the drawing for manufacturing.
I have found that "Insert model items" works best if only done for seleced features.
We hardly ever use insert model items because our drawings need to be ordinate dimensioned.
RE: [b]In Context-Delete or not Delete?[/b]
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP

chancey (Mechanical)
(OP)
Nice to get such a quick response back from all the heavy hitters! I sure feel a lot better about my current practices. Stars for everyone.
macPT (Mechanical)
Funny...
WorkingLife (Mechanical)
I do a lot of incontext modeling myself and very rarely do I import model dimensions and delete incontext geometry. After I am done with the designing portion with incontext, I simply lock all the external references (right click on the incontext geometry, then "List External Reference" and "Lock All").
ctopher (Mechanical)
I agree with macPT, I do the same.
3DVision Technologies
http://www.scottjbaugh.com
Merry Christmas
RE: [b]In Context-Delete or not Delete?[/b]
RE: [b]In Context-Delete or not Delete?[/b]
I never (well, almost never) use incontext parts.
One of my targets is to use the same parts in many products as possible, so production costs stays always down.
In context and standard: these words does not mix.
I also create the parts thinking in the way they will be produced/assembled (again, the design intent). This way I can import dimensions from model to drawing.
It's evident that, during the design process, more operations and more attention should be paid in order to maintain the consistency of the assembly, when changes are done. But I feel comfortable this way.
I'm not saying that you are wrong, just noting how we can use SW in such different ways and attain our goals!
Regards
RE: [b]In Context-Delete or not Delete?[/b]
This way if there is a change that is required later on (ie a revision change), you can unlock the external references, and update as require and you will not be seeing red later with the mates and other features that is referencing.
RE: [b]In Context-Delete or not Delete?[/b]