It seems like this would be readily availible information, to list in a BOM. I use individual structural pieces in my assemblies, not always to build a weldment, but as a structural member to support something, or build off of. How do I get this information in a BOM, without hand typing? Im cool with adding custom properties, if I have to. Looking to automate our process. Less mistakes
Thank you, for your help and insight!
Aaron,
That is a lengthy work around. SolidWorks already has a very extensive database of sketches of structural members, with their respective size/name, for ordering from a steel vendor. These are also in the structural member tool for weldments. I want to know how to get this information, that comes with the program, to populate a BOM, without me having to hand type anything.
Thank you for the idea, but I want to utilize what already seems to be there.
Jake,
You can create custom properties in the .sldlfp files (the library sketch used for Structural Member functions. When the function is used these properties will carry over to the Part as cut list properties, which can be called out in a cut list table or note. If you're detailing a multi-body part, then using a cut list table instead of a BOM works fine. However, if you really need to call them out in a BOM it's more difficult. It requires having an indented BOM, and as far as I know that requires adding extra rows to the BOM. See this Discussion: How to Capture a Cut List Property as a Custom File Property .
You can create a sketch and draw the profile of the structural member you are trying to create. Exit the sketch and then click on the sketch in the feature tree.
Go to File>Save As> save the profile in the location where your other weldments are located as a Lib Feat Part (.sldlfp). Once it is saved, go to custom properties and change the Description. Save again.
Now you can create a structural member and there should be a new option with the new profile you created.
Hope this help.