Create part with autogenerated configurations?

[tydguy]

Hi,I'm trying to create a model of a O-ring that can be easily added to an assembly. Basically, what I'm hoping for is to insert the o-ring into an assembly with some kind of dialog pop up prompting the user for the inside and outside diameters and the part number. When these properties are entered, a configuration will be generated based on those dimensions and saved to the part. Similar to the process of adding bolts to an assembly except there are non standard sizes. Any suggestions to get this functionality would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

PS I'm using SW 2005

 

[CADGemini]

I'm not sure that is possible in Solidworks.

The only thing I would recommend would be to create a design table for the part and generate the configurations on an as needed basis.

You should be able to achieve this using API. But I am not an expert in that area. Maybe someone else in the forum who has more experience in that department can help you.

Best Regards,
Jon

Challenges are what makes life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

Solidworks 2006 SP0.0

 

[tydguy]

I assumed as much. An API solution would work, but the means to implement it would be more difficult. Thanks for your help. Maybe I'll make our tech guys write me something.

 

[smcadman]

There is a macro called "Pipe" at

http://www.solidworktips.com/macro_pages/index.htm

that can point you in the right direction.

Flores
SW06 SP4.1

 

[handleman]

The easiest way to do this would probably be to plan ahead for simplicity when creating a design table for your O-ring and then just open the design table and add a line. I'm thinking the API to open the design table with one button would be pretty simple.

 

[GTCadGuy]

Have you thought of creating a smart component with standard o-ring dash sizes in it? I guess this would work if you were installing the o-ring into standard glands. This is something that I have been looking at.

 

[MElam]

GTCadGuy has a good point.

Do you want the users to be able to create non-standard sizes?

 

[tydguy]

The standard sizes would be a good option and is something we use for lots of our parts. However, because O-rings can stretch to fit within limits for our different applications, non-standard sizes are essential to us. Thanks for your advice!

 

[dezignstuff]

you might be able to do this by combining a little VBA with a design table. You enter the sizes into the VBA which adds a row to the design table.

Still, for the same reasons that Toolbox itself is a bad idea, I think you'd find that the file management issues involved in something like this would cause problems. For example, if two users have this file and it is not shared, then one user makes a new config and the other user doesn't have it. This is what causes the "huge screws" problem with Toolbox. Even if the file is shared, who has write permission and who doesn't? Same exact problems as Toolbox.

This is one case where being clever will get you into trouble. I think you're better off just to make the design table with all the sizes (which is easy if you know some Excel functions) and use the Excel design table to create all the sizes.

 

[tydguy]

Thanks everyone, It looks like the best bet would be to enter each config maually as we use it. Thanks for your help.

 

[J-C]

And fill out an enhancement request form for the ability to override a parts dimensions in a assembly. Then you have a part with the correct standard configuration and BOM info without a bunch of extra configurations for assembly use.

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/subscription/Enhancements.html

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2006 SP4.0 on WinXP SP2

 

[bluesman0007]

tydguy, GTCadGuy,

Don't know if you will run into the problem I've always had: You model grooves to o-ring specs, model the o-ring per id & od. As you know in practice the o-ring is no longer round in cross section after it's installed. So I usually have to cheat and make the cross section of the o-ring to fit the groove so it doesn't look like it's extruding into the part.

Dennis

SolidWorks 2006 SP4.0
Windows XP Pro, Pentium4 3.00GHz
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