Hello all,
I'm about to make a parametric model for some woodworking applications. Within this parametric model, wooden crates will be designed. These wooden crates are build out of wooden (mostly pine) boards. These wooden boards come in as a bulk material, in stock lengths (let's say 6.0m lengths).
Now, in one crate, there are different board-lengths, but they've got the same Width en Thickness (Further called: W&T), for now, we will take 19x100 is a W&T dimension.
First, let me tell you the idea of the parametric model:
This model will be used to receive all kinds of information (3D & 2D drawings, Bill of material, etc) out of a simple input (for instance: desired Length, Width and Height of the crate).
My question is about the way i can handle my parts and assemblies.
Some specifications it should meet:
- It should be possible to save/store crates, so they can be called back in the future.
- Every possible dimension should be possible (From 2000mm to 2502.2mm to 50.08 to 123456mm. (So, really everything, also above the stock material length)
- A wish is, to make parts easy adjustable, for example: When will be decided to give every board a hole from now on, that it's easy to apply this to every board which will be created from now on. (So, already existing crates won't have to get this hole, even preferably not, cause they don't have these holes in reality either..)
- Offcourse wish is to use as least Mb's/Gb's as possible, but, this is by far not as important as other specifications or wishes.
Some thoughts i already had myself:
1. Everytime a new length is needed, create a new part with the desired lengt, starting with either sketching 19x100 or take this sketch from a structural member. (or save existing part as a new one and edit it).
Disadvantage of this way of working is that for every length, manually a new part should be created (or with configurations in excel, yep). Also, it ain't very flexible in different dimensions.
2. Every crate has the same construction, so for every dimension that vary in one crate, i'd create a separate part (once), (lets say there are 10 different parts in one crate). Then, these 10 parts can be linked to a design table, which makes it vary in length, width and thickness (which can be done quite easily). Then, everytime a new crate is created, the assembly should be exported or so, so that the current configuration can be stored as is, so it will keep the same dimensions, also when a new crate is created with the parametric model.
Easily said, option 1 uses the same part over and over but with a growing collection at every new crate dimension, where option 2 uses the same base parts, and saves every crate-assembly and its parts seperately.
Furthermore, in addiction, to make it even more complicated, not only 19x100 will be used as W&T, but also different sizes will be used.. (I think option 2 has a advantage here?)
Allright, long story, now the actual question is how to manage these files, maybe you guys know an even better way to do it.
Looking forward to your replies,
Arno
(In case i've got this placed in the wrong section, feel free to replace it offcourse.)