Extrude to surface not updating in assy's

[cwsink]

Hello,

I have created library components of SMC guided cylinders from the downloads on their site. I created a design table for all the stroke lengths in each component (Rod & extruded body) and in the assembly. The length of each component is determined by an Extrude To Surface feature with the surface being a plane in the assembly.

The problem we're having is that when the cylinder assembly is in another assembly, the components don't update when you switch to a different stroke length (configuration). E.g. if I switch from a 75mm stroke to a 100mm stroke, the body and rod show up too short. Multiple rebuilds will not correct this. The only fix is to open the cylinder assembly itself, then the component sizes correct.

This is a large inconvenience for us. It seems that something is not acting right, but maybe its because of the extrusion to a surface? I really hate to go through and specify the component lengths in the DT because of the risk of error and time.

Is there another way to overcome this? Maybe this is a bug that needs reported?

Thank you,

Craig Sink
Mechanical Engineer
Force Design, Inc.

 

[handleman]

Thanks, Craig. I downloaded the file and tried to open it before I remembered (from other threads) that you're on 2007. I'm still running '06, so I can't open them. :-(

 

[cwsink]

Oops. Sorry, I should have stated that. Scott Baugh is looking at them and has given it an SPR#. We'll see what comes up.

Craig Sink
Mechanical Engineer
Force Design, Inc.

http://www.forcedesign.biz

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

cwsink ... I believe the problem exists in your assy DT. The configs called up in columns E and F are the same. They both call up the BODY ... one of them should call up the ROD.

 

[TheTick]

Try this...

Instead of extruding to a plane in an assembly,

create a plane in your part that is defined in-context, and extrude to that plane. The plane will be present in the part and not upset the regeneration of the extrude feature, and will also update when the assembly changes.

 

[cwsink]

Corey...Thanks!! Duh! The catch to that is that I don't think that is the root of the problem. I had another assembly doing the same thing, and the DT is correct. Also you'll notice in the image on my 3rd post (also below), that the configuration in the design tree is correct; the problem is in the geometry. But regardless, it needed corrected!

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/4933/smccylrv4.jpg

Tick...I tried that and got the same results as before. Seems like such a good idea, but didn't come through for me.

Craig Sink
Mechanical Engineer
Force Design, Inc.

http://www.forcedesign.biz