15 Replies Latest reply on Jul 31, 2017 11:10 AM by Richard Gergely

why can I not check draft of an assembly'

Travis Guthrie Jul 21, 2017 9:28 AM

So we are a die shop and we take customer parts and because solidworks is Y up instead of Z up like every other industry. I have to Take customer parts and start an assembly and move the part around until it looks tipped right. then I can start the die design how ever I have to go through about an hours wroth of work before I can die lock. How can I get around this? Cause I spend an hour just to find out I have to start all over.

Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'

Bjorn Hulman Jul 21, 2017 9:41 AM (in response to Travis Guthrie)

Hi Travis,
you could use the move body feature at part level to move the body to the correct line of draw. Is this an option for you? Potentially create a config for the moved body.
Draft is more often considered at part level, an assembly will consist of many parts with LOD in all sorts of directions.
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- Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'
  
  Travis Guthrie Jul 21, 2017 10:00 AM (in response to Bjorn Hulman)
  
  We have to leave parts in body position for assembly purposes down the road
  
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  - Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'
    
    Bjorn Hulman Jul 21, 2017 10:02 AM (in response to Travis Guthrie)
    
    That's why I mentioned creating a configuration.
    
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Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'

Doug Seibel Jul 21, 2017 9:46 AM (in response to Travis Guthrie)

Draft Analysis cannot be done on an assembly...period.

One possible workaround to this, for the way you are working, would be:
Put the part in the assembly.
Edit the part in the assembly, creating a plane that is coincident with the assembly plane you are wanting you use for draft check.
Exit "edit part" mode in the assembly
Spin the part in the assembly. Click on "Rebuild" or use "Ctrl-Q" to rebuild.
Open the part and run draft analysis using the plane you created
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- Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'
  
  Travis Guthrie Jul 21, 2017 10:02 AM (in response to Doug Seibel)
  
  that does not always work I have tried guess I will just keep doing it the way I do it. Just takes hours when other designers using other softwares do it in minutes.
  
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  - Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'
    
    Doug Seibel Jul 21, 2017 10:30 AM (in response to Travis Guthrie)
    
    I am in the mold industry. So, like you, I must always find a suitable "die-draw" direction on the parts before I can begin design. I do not do it in assembly, and I do not move or rotate the body at the part level. I simply create a plane (or planes) at the part level. It only takes a matter of minutes to do. I suggest you look into creating planes & axis in the part. Very easy to do, very quick to do. Finding the line of draw should never take hours. If your current method is taking hours, I assure you...there is a better/faster way to do it in Solidworks.
    
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Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'

Alin Vargatu Jul 21, 2017 11:04 AM (in response to Travis Guthrie)

Are you using the Draft Adjustment Triad in the Draft Analysis Tool? Is a great way to determine the pull direction, without any need for repositioning the part, or creating extra planes and axes. No need to insert the part in an assembly for that.

2017 SOLIDWORKS Help - Draft Analysis PropertyManager
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- Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'
  
  Richard Gergely Jul 31, 2017 10:50 AM (in response to Alin Vargatu)
  
  Alin have you got any idea if they will ever fix draft analysis bug of it stopping working = randomly on occasions the button doesn't work.
  
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  - Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'
    
    Travis Guthrie Jul 31, 2017 10:51 AM (in response to Richard Gergely)
    
    I have this happen too, I just close it and re-open it and it works.
    
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    - Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'
      
      Travis Guthrie Jul 31, 2017 10:52 AM (in response to Travis Guthrie)
      
      Close the file and Re-open it
      
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    - Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'
      
      Richard Gergely Jul 31, 2017 11:02 AM (in response to Travis Guthrie)
      
      Yeah or if it's in a part you open and it doesn't work if you go to an assembly it's in and edit the part it works. Go figure that.
      
      Also noticed on occasions the +/- on the draft angle isn't there so you have to type it in. That usually happens from memory when the button starts not working and I go to the assembly instead and use the feature.
      
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      - Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'
        
        Alin Vargatu Jul 31, 2017 11:07 AM (in response to Richard Gergely)
        
        Richard Gergely wrote:
        
        Yeah or if it's in a part you open and it doesn't work if you go to an assembly it's in and edit the part it works. Go figure that.
        
        Also noticed on occasions the +/- on the draft angle isn't there so you have to type it in. That usually happens from memory when the button starts not working and I go to the assembly instead and use the feature.
        Just checking: your video card and its driver are SW certified, correct?
        
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  - Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'
    
    Alin Vargatu Jul 31, 2017 10:54 AM (in response to Richard Gergely)
    
    Richard Gergely wrote:
    
    Alin have you got any idea if they will ever fix draft analysis bug of it stopping working = randomly on occasions the button doesn't work.
    I am not qualified to provide an answer to your question. The best way to get anything fixed, though, is to ask your VAR to locate the SPR concerning this issue, then vote on it. Feel free to publish the SPR number here, so more users could vote on it.
    
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    - Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'
      
      Richard Gergely Jul 31, 2017 11:10 AM (in response to Alin Vargatu)
      
      You are right Alin but TBH I have never looked for a SPR/raised one on it with the logic it's not likely to get fixed due to not enough votes. I must have at least 30 SPR's/voted on, I have only ever seen one get fixed others have been closed saying they were fixed but weren't fixed and re-opened under a new SPR after I followed it up with my VAR.
      
      I will get round to having a look for one on it/raise one. Trouble is it's a random bug other than the fact it usually happens when parts have been edited but far from always.
      
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Re: why can I not check draft of an assembly'

Michael Fernando Jul 26, 2017 7:54 AM (in response to Travis Guthrie)

Do not turn the parts just for the look! 15 years ago, I did the same mistake (I even reconfigured views and planes of my SWX default templates) and when the models go to CAM or to other software, they have to turn them back. Later I had to revert to SWx defaults, since modifications created down stream issues with guys with lesser CAD skills.
SWx “TOP PLANE” is deceiving. So just follow the triad or just remember that SWx FRONT PLANE=PLAN VIEW of your physical part; FRONT VIEW=PLAN VIEW of your physical part. It’s acting just like a vertical Drawing Board where you draw your plans and extrude towards you.
When you import a part, first compare it against the triad. This gives you the first-hand information of how it will look in any other software. (This is how I find if the model was done by a SWx rookie)
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