SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible - Matt Lombard [144]
FIGURE 17.3
Setting a BOM table anchor
Tip
You should save the format and drawing template with these table anchors specified so that you do not need to re-specify them for each new document. If you want to check a Sheet Format to see what anchors exist, you can expand the sheet in the FeatureManager of the drawing.
Using BOM types
You can use one of three BOM types in SolidWorks: Top-level only, Parts only, or Indented. As the name suggests, the Top-level only BOM only shows components on the top level. It treats subassemblies as a single entry. As a result, if the top-level assembly shown on the drawing is made up of five subassemblies and two individual parts, and you select the Top-level only option, then only seven items are shown in the BOM.
The Parts only BOM ignores subassembly structure and only displays parts in an unindented list. The Indented BOM shows the parts of subassemblies in an indented list under the name of the subassembly. This is the most complete list of SolidWorks documents used because it includes all parts and assemblies.
The Show Numbering option for indented assemblies is only activated after you have selected the Indented option and placed the table. When you use this option, it causes subassembly parts to be numbered with an X.Y number system. For example, if item number 4 is a subassembly and it has three parts, those parts are numbered 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3.
Using configurations
The Configurations panel of the BOM PropertyManager displays slightly differently for Top-level only BOMs compared to the other types. The Top-level only BOM type enables the option to show multiple assembly configurations and display the quantities for top-level components in separate columns, as shown in Figure 17.4. This figure shows that the configuration named “D” has some suppressed parts, including some parts that are now not used in the “D” configuration, and that therefore have a zero quantity. Notice the available options for dealing with zero-quantity parts.
Locating the Keep Missing Items option
When you are making changes to a model, parts are often either suppressed or deleted altogether. Some company documentation standards require that parts that are removed from a BOM remain on the bill and appear with strikethrough formatting; this may be a relic from the past, when it was more difficult to remove items from hand drawings.
Keep Missing Items and Zero Quantity Display have both been moved to Tools⇒Options⇒Document Properties⇒Detailing⇒Tables screen.
FIGURE 17.4
Configuration options with the BOM
Choosing Zero Quantity Display options
The Zero Quantity Display settings are only used for configurations where a component is not used. The three options that are available are
• Quantity Of Dash. Substitutes a dash for the quantity value.
• Quantity Of Zero. Uses a zero for the quantity value.
• Blank. Sets the quantity value to blank.
Assigning item numbers
Item numbers for components listed in the BOM can start at a specific number and be given a particular interval. The Do not change item numbers option means that even when rows are reordered, item numbers stay with their original components.
The Follow Assembly Order option, which is also available through the right mouse button (RMB) menu, means that the order of the components in the BOM follows the order of the components in the Assembly FeatureManager. If the order is changed in the assembly, it also updates in the drawing.
Displaying the BOM contents
The BOM contents can be changed on the BOM or through the RMB menu. Figure 17.5 shows a simple BOM with the RMB menu. For example, you can drag the row numbers to reorder BOM items, and right-click to hide them. Row numbers are only displayed after you select the BOM table.
FIGURE 17.5
The BOM contents interface
You can add columns or rows to the BOM for additional