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Christopher E. Naujok, P.E., CEP, CSWP. Optimizing SolidWorks through Standards. Optimization. What is optimization? The best route to the final product. How do we do that?. Determine: What do we do now What do we design How do we want to do our design. Mechanical design
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Christopher E. Naujok, P.E., CEP, CSWP Optimizing SolidWorks through Standards
Optimization What is optimization? • The best route to the final product
How do we do that? Determine: What do we do now What do we design How do we want to do our design Mechanical design Parts and assemblies Better, faster, cheaper
Now we have a finish point • Look at how you do your design, are you using: • Consistent modeling practices? • “Good” modeling practices? • Working between departments? • Incorporating all the engineering data?
Good Modeling Practices • Why do we want them? • Design re-use • Engineering changes • Downstream users • PDM • These are your modeling standards
What should the standards be? • Dependent upon your work. Do you design: • Sheet metal? • Machinings? • Castings? • Plastic parts? • Since they are designed and function differently, standards will be different.
So, you don’t have any suggestions? • Of course I do • Think about what you do
Example: Simple plate • How many ways can I make this plate? • 3 types of extrude • Sweep • Loft • Import • Surfaces • So which one is the right way?
Example: Simple Plate • How would you manufacture this plate? • Get stock • Cut it to length • Duplicate that in SW • Sketch the section • Extrude to length
Example: Square Tube • How do we create it? • Extrude thin? • Extrude and shell? • Is it one feature or two? • If it’s made as one on the shop floor, it’s one feature in SW.
Example: Sketch Complexity • What do I put in one sketch? • Break it up by function, two jobs - two sketches • If you use two tools, make it two sketches • Use separate pattern features, not patterns in sketches
Example: Feature Order • Big cuts first • Why? • That’s how you would do it in the shop • Most small features are dependent on the big ones • It provides an engineering check with each rebuild
Another question Castings and Machinings • Configurations • Merge part
Example: Assembly Structure • Reflect the BOM • Automate the drawing • Automate the PDM • Remove retyping from your process
Standards :: Conclusion • Goal - everyone doing the right things • Process - think about it, define what are the best methods • Document - put together the what’s and the why’s for every standard • Educate - if people don’t understand why, they won’t do it.
Automation • Making the most of your time
Why automate? • Remove repetitive tasks • Automate complex tasks • Make standards compliance easier • Improve interaction between different departments • Improve the engineering environment
What should be automated? • “Recipe” tasks • Data transfer • Standards compliance
“Recipe” Tasks • A task where every step is clearly defined, and always done the same way • Lends itself to easy automation • Saves valuable engineering time for actual design tasks
Data Transfer • Remove manual tasks • Don’t retype data • Waste of time • Waste of effort • Source of errors
Standards Compliance • Make it easier to follow the standards than to violate them. • Check for standards compliance. • Make data access easier.
Example: “Custom” products • Family of products where customer mixes and matches options. • Family of products where the overall size is customizable, but the rest is driven by relations.
Example: Start Models • Incorporate manufacturing process • Check part numbers - avoid duplication • Automatically fill in parameters
Example: Component Design • Complex design system that can be driven by a limited data set • Captures engineering knowledge
Example: Assembly change • Automation of change notice • System knows what was added/removed • Let the system fill in the forms
Automation Tools • Macros • Just record and go • Keyboard macros • Great for very repetitive tasks • Visual basic • Relatively easy to learn, powerful, but limited • Visual C++ • More complex, very powerful, unlimited
Automation :: Conclusion • Automate what makes sense • Continue to improve what you have automated • Make it easy to use