lock tree & avoid rebuild

[BluTurtle]

Every time I switch configurations by double clicking a new config name, SW rebuild all the features.

In my case, its a huge model with about 450 features. It takes a lot of time.

Is there a way to lock the feature manager tree and prevent rebuild. I would like to rebuild myself when required.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

This has been requested before.

http://www.solidsmack.com/put-a-rebuild-lock-on-your-solidworks-model/2007-11-15/

http://www.lennyworks.com/solidworks/FileTransfer/GeometryLockRequest.pdf

 

[ctopher]

The closest thing I have found is to change System Options/Performance/Rebuild assembly on load, change to 'Never'.
I think this is only for opening assy's.

Chris
SolidWorks 09 SP4.1
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[fcsuper]

To me, this would be undesireable since different configures use involve differences that would require a rebuild to realize. Do you have a case where rebuild is not necessary?

Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Matt,

BluTurtle's part has 450 features. It's quite conceivable that different configs could be created by varying only the last fifty (or less) features. In such a case, repeated rebuilding of the first 400 features (which have been proven to be good and stable) would be a total waste of time.

IMO, having the option to freeze or lock the features at a chosen point, and thereby reduce rebuild times would be very desirable. It might also have the added bonus of preventing features from being accidentally changed.

 

[BluTurtle]

Heard that SW 2011 has this feature. So glad.


~ BT

 

[mjcole]

Insert Part would allow you to keep the Features to a certain point so that they would not be rebuilt unless the Master Part they were inserted from changed.

Although SolidWorks brings the Current Config in as default you can List and Edit External References to choose the config you want. Depends on how many configs you are using. Maybe a Design Table might help out. I think I clapped louder than everyone at SolidWorksWorld when they announced they would deliver on that enhancement. SolidWorks should work towards designing a better way to rebuild models depending on if information has changed on a feature or if someone rolled back and didn't change anything. It would be nice to have a prompt that would ask you which features you wanted to rebuild. PTC allows a feature status to be set as read only which prevents it from being changed and makes it unnecessary for rebuild. The Assemblies also have a smart rebuild that looks closer at global relationships.

Another Enhancement to be delivered in 2011 release is ability to see detailed Parent Child info from features.

Michael

 

[fcsuper]

Feature Lock is being added to SW11 according to the preview at SWW10.

Matt Lorono
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks & http://twitter.com/fcsuper

 

[SBaugh]

Sounds like another Tech support Nightmare... SOOOO Glad I am not supporting the software anymore!

Good luck to my fellow Tech support buddies though!

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

faq731-376

 

[gwubs]

Scott - I hear you loud and clear. Some of the things that are requested can turn into more trouble than they are worth. That said, I understand the original request perfectly. Maybe what we want is for SW to be a threaded app, to capitalise on multicore CPU's - make it run faster. It seems to me that as soon as you freeze a rebuild it could come back and bite you in features not really being parametric anymore.

 

[mjcole]

Maybe they should also include a Freeze Feature Xpert that works even in or specifically for configured parts. Fillet Xpert only works on single config parts.

The problem with what it looks like SolidWorks is grouping the features into a single freeze instead of having it freeze multiple features that may be identical or update a shell feature as long as the configured feature dimension preceeds the freeze the rebuilt should go along more smoothly. Insert Part should allow for similar methodology if the Configuration could be set in a design table.

Michael

 

[HercalloY]

I honestly don't know what the big fuss is for over this "Freeze FMT" thing.

Shouldn't the software already be doing this natively????

Isn't this something that just makes common sense and that should be handled internally by the software to be more efficient and accurate out of the box?

Us users shouldnt have to waiste a "wish list" item on something like this!

 

[gwubs]

HercalloY - Please remember that SolidWorks in its very nature is always updating and reflecting the latest design intent of the user. This means that rebuilds are "up to date" because the driving parameters define what something is at any given time. (AutoCad is just the thing if you like things that don't update.) The request for an option to freeze the feature tree stems from the TIME it may take to complete a full rebuild. It is never really desireable to lock things in software like the SolidWorks of this world, but due to time consraints/slower computers it can be an option that may seem attractive.