Another question... on bill of materials
Another question... on bill of materials
(OP)
Hello, again!
I'm trying to include the square footage of my pieces on my BOM. Unfortunately, almost ALL of our pieces are cut as flat patterns, then folded, so.. I've been drawing them in the finished product, then unfolding. Unfortunately, the flattened dimensions always show up as referenced dimensions, and can't be used in my BOM. Am I perhaps doing something incorrectly, or is there another way? Oh, and we do plan to disregard thickness in our calculation. It's for estimating purposes, and all we need is the square footage of raw material we're using.
Thanks!
I'm trying to include the square footage of my pieces on my BOM. Unfortunately, almost ALL of our pieces are cut as flat patterns, then folded, so.. I've been drawing them in the finished product, then unfolding. Unfortunately, the flattened dimensions always show up as referenced dimensions, and can't be used in my BOM. Am I perhaps doing something incorrectly, or is there another way? Oh, and we do plan to disregard thickness in our calculation. It's for estimating purposes, and all we need is the square footage of raw material we're using.
Thanks!






RE: Another question... on bill of materials
Ray Reynolds
Senior Designer
Read: FAQ731-376
"Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities."
RE: Another question... on bill of materials
Thanks!
RE: Another question... on bill of materials
Scott Baugh, CSWP

3DVision Technologies
http://www.3dvisiontech.com
http://www.3dmca.com
FAQ731-376
When in doubt, always check the help
RE: Another question... on bill of materials
Can you do this?
If you know the outer dimensions, make an equation that calculates the flat length like you would have years ago with a calculator. In some Sketch, draw a construction line and dimension its length. Make the dimension equal the equation (or is it vice versa?). Don't forget the K-Factor in the equation.
Use can then grab the "dummy" dimension (included in a Custom Property string) as the Sq Ft number to use in the BOM.
Mr. Pickles
RE: Another question... on bill of materials
RE: Another question... on bill of materials
Your last reply seems to highlight one of the frustrating shortcomings of SolidWorks: the inability to have variables controlled by equations without attaching them to dimensions!
Sorry, just venting.
RE: Another question... on bill of materials
You can vent at my posts. I didn't write the program. If I did, I would spend a bucket full of hours working on the drawing portion, instead of "needed" stuff like the little "Shadows in Shaded Mode" button and expanding right-click menus.
But I do send in SPR requests and/or enhancement requests, and sometimes they listen to me....
Mr. Pickles
RE: Another question... on bill of materials
Well, you CAN use geometry based dimensions in the BOM for sheetmetal parts. All you have to do is add an unfold feature at the end of your design tree, which will give you your flattened version. Then insert a sketch on this flat face and put in the (reference) dimensions you want to see in the BOM. Then you can add a fold feature after the sketch to bring your model back to its as-bent shape. I know it seems redundant, but its value lies in the parametric dimensions. Since the flattened sketch is created by the unfold feature, the dimensions will always reference the correct geometry.
Let me know if this was unclear, or if I totally missed the point.