Associating Solidworks Blocks

[debodine]

I have searched the FAQ's and the forums for my specific question, and I have either overlooked it or did not phrase my queries correctly. I use a lot of fastener symbols to show the location of rivets and bolts. One block indicates a complete new hole, one block indicates pick up an existing fastener, and one block indicates put a new fastener in an existing hole. When I put these blocks into the drawing, I always try to select the view (to establish the association) and then place the block.

However, sometimes the block will move with the view if the view is changed, and sometimes it will not. It appears I am not really establishing the association that I thought I did.

Also, I cannot dimension between the blocks (I cannot "pick" the blocks). I have to create the holes using the correct dimensions, and then add the blocks to the holes and then delete the holes (because I don't want the holes to show, only the symbols).

I am obviously in need of serious mentoring on blocks. It would be good if I knew how to create fastener symbols that are treated like a feature so I can move the view and keep the blocks in the same relation to the view, and also "pick" the symbols for dimensioning, etc. Any suggestions?

Even using centermark does not help because I need at least three specific centermark symbols to match our drafting manual requirements.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[TheTick]

Try using "Lock View Focus" to make sure your blocks are associated with a view when they are brought in. RMB a view on the drawing or feature tree and select "Lock View Focus".

There is a way to fix view associativity. Select the note or block, and force it to have a leader. Connect the leader to an edge in a view. When the leader is removed, the note is still associated with that view.

I could be the world's greatest underachiever, if I could just learn to apply myself.

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

-SolidWorks API VB programming help

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Wow ... never heard of a system like that ... glad it's you & not me.

To ensure you are working in a particular view, RMB the view & select Lock View Focus

As far as I know a Block cannot be dimensioned to unless you Explode it. Note: If the block is exploded it will leave the view & become attached to the sheet. You will have to RMB & Lock Sheet Focus to "get access" to it.
If you use a leader to attach it to a feature of the part it will automatically be placed in that view.

As for deleting the holes ... RMB the edge of the hole (in the view) & select Hide Edge instead.


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[debodine]

Tick and CBL:

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try them out this weekend...yes, working this weekend...again. Better than no work though, eh? Been there done that DIDN'T like it!

)

 

[Regg]

You should be able to dimension to a vertex or point in the block but since I assume you symbols are round, you will not be able to do this (unless you add them). This is if you are using SW2005.

I am not sure how you are putting in the holes but you can put them on there own separate layer and hide the layer after adding your symbols. Same thing if you use points.

I also have to ask why you use symbols in the first place. That seems to defeat the purpose of SW.

 

[debodine]

Regg:

Thanks for the additional info. As to the use of symbols, we primarily design modifications to aircraft. Much of our installation effort is to remove some existing structure (leaving behind other existing structure with the holes intact) and then attaching new structure to the existing structure while utilizing the existing holes.

Consequently, due to production variances and also due to intevening modifications over the years that often exist on these aircraft, we have learned not to pre-drill or even pilot anything we are attaching to existing structure. Instead we use fastener symbols to show the defined pattern, so that if the installer discovers some existing holes are not EXACTLY at the location the production drawings indicated, as long as they can maintain the required edge distance, etc., they can drill the new structure to match the existing holes.

The only time we pilot our components is if we are attaching new structure to new structure, where we have total control over the production of all parts involved.

And yes, if you are wondering why I ask questions like this when my tagline says electrical...I am branching out. )

And while I am not a design engineer for structural, my team now includes structural engineers. Therefore I have a LOT to learn!

Best regards,

debodine

 

[J-C]

While on that subject, anyone know how to change the tagline here?

Jason

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Tagline???


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Ahah ...

You can edit block notes either for all instances or for each instance individually. Edit the text in the Block Definition PropertyManager to apply the change to all instances. To enable editing of each instance, give the note a tag name in the definition and then edit the note attribute in the Block Instance PropertyManager. You cannot double-click a block note to edit it on screen.[/quuote]


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[J-C]

Tagline for this forum, like mines says (Mechanical).

Jason

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Oh ...

You will have to ask Management. Use the Contact Us button at top right hand corner.


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[49again]

I, too, struggle with rivet symbol placement in aircraft mod drawings. Quite a pain somtimes. As others have suggested, make sure you're "lock view focus" is set to the view where you want the symbol. The only thing I can maybe suggest is that sometimes "precise" symbol placement is not nesessary (heck, when was the last time you saw an airplane that matched its drawings?) - you CAN use your arrow keys to move a block around just like you can move text. I also made three Rivet Symbols in my gtol.sym file, but they don't work any better/worse that my Rivet Symbol blocks....and I assume you also use the NAS523 rivet code callout symbol and code block?

 

[wes616]

I use this quite often, and have a collection of NAS523 Rivet codes.

This is my process. When I create the block, I make sure that the block is centered on the intersection of the crosshairs. When Inserting the block, make sure the view is you "want" the symbol to go in is the Active view. You should be able to get it to stick to the center of a hole (or rivit) if you have centermarked it.

If I have not pre-defined my rivet pattern in the model, then I will use points and construction lines to set up my pattern, then sit the code block in the "point" that acts as the center of my rivet.

 

[debodine]

I will definitely share this thread with my team (in fact, I just emailed it to them) and we will experiment to see what will give us the most effective method of implementing our company's drafting requirements.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed. That's why I think this forum is so valuable. It's like having a living encyclopaedia available for research!

Best regards,

debodine

 

[49again]

Also, using either blocks or symbols for your location identifiers, you can use the tools available in the Align toolbar (Align Left, Align Top, etc), AS WELL AS "Space Evenly Across" or "Space Evenly Down" to layout an evenly spaced rivet pattern without having to create the underlying pilot holes at each location....

I like wes616's idea of using points and/or construction lines. Then a block will snap to that point or intersection...

 

[49again]

....and one other thing about blocks or text not getting tied to a view. You CAN select the unattached little bugger and Ctrl-X, then set the focus on the view you wanted it tied to orginally, and do a Ctrl-V.

At least this is what I've heard - I myself have NEVER done something like this - I ALWAYS do it right the first time....

NOT!

 

[wes616]

49, you've let the secret out of the bag now...

I don't know if anyone has thought started tackeling this one for the NAS523, but I've been wanting to create a custom set of "symobls" that I can use that have the common NAS523 Codes. We mostly use the BB and BJ codes.

I know this would not be hard to do, but i havent had the time to do it.

Wes C.

 

[49again]

wes...

I seldom have room to put the NAS523 quad at each fastener location, so I just have a block with attributes and a leader pointing to a group, and just change the attribute to BJ, BB, LZ, or whatever in the upper left, size in the upper right, etc.

 

[wes616]

49again,

That would be where the NAS523 block, working from the symbol library would be incredibly helpful. It would insert into a drawing like a flagnote. Then you could easily control the leader style, and whatnot.

The extention of this is to write an api seperate from the symbol library, where you could do have some more flexiblilty with it's use.

Wes C.