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Design Tables Demystified:Who am I?Product DesignernSolidWorks Design TablesDemystifiednnEngineering since 1982.CAD user since 1991.SolidWorks user since 1998.Certified SolidWorksProfessional (CSWP)SolidWorks User GroupnCAD AdministratorLeonard KikstraDesigner / CAD AdministratorRITE-HITE Products CorporationMilwaukee, WInnProductivity Gains - I want to:nnLenny’s SolidWorks n Tables Demystified:What is covered here.20 people on site.Advise other sites.nSimplifying my job.Make my computer do morework for me.Get the most out of the tools Iuse to do my job.nnnConfigurationsWhat is a Design Table?What can a Design Table control?Working with Design Tablesw Creating your first Design Table.nSMART (SolidWorks MilwaukeeArea Resource Team)http://www.smart-wi.comActive member since 1999.Lenny’s SolidWorks ResourcesnnWebsite online Sept. 2003.New home Sept. 2006.Develop Design Tables for:nnConfigurable product lineups.Various sizes sizes, capacitiesand options.Design Tables Demystified:What can a design table Control?Assemblies OnlyBASICS:nnnnParts Only.nnnnFeature stateConfiguration of base or split partnnComponent stateMate stateReferenced ConfigurationExpand in BOMDisplay StateAssembly feature state (cuts)w Adding to existing Design Tables.nnINTERMEDIATE:nnnFeature based configuration naming.Configuration Specific Properties.Design Table appearance.nnnnnnADVANCED:nUsing Excel to automated your designs.nnnnDesign Tables Demystified:Simple ProcessCreate a new design tableDimension valuesTolerance typeBOM part numberConfiguration Specific PropertiesModel colorLinear and Radial Pattern Spacingand InstancesDerived Configurations.Lighting state.Equation state.Sketch relationship state.Mass Properties.Center of Gravity.nnnnnnnnnnnnDimension and Mate valuesTolerance typeBOM part numberConfiguration Specific PropertiesModel colorLinear and Radial Pattern Spacingand InstancesDerived Configurations.Lighting state.Equation state.Sketch relationship state.Mass Properties.Center of Gravity.Design Tables Demystified:Inserting a design table?SourcenBlank.w Inserts blank a design table into model.w User can select what features design table will control.nAdd configurations in the futureAuto create.w Useful when you have multiple configurations thatrepresent features that are to be controlled by the designtable.w Manually create a few configurations ahead of time.w User can select what features design table will control.nFrom file.w External Excel file.w Import into model after creation.w Useful for defining “template” ahead of time.1
Design Tables Demystified:Inserting a design table?Edit ControlnAllow model edits .w Bi-Directional controlw Allows model changes to update the embedded designtable the next time it’s opened.nBlock model edits .Design Tables Demystified:Parts of a Design TableEmpty cell named “Family”nnnw Uni-Directional controlw Prevents changes to features that are controlled by theOnly one can exist.“Family” cell can be in anyrow or columnAutomatically created wheninserting a Blank or AutoCreate Design Tabledesign table.Options - Add rows/columns .nnnNew parameters / New configurationsNext edit of design table, SolidWorks asks if newparameters or configurations should be added.Warn when updating design table. SolidWorks promptyou when your change affects the design table.Design Tables Demystified:Parts of a Design TableRows:nnnEvery row above theheader row will beignored.Design table parametersmust be placed in theheader row.The header row is therow that contains the“Family” cell.Design Tables Demystified:How SolidWorks Scans The Design TableOnly the currently active worksheet, in Excel, will be scanned bySolidWorks.Manually created tablennDesign Tables Demystified:Parts of a Design TableColumns:nnnAdditional worksheets can be used for lookup tables, comments orcalculationsConfigurationnames must be inheader column.Header column isthe column thatcontains “Family”cell.Start immediatelyunder “Family” cell.Design Tables Demystified:How SolidWorks Scans The Design TableGraphical:nnName a cell “Family” or .Design Table must begin incell A1 and cell A1 must beblank.nnnGoldLt. GreenRedOther- Named “Family” - Start of scanning Design Table- What is scanned by SolidWorks- Blank cells – Ignore and don’t scan this, or beyond.- IgnoredOnly Values are readnEquations/Formulas stay in Design Table and are for Excel use only.Blank CellsnnThe SolidWorks software stops evaluating the data when it reaches a rowor column that has an empty header cell.The space outside these boundaries can be used for lookup tables,comments or calculations.Colors are for chart reference only.2
Design Tables Demystified:Design Table Parameters user notes or commentsnnn partnumbern- Comment columnAdd comments.User entered values.Formula that is referenced from many different cells.Design Tables Demystified:Design Table Parameters parentnn- Parent configuration nameCreating derived configurations only.Cannot be used to modify relationship between parent and derivedconfiguration.Creates derived configuration- Part number used in BOMPossible Valuesw d or documentw c or configurationw p or parentw- Use document number- Use configuration name- Use parent configuration name(Derived configurationsonly)w Any textw blank - Custom text used as part number.- Configuration name configuration@compname inst never expand in bomnnYes Will NOT add sub-components to BOM.Design Tables Demystified:Design Table ParametersParts Onlyw state@featurenamen- Suppress / Unsuppress featuresnValue of this dimension/angle or mate in this configuration.nPink dimensions indicate that they are driven by the Design Table.Assemblies Onlyw state@compname inst w state@matenamenDesign Tables Demystified:Design Table ParametersD2@Sketch1, D1@Distance1 or D1@Angle1 state@.n- Configuration referenced.What configuration of the component is referenced- Suppress / Resolve components- Suppress / Unsuppress matesBCParts & Assembliesw state@lightnamew state@relation@sketch- Suppress / Unsuppress lighting- Suppress / Unsuppress sketch relationATolerance@dimension param nDesign Tables Demystified:Design Table Parameters show@compname inst - Visibility of componentnBefore and including SolidWorks 2005nObsolete in SolidWorks 2006. See displaystate. displaystaten- New in SolidWorks 2006Display states of componentsw Visibility (Hide/Show)Type and value of tolerances of dimension/angle or mate.Design Tables Demystified:Design Table Parameters prop@ .nDefine property name ofConfiguration SpecificProperties. colorn32bit Integer derived fromRed/Green/Blue color values.w Display Mode (Shaded, Wireframe, Hidden Lines Removed, etc )w Component Color and Texturew TransparencynCaution:w Must be predefined and exist in configuration before it can be reference by theDesign Table.w Same DisplayState name can exist in many configurations and have differentcomponent states (appearance).3
Design Tables Demystified:Design Table ParametersDesign Tables Demystified:Design Table Parameters sw-mass hw-size@ nnn- New in SolidWorks 2008Hole Wizard sizeDefine Mass Property for this configuration.Value as seen in the Mass Properties dialog box. cognnnDefine Center of Gravity for this configuration.X, Y and Z coordinates.Value as seen in the Mass Properties dialog box. instances nnnn * 1-4 1,4,6 1-2,4,6-8 Apply to instancesRange of instancesNonconsecutive instancesCombinations separated by commasDesign Tables Demystified:Simple Excel functionsDesign Tables Demystified:Simple Excel functionsCell ReferencesnnAppearanceRelative (E2) vs. Absolute ( E 2)Hybrid( E2)(E 2)nnHiding columns or rows to hide clutterSplitters / Freeze Framew Views of your worksheetnEquations/FormulasnnnnnnExcel equations/formulas are more powerful and flexible than SolidWorksnative equations.SolidWorks reads cell “Values” not “Formulas”.Math functions , -, *, /Boolean operationsAnd, Or, etc.Value Comparison , , , Double click between columns to auto fit columns to cellsFormat cells to wrap or rotate text.Painting cells for Color-CodingnnnDefine “safe” cells for users to edit.Visually define relationships within Design TableVisualization for user. Not required for SolidWorks or Excel.Linking cellsnnThis cell equals that cell.Useful when multiple components reference same configuration.Design Tables Demystified:Intermediate Excel functionsLookup TablesConcatenate or &nDesign Tables Demystified:More Excel functionsnStringing pieces of text together.nTextnnGet a value, search a range,retrieve a new value.Obtain new value based onnominal input values.Examples:w Hardwarew Structural shapesApply a text format to numerical values.w 1.25 becomes 001.250OtherOthernnnConditional statementsNested statementsIf, then, elsenINT or TRUNCABSData ValidationnDrop down list limits input.w Security – Excel Macro4
Design Tables Demystified:Examples:HardwarenDesign Tables Demystified:Examples:Structural Shapes:Concatenate and Text formattingnw Consistent formatting of custom configuration name and properties.w Feature/Dimension based configuration names.C-Channels, I-Beams, W-Beams, etc Concatenate and Text formattingw Consistent formatting of custom configuration name and properties.w Feature/Dimension based configuration names.w Visually appealing and easy to follownn.500-13 X 1.50 vs.375-18 x 1.25 vs.5-13 x 1.5.375-18 x 1.25nLookup tablesw Nested lookup formulannLookup tablesnnnHead heightHead Flatsnnw Standard vs. HeavynMultiple Levels of Assembly can have separate Design Tables.nnnHeightLeg LengthWeb ThicknessLeg ThicknessNested lookup formulaDesign Tables Demystified:Example: SemiSemi-AutomatednSearch based on 2 nominal values: SIZE and WEIGHTw What varies based on nominalw What varies based on nominalDesign table embedded into each configured component.Configuration must exist in component before it can be referenced in theparent assembly.Design Tables Demystified:Inserting table in drawing:How To:nnFeature/Dimension based configuration names.Open Design Table in Excel.Highlight and copy (ctrl C) theportion of the design table tobe inserted into the drawingas a tabulated chart.w Easy to define what configuration of the component is needed, without anyreference to part numbers.nColor code cells to defined areas users can safely modify.nnw Visually understandable.nPaste table into drawing.Grab the corners and drag toresize the table.User copies a row, then edits cells to build new configuration.Design Tables Demystified:Advanced ProcessDesign Tables Demystified:Simple Process (Reviewed)Create Automated Design TableAdvantages:nAdd Configurations in FuturenSimple to createUser only needs a littleknowledge of Excel.Disadvantages:nVery “Basic”nLow automationnUser must know all data to beentered.5
Design Tables Demystified:Advanced Process (Reviewed)Design Tables Demystified:What If The Design Table Fails?The SolidWorks software stops processing a design table if it reachesinvalid parameters in a cell.nReferenced component or component config. does not exist.nReferenced feature, dimensions or mates do not exist.w Configurations in sub-components must exist before you can reference them inthe parent assembly.Check spelling and syntax.nAdvantages:nnnnnDisadvantages:More automation.Intelligence in model.User knowledgeExcel – LittleProduct- LittlennUser knowledgeCreation and Maintenancerequires more knowledge andexperience with Excel andDesign Tables.Design Tables Demystified:The Model Was Not Updated!Look for and eliminate duplicate configuration names.nnAll configuration names must be unique.Last defined instance of duplicated configuration name takes precedence.Look for and eliminate duplicate Design Table Parameters.nnAll Design Table Parameters must be unique.Last defined instance of duplicated parameter takes precedence.nConfigurations in rows after point of “fail” will not be added.nnSolidWorks will not scan columns after it finds a blank space in this row.Check geometry in the model.nDid changes cause sketch, feature or mate errors?Design Tables Demystified:Tips - Preparing ModelsName features as they are creatednSolidWorks setting: Name feature on creationRename dimensions and mates that will be controlled by the designtable.Impose limits on what variations are acceptable in the model.nnLimits number of configurationsLimits number of Design Table columnsDefine procedures (Best Practices)nnnProvides consistency.Baseline for creating new Design Tables.Easier for others to understand.Other users know what to expect.Start small and work your way up.nnCreate and test small portions of Design Table before continuing to largerportions.Start with a “basic” Design Table, then add automation later.Design Tables Demystified:Tips - ExcelUse Excel for all equations and dimension linking.nOnly need to debug the Design Table.Use “Concatenate” or “&” in ExcelnnSave Design Table outside of SolidWorks then insert.Design Tables Demystified:Tips - Plan AheadnLook for blank spaces in “Parameter Row”Must be exact.Use automated techniques or copy/paste when possible.Build configuration names and custom file properties.Easier to find in assembly and design table.Use “Text” in ExcelIncorporate Feature/Dimension based configuration names.nnw User does not need to know part numbers.nFormat numbers to a consistent number of characters.Useful when users insert model into assembly.Easy to reference from design table in parent assembly.Use Excel’s LookUp tables.nPredict effects on your model(s).nBuilds intelligence into the design table.Next user does not need as much knowledge of the product.Resolve all components in assembly6
Design Tables Demystified:Tips - ExcelColor code cells.nDefined areas that other users can safely modify.Format cellsnVertically aligned text in Header RownGeneral type instead of Text typeDesign Tables Demystified:Tips - Design Table FilesSave/Backup design tables external from model.nEdit externally and then import into model.nSingle Design Table can be used to drive many models.nUse as template for creating new Design Table.When inserting from file, refrain from linking to external file.w Allows you to use formulas.nnLink must be exact.nMoving or deleting linked file will affect SolidWorks.Refrain from merging cellsw Someone may accidentally unmerge cells.w Unknown results.Design Tables Demystified:Tips - More If Excel thinks your dimension names are email addressesDesign Tables Demystified:How much is too much?Someone else is going to need to understand what you have created.nnExcel Setting:nw Tools, Autocorrect Options, Autoformat as you typew Turn off the internet and network paths with hyperlinks.Document complex formulas for the less Excel clever.Color Coding helps user understand what they can safely modify, and canbe used to identify relationships.w Not available in some versions of Excel.n[CTRL] - ZYou need to understand and remember what you created, and why.Before you start – PLAN AHEADnDesign Tables Demystified:Design Tables Are Not KBEDesign TablesnYou can build intelligence into the Design Table.Design Tables Demystified:AlternativesEmbedded Form in Spreadsheetnw Lookup Table, Equations, etc .nDesign Tables can only work on one component at a time.nKnowledge Based Engineering (KBE)nnCan modify components at all levels.nMakes unique components from existing components.Impose limits on what variations are acceptable in the model.Embed an Excel spreadsheetinto a SolidWorks documentExcel spreadsheet is notcreating configurations, but isupdating your modelYou can use all the power ofExcel and Visual Basic forApplicationsw Does not create or use configurations.7
Design Tables Demystified:AlternativesVisual Basic for Applications(VBA)Design Tables Demystified:Resources for learning more?SolidWorks Help FilennnYou don’t really have to be aprogrammer to do this.Copy the syntax and replacedimension names and mathoperations.nw List of “codes” recognized in design tables.SolidWorks Online TutorialsnnnDirections for creation and use.Summary of Design Table Parameters.Design TablesUse Excel functionsto calculate, andVBA to transfer thedimension values toSolidWorks.Excel Help FileIt’s not ascomplicatedas it looks.SolidWorks VAR’s/Resellersw Similar to old “40 Minute Running Start.”nnHelp on using Excel’s functions to automate your design tables.Training classes & night schools.SolidWorks Design TablesDemystifiedLeonard KikstraDesigner / CAD AdministratorRITE-HITE Products CorporationMilwaukee, WILenny’s SolidWorks :http://designsmarter.typepad.com/lennyworks/8
6 Design Tables Demystified: Advanced Process (Reviewed) Advantages: n More automation. nIntelligence in model. n User knowledge n Excel - Little n Product - Little Disadvantages: n User knowledge Creation and Maintenance requires more knowledge and experience with Excel and
