DriveWorksXpressMobileGantryTutorial.pdf

The Proven Design Automation Choice for SolidWorks

DriveWorksXpress Mobile Gantry Tutorial for SolidWorks 2011

© DriveWorks Ltd All All rights reserved 2011 | DriveWorksXpress Tutorial 2011

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DriveWorksXpress Mobile Gantry Tutorial Introduction Start by installing the Models to a NEW FOLDER on your C: Drive. You should call this folder C:\DriveWorksXpressMobileGantryFiles This example will allow you to work through step by step DriveWorksXpress from start to finish. You will have the opportunity to follow a script, capture the features and dimensions that you want to change, create the user interface and assign rules. At the end you will be able to specify a new Gantry Crane.

About DriveWorksXpress DriveWorksXpress is the easy-to-use design automation tool for SolidWorks Users. It is the Xpress version of DriveWorks - the SolidWorks Certified Gold Partner for Design Automation www.driveworks.co.uk Automation www.driveworks.co.uk There are two aspects to working with DriveWorksXpress

1. Set up - Setting up your Project - Decide which parameters in your model you want to drive or change - Create a simple form for entering input values - Define rules to determine how your model will behave and link to the inputs on your form

2. Run - Running new models from the Project you have set up - Enter input values into your form - Generate new models and drawings Once a project has been set up, it can be Run over Run over and over again to automatically create the new models and drawings.

© DriveWorks Ltd All All rights reserved 2011 | DriveWorksXpress Tutorial 2011

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Let’s get started Note - In this tutorial, we are going to be using SolidWorks 2011.

1. Launch SolidWorks (requires SolidWorks 2008 or later)

2. Launch DriveWorksXpress The DriveWorksXpress 2011 Welcome Screen opens

The Welcome Screen provides you with feedback on the options available to you, on the state of the project you are working on, or on the projects you have already set up and that are ready to Run. Note - DriveWorksXpress uses a database to store all the knowledge and information needed to generate the outputs, clones and specifications. When you open DriveWorksXpress for the very first time it creates a default database to store your work called driveworksxpress.mdb.

The DriveWorksXpress Welcome screen always displays the Folder Path and File Name of the active database.

© DriveWorks Ltd All rights reserved 2011 | DriveWorksXpress Tutorial 2011

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The Welcome Screen also displays feedback on options available; 





Create/Change Database When DriveWorksXpress is launched without a database loaded, the only options are to use the default database OR to create a new one. Add/Edit Models This is only enabled once a database has been selected. Run Models This is only enabled once you have completed the Administration/Set up of your project. You can then generate new models using the Input form you have created, and based on the parameters you have already captured and the rules you have assigned rules.

For this exercise we will create a new database. 3. Create a New Database Check the Radio Button

against Create/Change database

Click Next A Windows dialog box appears Browse to where you want to create your new database (.mdb file) C:\DriveWorksXpressMobileGantryFiles For this exercise - name the database MobileGantryExample Type the New File Name into the File Name Field and click Open

NOTE: Database Names must be unique. If a name is not unique a warning message will appear advising that an existing database will be overwritten. You may choose YES or NO to overwrite.

NOTE: Once you start using DriveWorksXpress regularly you may choose to store multiple projects in a single database or in different databases.


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4. Add your SolidWorks Models to DriveWorksXpress DriveWorksXpress lets you create variants of your CAD assemblies, parts and drawings. To do this you need to open your CAD file and add the relevant models to DriveWorksXpress. As this is a new database, you only have two choices, which are to either browse for a new model to add to DriveWorksXpress or use the model which is currently open in SolidWorks. Check Next

If you select to browse for a new model, a new window will open so you can Browse to the location of your file. In this case c:\DriveworksXpressMobileGantryFiles Now select the top level SolidWorks Assembly file Mobile Gantry.SLDASM

Click Open


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5. Capture

Select which models you want to drive

–

DriveWorksXpress now displays the captured models for the open assembly. NOTE - The Model will now also be open and visible in SolidWorks alongside the DriveWorksXpress wizard

Click on the „Captured Assembly Structure‟ tab which is visible at the bottom of the DriveWorksXpress task pane.

NOTE – It is possible for these tabs to be dragged and compressed into one line in order to create more work space in DriveWorksXpress. So don‟t worry if you don‟t see the tabs displayed in the image above. It is possible that you may see the following:

Click the + symbol by the Assembly to expand / collapse the tree. Select the parts/assemblies that you want DriveWorksXpress to control by checking the box next to each item. The top level assembly (Mobile Gantry) will already be checked.

For this exercise check the remaining models: 

Universal Beam



Leg


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5.1

Capture - Dimensions and Features

DriveWorksXpress lets you capture specific Dimensions and Features so that you can apply rules and / or so you can specify new models based on the original criteria using your own input forms. A parameter is captured by selecting the „Captured Models‟ tab and then double clicking on the model name that the parameter exists in from the tree view. Once the model has been double clicked, it will open up in SolidWorks.

Click on the „Dimensions and Features‟ tab

Follow the steps below which will guide you through each parameter that is to be captured for this Mobile Gantry Example.


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Capture Universal Beam Double click on the Universal Beam in the „Captured Models‟ tab and then select the „Dimensions and Features‟ tab. Capture the Length of the Universal Beam In the SolidWorks Feature Manager double click the icon of the feature that contains the dimension to be captured (for the Length it is the plane named Right End plane). The dimension will appear on the model.

Select the dimension from the model (by clicking on the dimension value). The SolidWorks Name of the dimension will appear as Address in the DriveWorks task pane. Enter a New DriveWorks Name This can be something more meaningful e.g. Beam Length Click Add The captured parameter will also now appear in the Parameter list under Dimensions and Features in the DriveWorks task pane.


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Next Capture the Section Height of the Universal Beam. In the SolidWorks Feature Manager double click the feature that contains the dimension to be captured (for the Section Height it is the Base Extrude). The section dimension will appear on the model. Click on the dimension and then, in the DriveWorksXpress task pane, enter a new name – Beam Height.

Capture the Leg model Double click the Leg from the tree view in the „Captured Models‟ tab. Capture the height of the Leg. In the SolidWorks Feature Manager double click the feature that contains the dimension to be captured (for the Leg height it is in the sketch Lower Layout). The Leg height dimension will appear on the model.

Click on the dimension that controls the height and, in the Dimensions and Features tab, enter a new DriveWorks Name –Leg Height


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Click Add. Next Capture the Minimum Overlap Dimension. Give this a DriveWorks Name Minimum Overlap.

Next Capture the Inner Diagonal Feature. The overall width of the gantry may also affect whether or not we need all the supporting members. DriveWorksXpress can control the suppression state of sketches, planes, features, folders etc. and can also delete them from the model. In this example we have a folder with features in it. Using rules, we can control whether we have these features or not. Select the feature named Inner Diagonal from the SolidWorks Feature Manager. The feature name will appear in the Dimensions and Features tab. Enter a new DriveWorks name Inner Diagonal. Click Add.


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5.2

Capture - Custom Properties

DriveWorksXpress can also drive values to Custom Properties: Select the Captured Models tab and double click on the Mobile Gantry assembly. Select the Custom Properties TAB to start capturing Custom Properties. These are useful for linking to annotations in drawings to drive text on drawing borders or notes. They are also useful for acting as placeholders where complex rules can be broken down into more manageable portions.

Any existing Custom Properties will appear in the list which is now displayed. In this example these are 

Drawn by



Safe Working Load



Project

We are going to use all of these custom properties. Check the boxes next to each property in order to capture it.


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5.3

Capture Drawings

As well as generating new models, DriveWorksXpress can also produce new drawings of the model. This is done by associating a previously produced template drawing of the master model.

To add a drawing, open the Mobile Gantry top level assembly using the tree view in the Captured Models tab and then browse to the Drawings and Configurations tab. Browse to the location of the template drawing C:\DriveWorksXpressMobileGantryFiles Select Mobile Gantry.SLDDRW and click Open

The File Path of the drawing now appears in the drawing pane so that you can check you have the correct drawing.

It is also possible to add one part drawing per part. Add the template drawings for the following parts.  

Universal Beam Leg

Universal Beam.SLDDRW leg.SLDDRW


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5.4 .Capture Configurations DriveWorksXpress allows you to build a rule to switch the configuration of your model to any other existing configuration. Select the Captured Models Tab. In this exercise highlight the Universal Beam in the Assembly Tree. Select the Drawings and Configurations Tab. Select the option: Yes. Allow me to create a rule to switch configurations

Click Next

to proceed from the Capture Tab to the Form Tab.


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6 Input Form You now need to create an input form for entering the values for your new parts and drawings. This form can be used again and again to specify and generate all the parts and drawings based on the rules you set and values you enter. Start by adding the input controls You can use the following form controls types in DriveWorksXpress; Text Box, Numeric Text Box, Drop Down, Spin Button, Check Box 6.1 Input Name = Project Number

Input Type = Text Box

Type Project Number as the name for the control in the Input Name field. Use the Drop Down to select the control type. NOTE: The Required checkbox denotes that an input must be entered.

Click Next

to register the control and display the Control List

Repeat for the following input controls by clicking Add on the Control List: 6.2 Input Name = Customer Name

Input Type = Text Box

6.3 Input Name = Drawn By

Input Type = Drop Down


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Enter the values in the panel. Hit return after value to place on next line.

6.4 Input Name = Safe Working Load

Input Type = Drop Down

Enter the following drop down values:   

500 Kg 1000 Kg 1500 Kg

NOTE: These values will drive a configuration in the Universal Beam. Ensure the entries are identical to those shown (i.e. space between 0 and K, upper case K, no spaces at front or end of each text string.

6.5 Input Name = Opening Height

Input Type = Spin Button

A spin button requires additional properties setting. These dictate the minimum and maximum values that can be selected and the increments the values will increase and decrease:   

Enter a min value of 1500 Enter a max value of 2500 Enter an increment value of 50

NOTE: The units that DriveWorksXpress drives the models to are the document units the model has been set to. This example uses metric units.

6.6 Input Name = Opening Width Text Box

Input Type = Numeric

A Numeric Text Box allows limits to be set that the entered value is evaluated against. A warning will appear if the limits are exceeded.  

Enter a minimum value of 1500 Enter a maximum value of 4000

NOTE: Once created you can move controls up and down, edit, delete and test them. Fields which have not been validated remain red.

Click Test and enter test values to check that items such as spin buttons and drop downs have the information you require. You can even set default values. Click Next

to proceed to the Rules Tab to set up & build your rules.


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7 Rules DriveWorksXpress lets you use Excel syntax to build rules. A summary appears of the rules by type that need building:

Checking an Action against one of the Rule Types filters the rules by that Type. It is possible to select more than one rule type at a time. Filtering is helpful where there are large numbers of rules to be built. Where Rules are not required for a particular type, the check box will not be enabled. The summary provides constant feedback on Total Number of Rules and Missing Rules (which still require rules to be built against them). 7.1 File Name Rules (3) Start by building rules for File Names: Edit File Name Rules Click Next NOTE: By default the next screen displays only the files with Missing Rules and which need building. The file icon includes a red cross where rules are missing. To view all Files in the category uncheck the box.


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You can choose to view your Files as a List or as a Tree View View List

View Tree

The Default View is View List NOTE: To build a rule highlight and double click the file.

1. Build Rule for Mobile Gantry File Name Use the value Project Number so that every time a new Mobile Gantry project is created it will be named based on the Project Number. Highlight Mobile Gantry. Double Click – the DriveWorksXpress Rules Builder Wizard appears. NOTE: You can use the tabs – Inputs | Recent | Math | Logic


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NOTE –The items listed in Inputs are all the controls that you have created for entering inputs on your form.

Map these inputs to your parameters to build your rules . Click on the Inputs Value

Project Number

The effect of this will be to append the Project Number to the Mobile Gantry file name when you run your new specification. Click Ok to return to the Rules Summary List Continue by adding rules for the remaining 2 File Names NOTE: In Rule Building the symbol & is used to link strings. 2. Build Rule for the Universal Beam File Name Build the rule as follows: OpeningWidth & " Wide - " & SafeWorkingLoad & " Safe Working Load" If the value entered on your form for Opening Width is 2000 and the Safe Working Load is 500 Kg, the result of the rule for the f ile name of the Beam Assembly will be 2000 Wide - 500 Kg Safe Working Load NOTE - You can add and use Quick Text for frequently used text strings for example "wide", "high", "Opening Width" and so on. Just add your text to the Recent Menu by selecting Change Quick Text.

3. Build Rule for Leg File Name Build the rule as follows: As DriveWorks can reuse files previously created, you can build a library of standards. Use the height parameters to build up a text string as a means of identifying the file. Use the Original File Name, then add the Openingheight & "high". The rule result is OpeningHeight & " high" Click Previous

to return to Rules Summary.


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7.2 Build Configurations Rule (1) Un-check File Names Rules Edit Configuration Rules Click Next DriveWorksXpress does not create new configurations but it can be set to drive an existing file. The Universal Beam model uses configurations. 1. Build Rule for Universal Beam Configuration Use the input SafeWorkingLoad as the rule. Click Previous

to return to Rules Summary.

7.3 Custom Property Rules (3) Un-check Configurations Rules Edit Custom Properties Rules Click Next 1. Build Rule for Drawn by Use the input value Drawn by

2. Build Rule for Safe Working Load Use the input value Safe Working Load

3. Build Rule for Project Use the input value Project Number

Click Previous

to return to the Rules Summary.

7.3 Build Rules for Dimension (4) Un check Custom Properties Rules Edit Dimension Rules Click Next


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1. Build Rule for Leg Height Dimension Map to the OpeningHeight value from the Input Form. 2. Build Rule for the Minimum Overlap Dimension Create a formula based on the opening height. his needs to make sure that the overlap is always one tenth of the overall height plus 100 mm ( OpeningHeight /10 ) + 100

3. Build Rule for Beam Length Use the value – OpeningWidth 4. Beam Height Use an IF statement and base this on the safe working load: IF the SafeWorkingLoad equals 500 Kg, use 200, otherwise use 250

NOTE: The value used in the expression must be identical to the input that can be selected. For example, if the user can select a value of 500 Kg from the

Input control for Safe Working Load, this text string must be used in the expression. All alpha or alpha-numeric text strings must be presented within “speech marks” .

7.4 Build Rules for Feature (1) Un-check Edit Dimension Rules Edit Feature Rules Click Next 1. Build Rule for the Feature Inner Diagonal Build an IF statement such that if the user has selected an opening width greater than 3000mm, then the Inner Diagonal feature is to remain Unsuppressed. If not then the Inner Diagonal feature is to be © DriveWorks Ltd All rights reserved 2011 | DriveWorksXpress Tutorial 2011

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Suppressed.

Remember all alpha or alpha-numeric text strings must be presented within speech marks " ". Numerical values do not require speech marks.

You have now assigned all the rules that you need to apply. Click Next

to Run

8 Run The input form you created now appears. Follow the Tool Tips and complete the form.

You can use the default values, base your specification on one you created earlier OR clear the form so that you enter the details from scratch. DriveWorks will now generate your new outputs.


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If you want to create new variations, just fill out the form again, and again and again.

NOTE: For further help see the Help files within DriveWorksXpress.


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DriveWorksXpressMobileGantryTutorial.pdf

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