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By Root 1083 0

DriveWorks Xpress, users often find they must “unlearn” some of the modeling methods that they normally use for propagating changes through a regular SolidWorks assembly. For example, in regular SolidWorks modeling, you might want each part to be driven by a layout sketch or other parts when necessary. You might choose configurations to save versions of parts or drawings. However, with DWX, you drive changes to models with the form field data, after the model is built. For this reason, SolidWorks users often have to back away from the urge to drive features parametrically between parts, and instead allow DWX to drive the changes. This makes modeling much more straightforward.

You should still use the relationships between features within a part to keep the normal relationships within the part, but any option that you want to be driven by the form input fields should be left independent.

So in short, when building a model to be automated by DWX, you can design each part independently; don't use the layout methods, master model, or in-context design techniques. All of the parametrics are handled by the DWX rules.

Note

Just because it is recommended to drive changes from the form field inputs doesn't mean that you cannot use in-context and other external reference types of relations to drive changes in your models. Driving all changes from the same location is the simplest and most straightforward method, but you certainly can mix methods if you need to. For example, you might drive changes to one part through the DWX form field inputs, but then allow those changes to propagate to other parts through in-context relations. In the end, you are the one maintaining the model, so you make the decisions about how it is constructed.

Automating an Example

The best way to learn what automating a design is about is to walk through an example. The example will also help you understand the overall workflow for these tools. In this example, the first step is to identify what types of variables will change between designs, and compare that against the list of things that DWX allows to be changed. Then we build a form, and finally attach the fields on the form to actual variables in the SolidWorks documents.

Now you will move on to a more concrete example where you will take an existing design of a ceiling fan and use DWX to automate the design to create hundreds of configuration possibilities. The initial fan model is shown in Figure 18.3.

FIGURE 18.3

Starting from a basic ceiling fan design

In this case, the variables in the design will be as follows:

• Number of blades, 1 to 6

• Length of blades, 30" to 36"

• Light, yes or no

• Shape of motor housing, A or B

• Flush mount or hanging

You need to match up what you have to change with what DWX enables you to change. DWX can control the following within SolidWorks parts:

• Suppress and unsuppress parts, components, and features

• Control dimensions

• Delete parts

• Rename parts

• Change configurations

• Add or change custom properties

• Create comparative rules with operators such as if, then, else, greater than, and less than

Getting Started: Automating a Design

To start automating the ceiling fan, take the list of items that will vary. Then, for each change, list the items that will be affected, and specifically what will have to change.

For example, the first item on the list is the number of blades (1 to 6). A one-bladed ceiling fan seems odd, but it does exist. Here is a list of what has to change to accommodate the changes in blades:

• For a one-bladed design, the pattern of blades, traditional blade, and blade holder are all suppressed, and replaced by the monoblade, still mounted to the blade mount ring.

• The monoblade also requires a different motor and motor housing, to accommodate the higher speed and more modern style.

• For all other blade number changes, only the number of instances of the component pattern change. The ring is pre-drilled to handle all patterns.

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