Master Sketch usage for prog die, need advice
Master Sketch usage for prog die, need advice
(OP)
I need a sanity check for design methodology
I have to design a complete small progressive die. It will be one stack of plates including punch holder, spring stripper, die, backup plates etc...within these plates will be approx 20 progressions.
1) I made a part model of the strip, it is a fairly simple strip because there are no forms, just a lot of gutting shapes, pierced holes, and some coin areas to thin some features.
2) When the strip model was completed I "converted" all of it's features edges to a new sketch and will use this as a master sketch in the assembly model for all of the plates internal features. The assembly is mostly top down.
2) I created all of the plate models minus their internal features in context of the assembly using assembly planes to control their thickness and position.
3) Now editing one plate at a time while in the assembly I'll create a new sketch on the plate. Then I'll locate the master sketch I created earlier in the strip model and convert it to my current sketch for reference. I probably could just use the strip itself in the assemby for the new sketch, but its a lot of busy work to select edges and features of the strip while in context of the assembly. So when I'm done converting the master sketch to my new sketch I save the model and then open it directly and open the sketch back up to finalize any subtle geometry changes for specific features.
4) So I think this approach is a variation of Skeleton model and planes usage. My goal is to have associativity back to the boss strip, the convienence of top down modeling, and simplicity of feature creation.
I am a progressive die designer with sooo mnay years with Autocad. With SolidWorks I've been doing a lot of fixtures and simple things, this is my first prog die attempt.
I'm open to all C&C especially improvements to this methodology
Thanks,
tom
I have to design a complete small progressive die. It will be one stack of plates including punch holder, spring stripper, die, backup plates etc...within these plates will be approx 20 progressions.
1) I made a part model of the strip, it is a fairly simple strip because there are no forms, just a lot of gutting shapes, pierced holes, and some coin areas to thin some features.
2) When the strip model was completed I "converted" all of it's features edges to a new sketch and will use this as a master sketch in the assembly model for all of the plates internal features. The assembly is mostly top down.
2) I created all of the plate models minus their internal features in context of the assembly using assembly planes to control their thickness and position.
3) Now editing one plate at a time while in the assembly I'll create a new sketch on the plate. Then I'll locate the master sketch I created earlier in the strip model and convert it to my current sketch for reference. I probably could just use the strip itself in the assemby for the new sketch, but its a lot of busy work to select edges and features of the strip while in context of the assembly. So when I'm done converting the master sketch to my new sketch I save the model and then open it directly and open the sketch back up to finalize any subtle geometry changes for specific features.
4) So I think this approach is a variation of Skeleton model and planes usage. My goal is to have associativity back to the boss strip, the convienence of top down modeling, and simplicity of feature creation.
I am a progressive die designer with sooo mnay years with Autocad. With SolidWorks I've been doing a lot of fixtures and simple things, this is my first prog die attempt.
I'm open to all C&C especially improvements to this methodology
Thanks,
tom
Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT





