I have a part with a lot of configurations (using a Design Table) and I need to be able to generate drawings for all of them automatically (there are currently 92 configurations - too many to add drawings manually).
Despite my searching I can't seem to find any way to achieve this.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Looks like we said the same thing. LOL Great minds think alike.....
If the configurations aren't too different from each other and edge ID's aren't changed in the process of changing configurations (in other words, if only the length is changing, for example), then it should be a pretty simple process to:
Yes, this is a time consuming process. But honestly, I think that it will be faster than some utility that will spit out a bunch of drawings, that you will then have to open each one and edit to make it what you want. In the way that I described, at least you get to control how the drawing looks and behaves.
Dan Pihlaja wrote:
If the configurations aren't too different from each other and edge ID's aren't changed in the process of changing configurations (in other words, if only the length is changing, for example), then it should be a pretty simple process to:
- create 1 drawing, set it up exactly the way you want using 1 configuration. Make sure that all views are set to get their configuration from the parent view:
- Make sure that your configurations have configuration specific properties set up and that your drawing is pulling from them accordingly.
- after the drawing is complete, save it and, inside windows explorer, make enough copies of the drawing to account for all configurations. Rename them accordingly (from windows explorer).
- Open each drawing, select the main view and change the configuration to the one you want for that drawing. If everything is set up correctly (and edge ID's aren't changing), then this is all you need to do. Save the drawing and open the next one.
- Rinse, repeat.
Yes, this is a time consuming process. But honestly, I think that it will be faster than some utility that will spit out a bunch of drawings, that you will then have to open each one and edit to make it what you want. In the way that I described, at least you get to control how the drawing looks and behaves.
Good explanation, Dan. It's just what I've done, many times. Would an automatic method be nice? You bet, but if the configurations don't vary dramatically, like you mentioned, it's workable for quantities like 92 (though, not real interesting work).
Perhaps my definition of workable is different! To me, doing 92 copy-edit-save type actions seems like a lot of wasted time (maybe I'm just lazy, maybe I've been doing too much software work recently). Luckily in this case my parts are quite simple and I only require one view, so I can dimension pretty well automatically now that I have figured out the Solidworks API and how macros work. (See attached macro in reply below)
Thanks to all who replied. I was actually able to come up with own macro (attached) by reading others posted around, but have been distracted by other work since.
The macro goes through all the configurations of the currently open part and saves a un-annotated DXF and an annotated SLDDRW in the folder provided within the macro. The annotations rely on dimensions within the part being positioned suitably and marked for drawing or not, as they are pulled straight from the part. It works pretty well, but I have a couple of issues with it at the moment.
1. The DXF generated has centrelines on all circles in the drawing - how can I prevent them from being shown? (I want to be able to send all these generated DXFs directly to a manufacturer who will be etching based off the DXFs alone, without having to manually remove these centrelines that should not be cut.)
2.The DXF generated is scaled incorrectly. When I open the generated DXFs in eDrawings or some other viewer, their measuring tools show my part has been scaled to twice the size. This is something I've often had issues with in Solidworks (I'm not a mechanical engineer or designer so I am probably missing something obvious), I generally get around this when working with drawings I've had to do myself by letting the manufacturer know a key dimension separately so that they can check the scaling of the dxf themselves.
EDIT: I should note that this works well for simple parts but would be less useful for parts requiring more complicated dimensioning - as you'd likely then require manual editting to move the dimensions to be more readable. The macro is also set up to give just one view (as I only need one for these parts), but is readily editable to provide 3 standard views (or any other set of views for that matter)
James Veale wrote:
Thanks to all who replied. I was actually able to come up with own macro (attached) by reading others posted around, but have been distracted by other work since.
The macro goes through all the configurations of the currently open part and saves a un-annotated DXF and an annotated SLDDRW in the folder provided within the macro. The annotations rely on dimensions within the part being positioned suitably and marked for drawing or not, as they are pulled straight from the part. It works pretty well, but I have a couple of issues with it at the moment.
1. The DXF generated has centrelines on all circles in the drawing - how can I prevent them from being shown? (I want to be able to send all these generated DXFs directly to a manufacturer who will be etching based off the DXFs alone, without having to manually remove these centrelines that should not be cut.)
2.The DXF generated is scaled incorrectly. When I open the generated DXFs in eDrawings or some other viewer, their measuring tools show my part has been scaled to twice the size. This is something I've often had issues with in Solidworks (I'm not a mechanical engineer or designer so I am probably missing something obvious), I generally get around this when working with drawings I've had to do myself by letting the manufacturer know a key dimension separately so that they can check the scaling of the dxf themselves.
EDIT: I should note that this works well for simple parts but would be less useful for parts requiring more complicated dimensioning - as you'd likely then require manual editting to move the dimensions to be more readable. The macro is also set up to give just one view (as I only need one for these parts), but is readily editable to provide 3 standard views (or any other set of views for that matter)
For #2 check your Export DXF settings in Frederick Law's post here Auto scale, view scale, and sheet scale. I'd nap a picture of mine and post it here but DXF is now missing since I installed 2018 from my drop down list.
Fred do you know why this might have happened or how to fix it? I dont need it as I save my DXFs from the DRW file not PRT file.
Side note: Task has a macro that will do this across multiple parts in many different directories against all configurations or specified ones.
Fred do you know why this might have happened or how to fix it? I dont need it as I save my DXFs from the DRW file not PRT file.
You need a file opened to see the settings.
Even just a new file.
That's what I had, sheet metal part. Save as DXF. Options. and DXF isn't on the list
Make sure you're not editing feature/sketch?
DWG/DXF doesn't show when I have an assembly file.
This is what I'm looking at.
I'm not too worried as long as I can still save .DRW as dxf. Just seems to be gone which is very weird.
You can try the "Options" in Save As.
I see both with 2018 SP5.
The DXF ONLY shows up if the current file is a part file or a drawing file. It is not there if the current file is an assembly file.
Not sure if that is your problem or not though.
I may not have been clear, this is a part file with a sheet metal feature in it. when I save as and click on options its shows IGS and DXF is gone from the list. I can save a part as a DXF but I cannot change any of the export options because DXF is no longer in the list.... the only thing I've done recently is install SW2018sp5
Edit: maybe I've lost my mapping or the format somehow... maybe there's something in file locations that got changed with the new install... I'll look over it all soon.
You might need to repair.
Reset registry.
Or uninstall reinstall.
Frederick Law wrote:
You might need to repair.
Reset registry.
Or uninstall reinstall.
Might be right, but I think I can hold out till I get everything Switched over to 2018
Or switch to 2020.
Ewwww think I'll pass on that. SW doesn't pay me nuff to bug test their shiz
Hrmm…..I am using SW 2018 SP5.....and I can see it, even without the sheet metal feature.
However, one thing that I am noticing is that you are already inside the export options for DXF (even though it seems to not be showing up in the list):
My pic of DXF options:
A Screen grab of the picture that you shared:
I had noticed that too.... Maybe a simple restart will devour SW insanity
meh yeah, I can still save .DRW as dxf.... Odd, hope this doesnt bite me latter on
oops just realized that3rd picture is wrong, look at this.
You can always set up the first drawing the way you want, then create a copy of it, change the drawing views to reference a different configuration, and repeat as needed. There may be a way to automate the process that I'm not aware of. Maybe Deepak Gupta or someone else will reply.