Inserting model dimensions into drawings (Pros & Cons)

[bloodclot]

I was just curious as to how other users feel about inserting model dimensions into drawings as opposed to just doing reference dimensions. What aspects about it have proven to be time savers or time wasters. So far I have been doing just reference dimensions and have been wondering if I could be saving time by inserting them. Your thoughts about them as well as any bugs using inserted dims would be appreciated.

Bloodclot

***** Fear not those who argue but those who dodge *****

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[ctopher]

If you dim the model correctly, the way you expect the dwg to be dim, then insert model dim is the way to go. I create my models this way, but most of the time add the dim's manually on the dwg because I'm used to it. I do not use ref dim's on the dwg unless that dim is suppose to ne ref.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

 

[MadMango]

I do the same as Ctopher.

[green]"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."[/green]
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[CorBlimeyLimey]

I don't like doing the same work twice, so I use them whenever possible. By using them, it allows the part to be modified from the drawing. That is not always a good thing in multi user environments unless everyone is fully fluent with the design & cognisant of how a change will affect other components.

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[bloodclot]

CBL - Isn't there a check box somewhere in the settings that will / will not allow model update from the drawing?

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[CorBlimeyLimey]

There used to be an option when installing which would allow or disallow that. I don't remember that option being given during the SW06 install.

Maybe it's buried in the Options somewhere. I will take a look later.

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[TheTick]

It is not always possible to model a part the way it will be drafted.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Agreed, but I make use of that feature wherever possible.

When creating the model, I apply any special tolerances required directly to the sketch dimensions. Then the tolerances are already there when I, or anyone else, create the detail drawings.

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[rockguy]

CBL - Isn't there a check box somewhere in the settings that will / will not allow model update from the drawing?

There used to be but the option was removed. You can still change this setting but you have to edit the registry to do this now (its a 1 or 0 thing). I think Scott gave the instructions here on how to do this one time? Someone did?

Rob Rodriguez CSWP
President: Northern
Vermont SolidWorks User Group

http://www.robrodriguez.com

(updated 8/12/06)
SW 2006 SP 4.0 / SW 2007 SP 0.0

 

[bvanhiel]

I create every dimension in the drawing. It is infrequent that the way I designed the part and the way the part needs to be dimensioned for the print are the same. Using dimensions from the sketch is too much temptation to let a bad dimensioning scheme slide because it's too much trouble to go back and change how the part was built.

-b

 

[smcadman]

I like the ability of changing the model from the drawing. This can be a time saver, but will probably not work for everyone because of the complexity of their model.

 

[meintsi]

We always use dimensions imported from the model.

1) On very complex parts, importing dimensions 'feature by feature' allows one to be sure that all required dimensions are there for every part.

2) If added in the drawings, you lose the associativity between the drawing and part tolerances. When working in an assembly, I like to be able to see the fit tolerances between mating parts. Any changes made are updated in the drawing automatically. This also helps when designing a new assembly using existing parts. If you change a tolerance in the drawing and not have it reflected in the model, you could be asking for trouble.

3) We consider it good design practice to design parts with the detail drawing in mind. (Specific features built on specific planes so dimensions can import correctly, etc.) Developing parts this way helps with the visualization (3d to 2d & 2d to 3d)of the completed part and also helps keep tolerance stackups for possibly coming back to bite you. We do have an occasional part that needs have its initial developtment done differently, but once these prototype parts are released to production, they are "remodeled" for the drawing.


One downside to this is that if you add a tolerance after it has been inserted into the drawing, you have to go back to the drawing, delete the original, and re-insert it. But that is a minor disadvantage when compared to the benefits we see.

Yet, we do use drawing dimsions on our installaion drawings because these dimensions are typically not part of the design process.

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[navy]your going to have to use your feet."[/navy]

 

[mncad]

We always insert dimensions in the drawing because our models (assemblies actually) do not contain the dimensions needed to build the part. The other problem I have seen in the past is that you spend as much or more time cleaning up the dimensions that are inserted are you do creating them from scratch.

mncad

 

[SoilentG]

I also design it with the drafting/machining intent and then use modeled dimensions. My only beef with SW is that Radius dimensions can't be moved from one view that they appear in to another view that they could also be correctly viewed in... pfft.

 

[cadman1997]

I do the same as ctopher, I insert dimensions into drawings. I find it easier that way.

Cheers,

Ralph Wright, CSWP
SolidWorks 2005, SP5.0
P4, 2.53Ghz
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Windows 2000 Pro

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

mncad & cadman1997 ... when you say "insert dimensions", do you mean "add the dim's manually" (per ctopher) or Insert > Model Items?

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[cadman1997]

CorBlimeyLimey

I use Insert > Model Items. The way I dimension the Model is with the Toolroom personnel in mind. I agree with you by that I do not like to do things twice. Some dimensions I uncheck the Mark for Drawing option because they are only for reference only (Design Intent). I find it easier to modified Models after.
Are you going to the August 31 meeting?

Cheers,

Ralph Wright, CSWP
SolidWorks 2005, SP5.0
P4, 2.53Ghz
1.5 Gb RAM
ATI Fire GL8800 Card
Windows 2000 Pro

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I will be able to. We have too much on the go at the moment. It will be a last minute rush if I can.

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[mncad]

cbl,

Add the dims manually.

mncad