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Simple design table questions

Simple design table questions

Simple design table questions

(OP)
I have finally started trying out design tables and have a couple questions so far.

For simplity lets say you have 3 parts in the assembly: Top cover plate, Aluminum box, and a bottom cover plate.

The main (driving?) part is the box. It would essentially be 4 thin side walls and a 1/2" lip on the top and the bottom for threaded inserts. Top and bottom cover plates are just rectangular plates with holes to mount to the box. The box is available in many X,Y, and Z configurations and partnumber for each option. The top and bottom plates would use the box X and Y dimensions. In other words:

Box X = Top plate X = Bottom plate X
Box Y = Top plate Y = Bottom plate Y

I hope all that is clear.

1. Do I have to have a separate design table for each part? or Can I have one table driving all 3 parts?

2. If I have to have 3 separate design tables is there a way to link them so that the Box design table drives the other two?

RE: Simple design table questions

I am doing a design very similar to yours right now. It is best to stay with separate DT for each part. You will have less errors. Also what if another user was working on one part and you the other? I copy the tables to each part for simplicity.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site
FAQ371-376
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-1091
FAQ559-716

RE: Simple design table questions

At the assembly level you have a design table linking the parts that you want to appear in each assembly configuration.  As a side if you designed the top and bottom inplace with the box every change of the box would change the top and bottom.

RE: Simple design table questions

The simplest way is to have a seperate DT for each part. The assembly DT will then be used to call up the part configs which belong to each assy config.


Making the best use of this Forum.  FAQ559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions.  FAQ559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of.  FAQ559-520

RE: Simple design table questions

(OP)
I havent looked at or tried an "assembly DT". That might be the answer I was looking for.

RE: Simple design table questions

Create your parts and the configurations for each size.  Create your assy and then craete configs of the assy using the desing to set your part configs for each assy configs.  Play around a little you will get used to it really fast.  You can have configs without tops or bottoms too by supressing parts in assy configs if you want.

Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches.

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